Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-12-22
CHAPTER XVI.
How the Home was Blss, Thereby.


II will surprise no one TO be told
that, however truly such an excess
may have been the first, il was by no
means the last exploit Of our altered
laborer in the same vein Of heroism.
Bacchus's was quite close, and he
needs must call for his change; he had
TO call often; drank all quits; changed
another sovereign. and was owed
again: but, trust him, he wasn't going
tobe cheated out Of that; take care Of
the pence, and the pounds viii take
care Of themselves. But Il was
ditto repeated; changing. being owed,
grudging. grumbling; at last he found
out the famous new plan Of owing
himself: and as Bacchus's did not sec
fit to reject such wealthy customers,
Roger soon chalked up yard long
score, and grew so niggardly that they
could not get penny from him.
1t is astonishing how Immediately
wealth brings in, as its companion,
meanness; they walk together. and
stand together, and kneel together. as
the hectoring, prodigal Faulconbridge,
the Bastard Plantagenet in King John,
does with his white-livored puny broth
Ell, Robert. Wherefore no sooner was
Roger blest with gold, than heresolved
not to lose literally, or to give away
one farthing. To give, l say, for ex-
travagant indulgence is another thing;
and Il was fine proud pleasure to
feast a lot of fellows at his sole ex-
pense. II meanness is brother to
wealth, 1t is at any rate first cousin to
extravaganza.
When the dowager collects "her
dear five hundred friends" to parade
before the fresh young heirs her wax
light lovely daughters--when all is
glory, gallopade. and Gunter,-when
Rubini warbles smallest, and Lablache
is heard as thunder on the stairs,-
speak, tradesmen, ye whv best can
tell, the closeness that has catered for
that feast; tell il out, ye famished mil
liners, giound dowu to sixpense on a
ball dress bill: whisper il, ye footmen,
with your wages ever due; let Gath,
let Ascalon re-echo with the truth, that
extortion is the parent of extravaganza
Now, that episode should have been
in foot note; but no one takes the
trouble TO read notes; and with justice
too, for il Il man has anything TO say,
let him put it in his text, as orderly as
may be. And, il order be sometimes
out Of the question, as seems but clear
ly suitable at present to our hero's
manner OF life. Il is wise TO go boldly
on, without so prim an usher; to in
troduce our thoughts as they reveal
themselves, ignorant of "their own
degrees" not standing on the order
Of their coming" but, as a pit crowd
on benefit night, bustling over one
another Gin most admired disorder"
This will well comport with Rogers
daily life; for, Notwithstanding the
frequent interference Of an Amazon
wife--iegardless Of poor dear Grace's
gentle voice and melancholy eyes
in spite Of a conscience priclxing in his
breast, with the spines of horse-ches-
nut, that evil crock appeared from the
beginning to have been found but for
one sole purposc-videlicit, that ol
keeping alight in Rogers brain the
fire of mad intoxication. Yes, there
were sundry other purposes, too. which
may as soon be told directly.
The utter dislocation Of all home
comforts occupied the foremost rank.
True--in comparison with the homes
Of afiiuence and halls Of luxury
those comforts may have formerly
seemed few and far between; yet still
the angel of domestic peace not sell
dom found a rest within the cottage.
Not seldom? always; II sweet-eyed
Grace be such an angel, that ever-abi-
ding guest, full Of love, duty, piety,
and cheerfulness. But now. after
long enduring anguish, vexed in her
righteous soul by the shocking sights
and sounds Of the drunkard and his
parasites (for all the idle vagabonds
about soon hocked around rich Acton,
and were freely welcome TO his reck-
less prodigallty,) Grace had been
forced to steal away. and seek refuge
with ncighbor Here was one bles-
.soe.ftka laas