Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-03-17
OrigtnaI 5turg.
Written for the Spirit of the Age-Raleigh.
MORTON MANSION:
CHAPTER w.
BY WILL: WILLOWILL.

Curse the tongue
Whence slanderous rumour, like the adder's drop,
Dstils her venom, whitening friendships faith, |
Turning loves favor.-HnLHoUsE.
The quiet little village of E., was
cursed with one of those pests of society
that, unfortunately for the we'll being of our
race, are to be found in almost every village
and parish in the country g1'oggery-I
that favorite haunt of sin the groggery
It was on a small scale, but was faithful
prototype of those larger engines that deal
out wholesale death and destruction in the
ranks towards which their fatal calibre is
brought to bear. 1t was miserable den,
kept in little one story yellow house. Such
Of my readers as have ever passed there,
will we'll remember the yellow boards and a
rude flower that was attempted for draw
ing sketched upon the narrow door-they
will not fail to remember the place when
the window is called to mind-the window
that had in it dozen oranges, half as many
lemons, never more nor less, box of CT
gars and that quaint automaton Of German
construction doubt not but you remem-
it, we'll; that unique, castle-looking struc-
ture, sitting on its own appropriate shelf a.
cross the window, with the little figures all
in merry motion in the old messy hall-the
blind fiddler and his dog and his dozen
fairy dancers. Ifit was pleasant day when
you passed, you will recollect the group Of
children that was gathered before the win
dow, gazing at the tricks Of the Automaton
and listening to its merry music; for the
creature was capable Of discoursing some
airs most excellently. The automaton and
the plump parrot were great attractions at
the Fox and the Swan tavern for the
keeper had ventured an innovation upon the
manners of the greater ones of his trade SC
far as to give his place of business name
and what is more, had actually paid for the
painting of a sign. A Fox and Swan
both eating from the same dish on one side
and from the same jar on the other 1t wa
a quaint device, and in its palmiest days th
Fox and Swan was a great place of re
sort, especially at election times Here th
] politicians were wont to congregate and hol
their councils over foaming mugs Of sma
: beer. The host was most obliging one
{ poor fellow, he has gone to his rewards now
but in the day Of which we write. Amc
/ Sutter was in his glory when standing b
hind his smooth bar. with his faithful Sc
h want, Irish Barney at bis side, who W;
5 always busy in drawing beer and wine, scou
S ing pewter mugs and arranging the bottle
) And as for Amos himself, he was always
/ a good humor and always busy in waitir
e on his customers, brushing the change in h
J. well-worn drawer and turning precisely eve
Y fifteen minutes to wind up the quaint autoT
v atom, just to please the children! The CHI
d dren of the village had formed quite an
]. tachment for Amos, for he was so kind
h them in making his little old man play
Ye them, and the little iurocents had wonder
al why their parents had SO often bid them
Id keep away from the Fox and Swan Taver
he it surely was quite attractive to them,
ST. there was the automaton with its tricl
mt nice oranges in the window and Amos v
so kind he had. On several occasions Civ
Dis the little boys whole handsfull of candy,
ur- called but were in fact strong hrar
rs, drops. This delighted the children;