Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-12-08
From Sharp's Magazine.
Taking Stock.


man myself, and have not any very precise
notion of the operation which that phrase
aesignates, except that periodically it in
wolves general taking down of goods in
shops and warehouses. a general confusion
in bales and packages, and on immense
amount of hustle and work among clerks,
porters, and such like people; the object be-
ing to see what is available, and strike
balance of profit and loss.
Though do not know much about it, as
l dare say will be apparent to those whose
paths lie along the track of commerce, !
have taken hold Of the phrase as a very ex-
pressive one, and apply it in way Of my
own. know plenty Of people who never
had business transaction in their lives,
and yet are constantly occupied taking stock.
In these cases, however, the estimates they
make arc not of their own property but of
the property Of their friends, neighbors, and
acquaintances, &c. purpose 10 give few
instances of the social phase Of stock-tak-
ing, for the information of my readers.
Mrs. Ferret, old Ferretts widow, who
was Miss Weasel, is one of the greatest
stock takers of my acquaintance. call in
on her sometimes, TO hear how the old lady
is getting on, and what she has to say of
other folks-in fact 10 take stock of her,
and TO get an insight into her stock-takings
Of other people; and this is the sort Of in
formationI usually gain at such ,isi;s.-
Mrs. Ferret has been to see Mrs. Well
bred. recolleot the Wellbreds, Of course,
that used 10 live at Oldington House in such
grand style. recollect the tall rootman
they used 10 keep, and the fat coachman,
and the sleek horses of the heavy old car
riage, with all the arms and quarterngs Of
the Wellbreds upon the panels. Wen,
Mrs. Ferret has found great difference
in the Wellbreds; and she tells me all about
it. had heard that the Wellbreds had re-
moved from Olding;on House to Newstone
Cottage The reason was, that the old
place was damp, 'nd that Mrs. Wellbred's
health required change. That might i'm
pose on the world at large, but it did not
impose upon Mrs. Ferrett She is not ac-
customed to take anything upon trust--she
takes stock for herself always. Be-
sides, she has had her suspicious q know
she has, she remarks to me) for some time.
She had noticed lately at Oldington House
that things were getting rather shabbier
than they used 10 be. 1t did not escape her
eyes that the carpet in the dining room had
been turned what ladies call "sides into
middle" toget the worn places out of sight
4 and into corners. 1t did not deceive her
when they pnt that gauzy yellow stuff over
the gilt frames; to keep them from getting
dirty, indoeA-to hide the specks and spots
on them, that was nearer the truth. She
got at the secret, too, of those covers over
the chairs in the parlor; she turned one Of
the covers UP one day, when she was left
alone there for five minutes, and made GER
tain they were put on tohile the shabbincss
of the seats. She had missed some of the
plate, too, that used 10 gliston upon the Ia
bic. She heard the French cook had been
discharged, because he was saucy; she
knew better than that-it was because he
was too expensive. She drew her own
conclusions when she saw the liveries worn
longer than they used to be; and she gather
ed confirmation for her ideas when she de-
tected the fact that Mrs. Wcllbred's gown
was dyed silk, and her new bonnet-she
always used 10 wear such good bonncts- a
cheap one. In fact, Mrs. Ferret had, for
many years, kept regular DR.. and Or.
stock account Of every thing at Oldington
House, and her conclusions were, that the
Wellbreds were going down in the world.
She had long been on the lookout for some
decided change, indeed; and when she heard
Of the removal, she was sure it had come,
and she was right. She had been to see for
herself, and it was just as she expected
There were the old looking glasses, with
the frames newly g0u2ed; the old chairs,
with fresh covers; the old, turned "sIdcs
into middle carpets, cut to the smaller
rooms Of Newstone Cottage, so as to con-
eeul their defects. The tall fooman had
given place to small page, who did not eat
so much, of course, nor want such high
wages, nor cost so much to clothe; and the
sleek horses and stately old family carriage
were exchanged for pony and four-wheel-
ed chaise, which Mrs. Wellbred could drive
herself, and so save the coachman. In
short, Mrs. Ferret had taken a complete
stock-account of the new place, and she
pilied the poor WeIlbrebs--thnt she did.
Very different was her account Of her
call upon Mrs. Worsted. I recollected The
Worsteds, of course. Why, old Tom