The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-27
For the National Era.
JAMES MCIARY AND HIS BOY.
BY PATTY LEE.

y
case with Irish emigrants, he came alone and
on stepping ashore from the terrible Storage.
the small bundle in his hand and two dollars
in his pocket comprised all his fortune save an
earnest heart, strong hands, and pious and
aged mothers benediction Besides he had
bright blue eyes brown curls, and good deal
OF the quality denominatea tact As the reader
may suppose he was not slow in obtaining EN-
plcyment which his sprightly manner and con-
slant diligence secured to him. His situation
was humble and his compensation small, but
by little and little it accumulated, for his ex-
penditures were only what absolute necessity
required, and it was astonishing how long his
little bundle suficed
In the course of a year, he left New York
Tor the West, believing. as he was right in be-
heving, that labor would not only be better re-
warded but that he should also have ampler
opportunities of rising above his present situa-
ton. by dint OF working his way, rs it is
| termed, he had more money on reaching the
terminus OF his journey (one of the most beau
tlful and growing cities of the Mississippi
Valley than when he set out Here he became
a carpenters apprentice, and in the course Of
time Journeyman carpenter, and afterward
master workman.
ingenious, active, and prompt, he soon be-
| came eminent in his calling and at twenty
| five, saw himself well dressed, with some
considerable capital at his, disposal, and pros
poets before him equal to hiswishes He began
| to feel able to indulge in luxuries. and occa-
slonally drank glass Of whiskey and from the
same calculation he took to himself n wife. Ii
would be convenient he thought, to have wash
sds, .e.-.e 1Gsnq.g &c, sao,i5 s &,,1ar. az.
! to have home in Which IN keep bis own
whlekey, -;td - r''rH ham some sort Of stahihts
and standing 1t would cost him no more than
now-perhaps less-and be more comfortable
and convenient
Standing upon these premises, he purchased
| y pink neckcloth, white vest, and two silk
northumberland of the bandanna sort, one
red and the other yellow, and began looking
for some one possessing the qualifications he
thought equisite-amiabiity of disposition,
submissiveness of spirit, and of habits rigidly
frugal, These he soon found in the person of
Miranda Williams, the daughter of a poor
widow, a seamstress who sometimes assisted her
| mother and sometimes went out to service.
She was tall, blue-eyed, golden-haired damsel,
whose natural fair looks had been something
marred by hard labor, but who was still called
| pretty girl, and under different circumstances
would have been thought handsome. Her edu-
catonal advantages had been slight, her expe-
| rience limited, and consequently she was gno-
rant ofherself; but she knew how to work and
how to make the most of small means, was fond
of stylish dress, and penurious even to stingi-
ness-which last quality was especially we'll
pleasing in the eyes of Mr.. William McClary
| After few interviews, Miss Williams hav-
ing hemmed the new cravats and handker-
chiefs, and received due amount of compli-
ments and caresses necessary preliminaries, of
course, they were married-the young man
thinking that he had made good bargain,
and the girl that she was really in love. Time
and circumstances matured and developed their
characters and they both thought differently.
No sentimental idling attended the honey
moon, and Mrs. McClary soon found herself
the mistress of her own house, or what is so
termed, though she was in fact but the mistress
of master-Mr. McClary making the pur.
chases and doing the ordering, from the selec
ton of the pine bedstead bureau, and table, t.
the broiling of the beefsteak. Three rooms IL
the second story of dingy building in sub
urban quarter of the city comprised their dom
Gil at first, but Miranda, who had never lived
more elegantly, was satisfied and when the
first year went by, and the floor which she had
secured every day for she was scrupulousIy
neat, was oversproad with rag-carpet made by
herself and the two chairs with which they
began were increased TO six, she was more than
satisfied, almost happy. She had not only per-
| formed all her own work cooking, washing,
| mendng making, and all, but had found time
for extra sewing, with the proceeds of which
she had clothed herself and procured all the
dimty, moccasins, lace &c, which little Willie,
now in the cradle, required, beside the white
blanket, which she did not bind with blue,
though she thought it pretty, because it would
fade when washed, and she should never get
the worth of her money.
With the increase of labor she learned also
to manage so that when the baby was to be
cared for she got along about rs well rs before.
Bat it mattered not how much she did, it was
no more than her husband expected OF her 10
that she sometimes felt sorrowiul and discon-
tented but without complaint worked on.
Meantime, owing in part at least to her strict
economy and constant cxertion, their pros
perity increased and ut the close of the second
year they lived in nice little house OF their
own in better part Of the city--thc rag-car-
pet gave place to ingram, and the pine furn-
turc to mahogany and Mrs McClary wondered
why she felt no happier than before. Undoubt-
eddy her husband did, but their happiness was
drawn from different sources. He was happy
in prospective future, and in having the best
brandy in the house. Ambitious OF distnc- |
ton, he was gratifed by being pointed out as
one of the most ingenious mechanics IN town
and az some sort of respect attaches 10 pros |
perty he was beginning to be a man OF con-
sderation his vanity was in0rdinatc, and he
believed, if he were not already 80 he was GER
tainly destined TO be great man. His wife |
4. Al. r. Ill ho Ia..~aI --frnuol ;nI,,o
trio,is, and 0blging--so that when he returned
home drank his brandy and ratified his loose
change for the amusement of the baby, while |
relating the method of some shrcwd bargain |
driving, he had all he was capable Of enjoying
Not NO the wife.
The accomplishment Of swearing attended
that of drinking brandy, and the most out
rageous profanity was mixed with her hus-
bands everyday talk, and the baby learned
to pronounce an oath IA soon ~ anything else.
This was source of ceaseess discomfort, AZ
she found il remedcss for on making the
slightest remonstrance, she became herself the
recipient of such cpithcts az had once shocked
her when applied to brute. Then, too, lest
she should be thought extravaganza she feared
either 10 ask for anything she had not herself
earned, or to eat and drink az much az she
wanted With his wealth increased her hus-
bands ayarice and though her labors and
cares grew heavier and heavier, for with the
years came other children, with their demands
and necessities,) she feared 10 complain for,
on the slightest expression Of the SORT her hus-
band never failed 10 ask what in the d. she
wanted--a dozen nurses and 10 she scarcely
spoke Of WEAKNESS Then also her passion for
fine dress was constantly crossed she had ne
r.l, anA IN aaAa frot, tho
aid she gave her husband but when she asked
for il, she was twitted with having been por-
tioness--her lord taking to himself the entire
credit of their prosperity. What she once got
she possessed the art OF keeping as good as
new;r but this excellent quality operated to
her disadvantage; for while the old dress
IooLad % wall what could aha rossihly want