The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-09-15
MISCELLANEOUS US.
From tLs Horne JoDHeL
PELEa IN SEARCH OF RELATIVES.

pELEa IN SEARCH OF RELATIVES.
Br rHE "LADr OF suALLorr."
Peleg Leech possessed comfortable fc5,-
tune, which he had gained by labor c..d pinch.
ing ECONOMY. This ecnaomy iaudable enough
in the beginning, ha narrowed itself into u
mis"rly snarTness. ana for this reason his
'redueut summer travels Were matter oI
wonder to his neighhors. But Peleg kew
very well that visiting was cheap Tender
ness Tor his purse, and tenderness Tor his
relatives were his two prominent character
istics and in the exercise of each he ex
hibitrd a remarkable degree Of sagacity and
docged perseverance, But in every other
respect poor Peleg was hopelessly dull
lie claimed right to The hospitality OF Il
second or third cousin us undeniably rs the
shelter of his own roof, and no more com
pretended that any ones convenience or
pleasure was tn be consulted than If he had
been a. house Ay. There was nothing
Of the whistling, whiting, impudent
Yankee abou' him. On the contrary, his
manner was cringing, creeping, and he was
not tn be repelled by any ordinary GOODNESS
or delicate suggestions To shorten his visits
His obtus ness was an ample shield against
such weapons.
His little soul looked through little gray
ewes his thin, compressed lips expressed
idyety precision rather than firmness, and
his nose was characterless. except as it CON
formed to the general expression OF his
countenance. His ieaturs, rs whole, like
many that we see, seemed trying to converge
to" ard some given point, in the same ratio
that those of a noble. benevolent Eics ex'
pand. His voice indicated great delibera.
ton and prudence, though unfortunately
these desirable qualities were expended upon
the sma lest possible objects. His nasal
tone must not be overlooked; for to forget
the twaug Of Peleg's voice would be to ijr-
get HIN.
This. then, was the veritable Pelcg Leeeh,
who. after long and frequent consultations
with his wife, who had no voice whatever in
the final decisions, resolved to take sum
mer's tour in search of his relatives. lie
had frequently been here and there among
them, but, ON this occasion, he intended to
honor all within his reach Accordingly he
doled out few silver bits and coppers for
the repleni,hing of hi meek wiie's ward
robe, and, in imagination, palted his own
back foe his generosity. She, happily. knew
the talismanic art of changing old things to
new. and obedient in nll respects, WIS III
readiness for the journey ON the appointed
day.
Pelec did not believe in whizzing like n
bee through the world. To be set down at
his journeys end before he had lairly made
up his mind to start, and to be forever cal.
led Z" aboard" before his feet had shufiied otl
the platform. were insuperable objections,
in his view, to the popular mode OF travel
ling-to say nothing of the serious inroads
il made into his wallet. lie preferred to be
the master OF his own time anl money. On
the day in question. therefore, an old horse,
(which had taken the cue from his master
never to be in hurry and well worn
buggy stood before the gateway. a hnir
trunk, studded with tarnished brass nails,
and u bandbux neatly bagged in factory, was
fastened in the rear, after deal OF chang
ING and fumbling. Mistress Leech, who
rarely opened her lips, silently seated her
self under the same careful supervision
which had been bestowed upon the trunk,
and finally Peleg himsell-aiter walking
round and round the carriage, trying the
harness, smoothing old Charley's name, and
attending to a host of little things in way
that nearly tired out Mistress Leech before
she had iourneyed ut all-climbed cautious
y into the vehicle, adjusted the reins, and
started.
Pelec proved on the second day Of his
travels, that il was cheaper to be muster ol
his own movements than t. ne whirligigged
from one town to another. without time to
choose for the provider OF his wants. lie
r,se aarly that morning, and greatly to the
Surprise of the isadlord. resumed his journey
without ordering breakfast.
Ten good miles brought The early couple
within the precincts OF large town, which
wps yet gaping and rubbing its eyes. Here
Peleg WIS in trouble. He had iurgotton the
residence Of the gentleman whose wile's
mother was his own wiIe's second COUSIN
But in these matters he was us expert as a
Parisian polio man /; and after various wind
inys, and knookings at wrong doors, faintly
pulled the right bell He and his patient
halt, awaited, with sharpened appelites, the
signal for breakfast, and the entrance OF
their sleepy cousins. Their arrival had
been announced by the puzzled servant as
that Of q" softly mon, and n wu.aan who
says niver a bit Of word 7" Curiosity
brought the host and his young wife to the
parlor So Peleg found his breakfast and
his relatives Ii there was shade OF I'LL.
humor on the brow of his entertainer, or IL
the youthful se-keeper hid her dimple
behind the coflee.urn, he never once suspec-
ted himself To be the cause. He departed
rs unceremoniously, with his silent shadow
as he came, pleased nc his skilllul oup.d'eidt,
and with all the world.
A beautiful villa ON the shore Of the lake.
was his next destination. This highly cult.
vated and charming site was owned by u
gentleman whose distant consanguinity and
acquaintance in boyhood Peleg fortunately
remembered. for. on these points, his menu
ory was marye!ously tenacious. In due
time he was winding through the smooth,
shaded carriage way that led to the man.
sion. The apparition OF the dusty, old.iash.
ioned establishment, and droll wheezy
horse. attracted the wondering eyes OF
number OF guests clustered at the drawing
ruom windows, or pacing back and iortlr on
the long piazza. /,
"whom have we here 'n said Mr. Carol
to his wife, a proud, lofty'fastidiously FASH
ionable woman.