Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-02-27
miscellaneous.
A THIMBLE-FULL OF ROMiNCE.


after Chrstmas-day, and there really was
something for dinner The tailor was from
home-ihe children were out, but 1t was
close upon twelve o'clock and in ,rice they
would be back, eager aud hungry for their
meal. Mrs Atkins put down her work-a
very handsome wastcoat of sky-blue satin,
sprlnkled with stars aud bordered, it might /
be, with the zodiac, (ihe border was so
strangely beautiful -clapt her thimble on .
the maulelpiecc, and hurried to the cup
board At all events, there was a disucr
to-day, aud something seemed % pros. -
to the taIlor's wife brighter time, and
fuller table for the time to come.
Atkins had gone to make inquiry about ]
ship that was to sail for the other side OF
the world aud though he had not at thai .
time single piece OF Queen Victoria's
mined gold to purchase a passage for HIM
self aud family, he nevertheless would learn
all the particulars of cost aud necessary
preparation. 1t was a whim, he knew; for
all that It was whIm that controlled him
beyond his powers Of seli-argument had he
tired TO exercise them.
Aud an alone, Mrs Atkins spread the
table. There was piece of beef left, and
small piece oi plum-pudding; and still
the pudding renamed small although Mrs.
Atkins turned tie plate that contained II
round and round hall-a-dozen times, aud
took haia-dozen -ide-oug looks at il, as
/ though endeayoring TO behold it ia the most
improved light But pudding is not to be
/ thus maguhed.
The table laid, Mrs Atkins thought she
would execute a few more stitches, filling
up the time until Atkins and the children
came. As Mrs. Atkins approached the
manie-piecc, extending her fingers towards
/ the thimbe the thimbe-oi rs notion
fen over upon It's SIDE with one distinct,
prolonged sound, as from d silver bell; Mrs.
Atkins thimbie, by the way being ut no
such precious metal, but OF worNng-day
brass Mrs Atkins drew back her fingers
from the thmble as from nettle, when the
thlmbie-seli-moyed-- off the uiantel-
piece and tell upon the hearth. Aud then,
to- tie asiomshucnt aud terror Of Mrs. At
kius, who, strange TO saw could not at that
moment scream. though "a no former acct
dent had she iailed when otherwise dcterm-
lnod-then, from the iMuble began 10 pour
forth. ia small, quick puts, smoke OF siiye-
~ ciearncss. Mrs. Atkins dropi IN her
chair, and sat with her eyes upon the thim-
Bile, still putting a shining vapor--putlng
and putting, until, ia few minutes, the
room was filed as WIKI cloud, aud every
object enyelopcd in II, save the small brass
lhimole tlmt giniered like spech upoa ~
hearth Ia the midst of her terror, Mrs.
Atkins thought Of her litte b.t of beef and
fragmenary puddug--but they were los, TO
her sight mufiled up IN one white cloud
that possessed the apartment.
Cd. -f.. j .,f. "a
way, slowly rolling itseiiup 10 the chimney,
aud Ms. Atkins brass 'hlmble lay, like a.
ny other Wo-peuny implement, upon the
hearih The same weIl-wurn thmbie--lhe
same familiar commonplace that for many
a day had armed her sempslress finger
How do You DO, Mrs. Atkins p said ;
voice from the mautel-piece.
Airs. Atkins Iumped round with the shor
test # Jumps Sue looked aud saw gen
Hcnan---
Well be was the strange,t Of gentlemen
aud he vas 10 the stranges. position Bl
We VIII tei every uite we know about him
Measured by talors' measure, the gentle
mans stature might have been about SIX 90
ches. A gentleman with very clean an,
lofty look his HAIR an IRON gray; with
few wisdom scratches made with an lrol
peu--lhe sort OF pen made out OF Time
old scyhes--about the corner Of bis eyes
that had ceihng-ward look d look, more
over, of sell.satislacuon lie was very So
beFiy dfest ia black--very sobeIly, an
then has white neckerchiel was white an
pure as snow-nfeaih.
Mrs. Atkins thought she recognised /
tlie miniature man weli-known face on
Of those counteuances that, like roy.
Ing face upon shilling, is the property of ev'
"t Tybody who can possess a. She had see
picture of the Poor Mans Friend. and
no, 1t could not be he; 1t was impossible
nevertheless the lace Of the maunikln ISL
wondrousy ike The iiesh-and-blood 200
ness.
And the little gentleman, though som
what uneasIly, sal among a sprig OF Chri'
mas holly that was upon the man,el-peo'
sat and with his best pains, looked secu
amid his bower of spikes.
Hadn't you better take a chair, sig,
this stool (! said Mrs Atkins, as she pass
her apron over a three-egged piece Of de
'you'll be more comfortable, sur
Thank you, said the little man; !
face puckered as he spoke, and shifting L
easily thank you, bat people condemn
to 1--we IN thlmbles are not allowed 10 be co
fortable.'
Poor creatures 2 cried Mrs. Atkins,
must be STRAIT lodging, goodness knows
never heard OF such thing
Benighiened, darkened being = cried
little man IN black; miserable, lorlorn p
son ? he continued, as though from pl
form, did you never hear OF Solomo
brazen kettles
IN. Never, said the tailor's wife, with gr
humility.
Know, then, that Solomon has at I
; moment thousand brazen kettles at the /
,a., tom of the sea aid in every kettle is p
oner, confined for no good he has done,
pend upon it, to hear the sea moan aud ro
and answer IT with his groans And as
brazen kettles, so,'-and the little man 81
ed heavily go IN brass ihimbles SO IN
pens of clerks and merchants and lawy
~ aud authors-narrow prison-houses for
of them who cheat the world, and for al
the world who cheat them; aud cruelesi