Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-01-19
CHAPTER TWO.


Lvening in New York city, and Ca
nal street has come to be below the GEN.
ire Of the town. Murray Hill is looked
upon by sia,ffy dwellings with brown
stone iroiss. and looks back upon the
city dehantly, with i,s roar and hustle
last coming toward the Harlem heights.
In one OF these dwellings--the newes.
and most luxuriani-looking of all-is
seen The signs Of preparation for an
evening party. From early morning
until lwiligh, the carts of Mons. Tremly.
the Broadway confecftaner. Nave been
driving TO and from the doors. Vases
and flowers have been carried into the
side garden. Servants, with heated fa-
ces and !umbled aprons. have stood chat
,efing at Il door steps. There was not
a pedestrian going by bu, what could
have told at once that there was no mis-
,ress in the house--the house of Morris
Morton, the retired bachelor merchant.
Some thirty years before he had come
from some unknown place, of unknown
origin, and, with unknown resources,
had slowly worked himself up to the
pinnacle of metropolitan wealth. Al
rirst, recluse from society always re.
served in business-gloomy at times,
yet afiable-rareiy smiling; but of late,
and since his REIMBURSEMENT OF business
TO his head clerks, he had gone much
into the gay world, receiving that hom-
age which The denizens OF the castles of
fashion are never slow to pay the man
of extended resources.
He was now nn the tbiesho of his
first party. As was initiating himself
into the my steries of arstocratic life
His princely parlors and drawing rooms
opened for the reception of honorable
and wealthy guests, who were proud 10
do him homage.
The din Of preparation has subsidized
into the quie: Of readiness. Carriages
are already beginning to roll toward the
nabob's mansion from all quarters of
The city, and even from ils suburbs, and,
alone in his parlors, resplendent with a
ligh. which CLEANS on hundred paint
ings aid thousand articles of taste and
luxury, he PAGES the carpet in impa.ien.
expectation.
"Forty years ago climbed the deck OF
the Canton brig, cast off boy!' and
the speakers voice .hickened and brow
gathered from pressure of the emotions
within. "Proud then, proud ever, and
proud now. Even my mother came TO
forget me-the mother who is doubtless
now beneath the clods Of ,he valley. |
inherited my pride. And not syllable
in answer to my repentant letters came!
'Twas well, as II made me prouder; and
bore the after shock; for had survived
the first"
So soliloquised the millionaire. as still
he paced the yielding carpet, and felt his
brow grow tighter and tighter from the
pressure Of emotions within.
| III.
woulG mt give much for the man who
cannot love a dog-who canno. detect in
the wagging Of the most s,umpy tail an
instance Of the poetry Of afection-who
cannot have superb and dogly head
laid against his knee caressingly--who
! cannot write. or read, or think the better
with some faithful bow.wow sprawling
on the Aear,h.rug at his feet. Not only
DO 1 think so. bu, Peter Patser always
said 20, and stou.ly contended for il. no
matter how great the audience. Peter
had lived among dogs for many a year
he had grown up among them. Ter.
riers, pointers, settlers, grey hounds and
spaniels, were the spirits attendant on
his dreams. Oh, il was lucky hi. he
made, when, coming from his native
New Jersey village TO the great city in
ques, Of work, he stumbled upon the
grounds OF famouA dog-fancier, no. a
gun sho. from the Cro,on reservoirs who
was then and there looking ou. for jus,
such likely lad. fond Of canine favor
ties. and interested in their health AM
fortunes.
| Peter Pa..er had grown to be an ora
Gle 10 dogs. Though the down had
ss ,,cslv grown upon his cheeks. gray