Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-11-15

Frsm the Saturday Evening Mail.
TUMBLE DOWN FARM.
- CHAPTER 7

'tifnl place-if
All, that sifg Martin Mcekers farm I
had once produced the finest crops of wheat, {
and the heaviest. It's Indian corn had
been aproverb. It's oats we're almost equal (
to the English, which the emigrants from
the fast-anchored isle assure us are the best
in the world It's grazing land nourished
famous cattle, and, as to the small crops,
they seemed TO grow without culture. The
lawn, tastefully arranged, was brilliant in
knots Of flowers, and displaTep eycry virie-
~ of shrub and tree, indigenous and exotic.
Plenty, comfort and ease attended the place
and its possessor--and the primal curse
appeared to have been suspended in favor
Of this beautiful spot So it might still
have been-'if!
guess. II was the same that we find, all
the land over. 1t was the same hateful
let and hindrance which choaks the pros
perity Of thousands, in country and in
town. The place might still have -four
ished, if the owner had not preferred the
debasing pleasures of strong drink to the
satisfaction Of watching the results of his
industry, and garnering the proceeds of his
labors.
Martins daughters were fain to apollo
gize for him Father they said, had so
much else to occupy him, that he never
could find time for the ornamental arrange
ment of the lawn and the garden. But
the merely ornamental features ofthe place
we're not all that were neglected. Gates
were unhung. Boards swung loosely on
out-houses. Pumps and wells were dry
The paths were grass-gown. Crops strug-
gled for existence among groves of rank
weeds. Less than half yield of anything
was produced. Fruit trees were uupruned,
and matted with parsitical and useless
branches. Briars and brambles almost
concealed the fences The air of wilder
ness was over the whole premises. The
words of Solomon were realized, - the
field Of the slothful, and the vineyard of
the man void of understanding ..
Martin was lounging at the gate, with
the air Of one who is conscious of idleness,
and heartily ashamed of himself, but has
not the nerve TO do better; woe worn with
ennui, aud forlorn with inward rebukes.-
Unkempt and unshaven, dilapidated in
costume and wretched in appearance, he
we'll represented the visible embodiment of
the genius of the place-the spirit-an evil
sprit-which haunted it; for if any may
be called haunted premises, they are those
of him who has surrendered himself to 'the
invisible spirit of wine, which Shakespeare
apostrophizes Wine is the poetical word
for the whole class of maddening beverages
but very little wine, we fancy, finds its
way over the modern inebriate's lips.
And while Martin loitered, waiting anC
wishing for something or somebody to di
vert his thoughts, there rode up to his gat
apersonage of very different aspect. Their
was nothing in his appearance careless, an
nothing absolutely penurious; but you rea
at once in his guise and costume, that h
was very we'll aware that the price of pal
of new boots is equal to the annual interes
of a hundred dollars. A new hat woul
touch the same figure; and as to fu
suit, that would extinguish the product
thousand. So Pettigrew Pettifogg, ESQ
Counsellor and Attorney at Law, clung
his well.saved habiliments while they wou
cling to him, and paid no heed to obsole
fashion while the texture remained frr
and the seams entire.
Accumulation was alwaysin his thought
and he had such horror of waste and e
travagance that he always stood ready
save for himself-what careless spen
thrifts threw away. He had always be-
very attentive to Martin Meeker.
Martin supposed this attention was frien
ship, until the arrears of Pettigrew's XII
Offices were presented to him in very or
sided ACCOMPLISHMENT. The debtor open
his eyes little, and supposed that
creditor was in no hurry Pettifogge
and spiders seldom are in haste, until tn,
tolls are carefully woven and adjusted.
The preliminaries and approaches are pa
fully slow the coup-de-grace is sudd
and efectual. So Pettigrew Pettifogg wa
ed ayear, and then called again with ST
further increased demand. Compound
terest and new charges had swelled
debt wonderfully. Martin stared again.
Pettifogg limited at settlement, and NJ
tin looked hopelessly blank, though strong
inclined to be indignant at the audacity
such an idea. The cunning lawyer sugg
ted that nothing could be easier. Mar
had only to execute mortgage merely
matter Of form-and the account mi,
stand forever. 1t would be settled tn
and both parties would be saved think
oft.
Indolent and careless Martin Nee
readily consented to so convenient metI
of disposing of the business The idea
settlement-the FIRST he had ever mad
his life, quite charmed him. It loo
like business, and then it was attended y
so little trouble SO the parties settl
and in just a year from the date of the t
saction, Pettigrew Pettifogg rode up to
gate as we have related. He could
forbear an affectionate look of concern
the premises, sOrrowiDg at the negle
state Of property which he cousidere
already his own. Under his sorrow, I
was latent satisfaction at the thought
a little attention, without any great
pense, could put matters on an ept
new footing, and make the neglected
pleasant and productive.
Martin was not quite comfortable il
presence of his visitor, but assumed an
rity Of welcome which be was far en-