Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-12-08


up in the world, that was certain. They
had got into new house in the square a
very different place to that in the lane-ve-
ry respcctable--in fact quite superior res
idence; and it had been furnished, spick and
span new, from top 10 bottom. She had
been all over it, and did not see scrap Of
the old things. Such carpets!-real Tur-
key; such pier.glasses!-you could see your
whole length in them; and they had no gauze
on the bright frames, either; such tables!--
she wondered old Worsted was not afraid to
eat off them; and as for the chairs, she
could moi trust herself to say how much they
cost. "Really, now-really" Che old Ia
day summed up this account with, ''it's
quite astonishing TO me how they have man
aged it,"
II sat three or four hours, the old lady
would entertain Inc with histories from her
stock-toking book; but then the worst of it
is--and that makes me feel rather uncom-
fortable--you cannot help having a misgiv-
ing that she is taking stock of you all the
while. She has rubbed up her spectables
for the purpose, and, while her quick old
tongue ra'tles on, her sharp old eyes are en-
ployed in taking an inventory. l always
expect that when she next goes to see Mrs
Worsted, while she is gathering fresh ma
terials, she will be telling them how old
Wagtail called on her the other day, and
she was quite sorry for him, poor old man.
His coat looked nearly out at elbows, and
his shirt collar was ragged, and his boots
had been mcnded in two or three'places, ant
his gloves were really quite disgraceful, and
he put his hat on the ground, so that she
should not notice it; but she did, and it wa,
as shabby as possible He used to he Sc
very particular, that she is sure thing,
must be wrong with him, 1t may be very
well TO hear such stook-takings of youl
neighbors, but one must confess that itmar.
the pleasure, if we feel disagreeably sonsi
bic that orr own inventories are being mad,
out at the same time, fer the edifcation O
other people.
Though l have put Mrs. Ferret fowart
as prominent instance of the sort of peo
pie who stake stock the practice is no
quite confined TO old ladies like her.
know some young ones who are quite adept:
at it. don't care somuch personally about
the young ones doing it, because, of course
they wonld hardly trouble their heads about
such au old fellow as am; so can look or
and listen without any uncomfortable sense
of danger 10 myself. There is Miss Meek
now--she is my type Of young ladies who
take stock" To see her when she is ont
you would not think she took notice Of any.
thing, or that she was capable of making
fun Of anybody. But she is 81 puss, is
Martha Meek, as you would know as wei
as do, if you were an intimate Of the
Mcek's family circle. You should see hel
when she comes home at night from the lit
tie dance at Mrs. Caper's, where she has
been spending the evening. How she
shakes of her calm, reserved manner with
her shawl, and throws her shyness on to the
side-table with her bonnet. How she mi
mics young Spinks, (who has been lsping
pretty things to her whenever he had an OPP
pOrtunity,) til Old Meek nearly tumbles out
OF his chair with laughter; and gives prac-
teal imitation of how Miss Horsley sung
TO the great delight of Mrs. Meek. And
how she reckons up all the items of the en-
tertainments the weakness of the
lemonade--enlarges on the scantiness of the
sandwiches and biscuts-criticisc the per.
Torrance Of the band engaged by Mrs
Caper, which she verify believes was only
one of those horrid common street-band.
picked up for the occasion-and generally
paints Mrs. Caper's entertainment in the
dingiest colors. If you had heard all .thi:
as have, and if you had any genius fol
stock-'aking yourself, you would under
stand quiet young ladies like Miss Martha
Meek, who take stock of their friends fol
home entertainment.
It would be unjust, however, to the ladies
TO suppose that they enjoy monopoly o.
stook-taking. Though I am an old bache
Tor, l am not a orusty, woman-hating one
thank Heaven. | do not think that tn,
stock-taking of the softer sex is half SO sci
fish as that Of us male creatures. They dc
it partly because they have nothing else t.
do, and are driven TO it for occupations
They follow it out because it furnishes ma
terials for gossip, and they must have some
thing to talk about; but we do it, am afraid
with more sordid views. For instance
didn't see Goldly, the other day, NEE
Copperfeld in the street; and, knowing
something about Goldly and Copperfielt