American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-04-02
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH
From Harpers Magazine for April.

-l. From Harpers' Magazne for April. ,,r ,g
sBIRTHS MRS. MEEK, OF A SON" .aa
4'aa5I. A Plea for Infants. 5.es e4a.
Ny name is Meek. am, in fact, Mr.. Meek.
That son is mine and Mrs. Meek's. When l
saw the announcement in the Times, dropped
the paper. had put it in myself, and paid
for 1t, but it looked so noble that it Oyerpow-
cred me. ,
AS soon as I could compose my feelings,
took the paper up to Mrs Meeks bedside.
!" Maria jane" said I, H allude to Mrs. Meek,
''you are now public character" We read
the review Of our child several times, with feel
ings of the strongest emotion; and Il sent the
boy who cleans the boots and shoes to the Office
for fifteen copies No reduction was made on
taking that quantity.
1t is scarcely necessary for me to say that our
child had been expected In fact it had been
expected, with comparative confidence, for
some months. Mrs. Meek's mother, who resides
with ns-of the name Of Bigby-had made
every preparation for its admission to our circle.
Fl hope and believe am q quiet man. l will
60 further-I knoao l. am quiet man. My
constitution is tfemulous, my voice was never
loud, and, in point of stature, l have been from
infancy small. have the greatest respect for
Maria James mamma. She is q most remark
able woman. / honor Maria James mamma.
In my opinion she would storm a town, single
handed, with a hearth-broom, and carry it.. /
have never known her to yield any point what
ever to mortal man. She is calculated to ter
rify the stoutest heart. r.,y lv .alr
Still--but will not anticipate.
The first intimation I had of any prepara-
tons being in progress, on the part Of Maria
james mamma, was one afternoon, several
months ago. / came home earlier than usual
from the office, and, proceeding into the dining
room, found an obstruction behind the door,
which prevented it from opening freely. 1t was
an obstruction of q soft nature. On looking in
i found it to be q female. gqql
The female in question stood in the corner
behind the door, consuming sherry wine. From
the nutty smell of that beverage pervading the
apartment, had no doubt she was consuming
a second glassful. Shewore black bonnet of
large dimensions, and was copious in figure.
The expression Of her countenance was severe
and discontented. The words to which she
gave utterance on seeing me were these: "Oh,
git along with you, sir, if you please; me and
Mrs. Bigby don't want no male parties here!"
| That female was Mrs. Prodgit. asker
Immediately withdrew, of course. I was
rather hurt, but made no remark. Whether
it was that showed lowness of spirits after
dinner, in consequence of feeling that seemed
to intrude, / cannot say. But Maria James
mamma said to me, on her retiring for the
night, in q low, distinct voice, and witlr a look
of reproach that completely ,subdued me,
"George Meek, Mrs. Prodgit is your wife's
nurse % 4 R-aN
bear no ill-will toward Mrs. Prodgit. Is it
likely that /, writing this with tears in my eyes,
should be capable of deliberate animosity to-
ward q female, so essential to the welfare of
Maria Jane / am willing to admit that Fate
r,ou boya haa IN apdr doif
but, it is undeniably true, that the latter fe-
male brought desolation and devastation into
my lowly dwelling.
We were happy after her first appearance;
we were sometimes exceedingly SO. But, when
ever the parlor door was opened, and !" Mrs.
Prodgit" announced land she was very often
announced, misery ensued. | could not bear
Mrs. Prodgit's look. ] felt that was far from
wanted, and had no business to exist in Mrs.
Prodgit's presence Between Maria James
mamma and Mrs Prodgit there was dread
full, secret understanding dark mystery and
conspiracy, pointing me out as being to be
stunned. / appeared to have done something
that was evil. Whenever Mrs. Prodgit called,
after dinner, / retired to my dressing room
where the temperature is very low, indeed, in
the, wintry time of the year-and sat looking
at my frosty breath as it rose before me, and at
my rack of boots: serviceable article of fur
niturc, but never, in my opinion, ON exhilara-
ting object. The length Of the councils that
were held with Mrs. Prodgit, under these cir
cumstances, will not attempt to describe l
will merely remark, that Mrs. Prodgit always
consumed sherry wine while the deliberations
were in progress; that they always ended in
Maria James being in wretched spirits on the
sofa and that Maria James mamma always re-
ceived me, when was recalled, with look of
desolate triumph that too plainly said, Nor,
George Meek You see my child, Maria Jane,
ruin, and l hope you are satisfedr'
pass, generally, over the period that inter
vened between the day when Mrs. Prodgit en-
tered her protest against male parties, and the
ever-rnemorable midnight when ] brought her
to my mobtrusve home in cab, with an ex-
tremey large box on the roof, and bundle, a
bandbox, and n basket, between the drivers
legs have no objection to Mrs. Prodgit,
(aided and abetted by Mrs. Bigby, who never
can forget is the parent of Maria Jane, taking
entire possession Of my unassuming establish
ment. In the reccsses of my own breast, the
thought may linger that a man in possession
cannot be so dreadful as woman, and that
woman Mrs Prodgit: but, ought to bear q
good deal, and l hope can, and do. Huf6ng
and snubbing, prey upon my feelings but /
can bear them without complaint. They may
tell in the long run; may be hustled about,
from post to pillar, beyond my strength new
ertheless l wish to avoid giving rise to words
in the family. ."
. s"113 fConcluIcd in our next Jf #
4 SCIENTIFIC FAcTs.---A remarkable instance