Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-07-02
THE DAILY SPY.
From Chambers Edinburgh Journal.
The JeWelIed Watch.

Dutton of the -th regiment He had lately mar
rled the pretty, poronless daughter of deceased
brother officer; and, filled with romantic visions Of
rural bliss and "love in cottage" the pair, who
were equally unskied in the practical details of
housekeeping, fancied they could live in aflluence,
and enjoy all the Injuries of life, on the half-pay
which formed their sole income
| Ihey took up their abode pleasant town in
the south OF Eng land, and for time got on pretty
well; but when, at the end of the first year, a
sweet little boy made his appearance, and at the
end of the second year an equally sweet little girl.
they found that nurse-mads, baby-liuen, doctors
and all the ct ceteras appertaning to the inroduc.
ton and support of those baby visitors, formed
serious item in their yearly expenditure
For while they struggled on without falling into
debt; but at length their gddy feet slipped into that
vortex which has enguphed SO many, and their af-
fairs began to assume very gloomy aspect. About
this time, an adventuTer named Smith, with whom
Captain Dutton became casually acquainted and
whose plausible manners and appearance complete
y imposed on The frank, unsuspectng soldier, pro-
posed to him plan for insuring as he represented
it, large and rapid fortune This was to be effect
ed by embarking considerable capital in the manu-
facture of some new kind of spirit lamps, which
| Smith assured the captain would when once known
supersede the use of candles and oil lamps through
out the kingdom.
| To hear him descant on the marvellous virtues
and money-making qualities of the lamp one would
be inclined to take him for linea descendant of
Aladdin, and inheritor of that scampish individuals
precious heirloom. Our modern magician, how
ever, candidly confessed that he still wanted the
''slave of the lamp" or, in other words, ready
money, to set the invention agoing and he at length
succeeded IN persuadng the unlucky captain to sell
out OF the army, and invest the price Of his COM
mission IN this luminous venture. If Capt. Dutton
had refused to pay the money until he should be
able to pronounce correctly the name of the inveD-
I fIor, h. l..
probably, of a semi-dislocation of his laws for the
lamp rejoiced in eight-sylabled title, of which
each vocable belonged to a different tongue-the
first being Greek, the fourth Syrac, and the last
taken from the aboriginal language of New Zealand;
the intervening sounds believed to be respectively
akin to Latin, German, Sanscrit, and Malay. Not
wlthstandlng, however, this prestige of name, the
lamp was decided failure; its light was bright
enough; but the odor it exhaed in burning was so
oyerpowering, SO suggestive of evil origin, every
way abominable, that those adventurous purchasers
who tried 1t once, seldom submitted their ollactory
nerves to a second ordeal. The sale ard manufac-
inre o. The lapapsnd is ACCOMPANYING Split. were
commercial cities Of England, he having kindly ar
ranged TO take all the trouble off his partners
hands, and only requiring him to furnish the neces-
sary funds. For time the accounts,of the busi-
ness transmitted to Captain Button were most flour
ishing and he and his gentle wife fondly thought
their little ones; but at length they began to feel
anxious for the arrival of the nt-per-cent profits
which had been promised, but which never came:
and Mr. Smiths letters suddenly ceasing, his partner
one morning set off to inspect the scene of opera
tons. Arrived at l., he repaired TO the street
where the mandatory was situated, and found it
shut up. Mr. Smith had gone off TO America, con-
siderably in debt to those who were foolish enough
to trust him, and leaving rent due the prem
Ises than the remaining stock in trade of the unpro
nouncable lamp would pay.
As to the poor ex-captain, he returned to his FAM
lily ruined man.
But strength is often found in the depths Of ad-
yersty, courage and despair; and both our hero and
his wife set resoutely to work to support them
selves and their children. Happily they owed no
debts. On selling out, Captain Dutton had honora-
ply paid every farthing he owed in the world before
intrustng the remainder of his capital to the un-
prlncpled Smith; and now this upright conduct was
its own reward.
He wrote beautiful hand, and while seeking
some permanent employment, earned trife occa-
sionally by copying manuscripts, and engrossing in
an attorneys Office His wife worked diligently
with her needle; but the care of young family,
and the necessity Of dispensing with servant, hin
dered her from adding much to their resources.
Notwithstanding their extreme poverty, they man.
aged to preserve decent appearance, and to pre-
vent the nelghbors from knowing the straits to which
they were often reduced. Their little cottage was
exquistely clean and neat; and the children, DESPITE
OF scanty clothing and often insufficient food look
ed, as they were, the sons and daughters of gen.
teman.
alt was Mrs. buttons pride to preserve the re-
spectacle appearance of her husbands wardrobe:
and often did she work till midnight, turning his
coat and darnng his linen, that he might appear as
usual among his equals. She often urged him 10
visit his former acquaintance, who had power to be-
friend him, and solicit their aid in obtaining some
permanent employment; but the soldier, who was as
brave lion when facing the enemy, shrank with
the timidity Of girl from exposing himself to the
humiliation OF refusal and could not bear to con-
fess his urgent need. He had too much deicacy to
press his claims; he was too proud to be mpor.H-
nate, and so others succeeded where he failed.
happened that the general under whom he had
served, and who had lost sight of him since his re-
trement from the service, came to spend few
months at the watering place, near which the Dut-
tons resided, and hired for the season a handsome
furnished house. Walking one morning on the
SANDS, In a disconsoate mood, our hero saw, with
surprise, his former commander approaching; and
with sudden feeling Of false shame, he tried to
avoid recognition But the quick eye of General
Vernon was not to be eluded, and intercepting him
with outs,retched hand, he exclaimed:
"What, Dutton! is that you! 1t seems an age
since we met. Living in this neighborhoOd, chi"
eyes, General, / have been living here since
retired from the service"
"And YOU sold out, think--to please the mis-
uess, | suppose, Dutton? All these ladies' have
great deal to answer for. Tell Mrs. Dutton shall
call on her some morning, and read her lecture
for taking you from Us"