Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-08-10


couldn't touch them with teH-foot pole.
Farmer Maxwell did not much like thi:
state of things-it cost money on the one
hand, and he did not like to be thrown into the
shade, on the other. He was about the rich
est man in the place; but ten dollar bonnets
and thirty dollar cloaks were abomination;
that he could not tolerate. Mrs. Maxwell
didn't like to be outdone in the matter of dress
and when she bought new merino cloak the
previous season, she had not az doubt bat il
would be unsurpassed for two seasons, al
least. When Mrs. Burton came out with the
thirty dollar velvet, she found the wind was
taken entirely ont of her sail, and she was as
indignant as the case demanded.
In the rise and progress of the village since
the advent of the railroad, two new stores had
gone into operation, one of which was con-
Quoted by Mr.. Burton, an enterprising young
man from the metropolis, who had brought a
city wife and great many city notions into
the place with him.
AS with great many who 60 from the city
to the country, he was exceedingly annoyed
by that disnterested charitable attention tc
other peoples business, which SO extensively
prevails in many rural districts. He kept his
affairs to himself, and this bothered and per-
picked the gossips. His wife had way o.
attending to her own concerns-she had been
brought up where people do not even know
their next door neighbor. If she wanted q
new dress or new bonnet, she never deemed
it necessary to consult the neighbors in regard
to her ability to afford it, or about the style
and material.
Poor Mrs. Maxwell her star began to de.
cline when Mrs. Burton came to the village
She was no longer the leader Of the ton, and
her heart was bursting with envy. Though
she often received the kind Offices of the store.
keepers wife, both in sickness and in health
she would willingly have crushed her. Thai
new cloak was the cap sheaf of the indigni.
ties which she fancied had been heaped upon
her, and she determined that her unconscious
rival should suffer the consequences of her te-
merity.
Her first demonstration was upon her hus-
band whom she found no difficulty in convincing
that Mr.. Burton must be ruined by the ex-
travagances of his wife, and that, unless he
Immediately collected his debt, he would GER
tainly lose it.
AS soon as she had done her washing on
Monday, she made some calls, and embraced
the opportunity of commenting freely upon
that new cloak. The women told their hus-
bands that Mr. Burton would certainly fail ;
and before three days had elapsed, there was
quite ferment in the place.
Nobody knew anything about Mr.. Burton's
affairs; he seemed to be doing good busi-
ness, though no one knew Of his having any
money. He did not even own the house in
which he lived he had no property, appar-
emily, but his stock. The careful old farmers,
to whom in the course of trade he had become
indebted for produce which he sent to Boston,
began to be alarmed by these rumors.
1t was in the State of New Hampshire /;
and at the time of which | write, the 'grab
law was in force, and is still, for aught |
know.
One morning, as Mr.. Burton returned from
journey to neighboring town, he found his
stock attached on the claim Of Farmer Wax
well-and all on account of that new cloak
which his wife had worn to meeting on the
preceding Sunday.
He had not the means to pay the note at
that moment, and while he was considering a
plan to extricate himself from the dilemma,
spread all over the place. All the creditors
were in hot haste to follow the track of Far
mer WaxwelI-for it was first come, first
served and in less than two hours a dozen
had fastened upon the stock of his store.
This was a tremendous result to follow in
the train of thirty dollar cloak, and ges-
siping old woman.
What do you think now, Miss Viney 3
asked Mrs Maxwell, as they met, soon after
the storekeeper's disaster had been made pub
lie.
hope Mr.. Burton will be able to pay his
debts
But he WON'T know he won't
Probably if they had given him any no.
tice Of their intention to demand the payment
of their claims, he would have been prepared
to meet them
Il guess Mrs. Burton will not feel quite SC
stuck up after this
Il hope yOu have done nothing to bring
about this sad result
But have, / made my husband sue his
note, and when he put on, the others did
Thirty dollar cloak, indeed =
'l am sorry you have done this; you may
ruin Mr.. Burton by it,
That's just what mean to do = and Mrs
Waxwell's malignant expression betrayed the
jealousy she had so long harbored.
you did! 1t was very unkind and un-
grateful in you to do So replied Miss Viney
Indignantly.
Humph!'
Any trader would be likely to come ou
badly to have all his creditors pounoe upor
him without giving him chance to collect