The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-08-09

ed, were 1t not the people will call us
parsimonious, and ungenteel.'
oh, if that is ALL he said gaily, I
will promise to spend on- thousand dol
lars on the evening of the party, not in
furniture, however, but in manner far
more gratifying to our guests, aud prof
liable to ourselves, and which shall ex-
onerate us from all imputation of parsi-
mony and you may expcnd in dress,
eatables, and dessert, just what sum you
please !; aud do not forget the Wines
And so the coloquy ended. The min
lister resumed his udes, and his wife
gave her mind to the consideration of
the dress which would be the most be-
coming, and The vians that were the
most expensive. Then next she went
busily about her preparations wondering
all the time how her husband would ex-
pend the thousand dollars; but as she
had learned something Of cccentrcity Of
his character, she doubted not that he
meant to give an agreeable surprise -
and her curiosity grew so great that she
could hardly sleep during the interval.
At length the momentous day arriv-
ed. The arrangements were all COM
plete, and Mrs. W retired, to per-
form the all important business of array
Ing her.fne person in fne attire. Shs
fingered long at the toilet, relying on
the fashionable unpunctualty Of fashion
able people and at length, when every
thing was complete, she left the room
arrayed like Judith Of old gloriously, to
allure the eyes of all who should look
upon her, and iull Of sweet smiles and
graces, Notwithstanding the uncomt1rta-
BILE pinching of her shoes and corsets.--
Her husband met her in the hall
We'll, my dear, our guests have all
arrived he said, and opened the door
ofithe receiving room. Wonderful -
Wonderful what an assembly! There
were congregatcd the crippled, the
MANNED, and the blind, the palsied, and
the extreme aged. a group of children
from the almshouse were also there, who
regarded the lady, some with mouth
wide open, others with both hands thrust
into their hair, while others pecped out
from behind the furniture, to the covert
of which they had retreated from her
dazzling presence. At first she was
petrifed with astonishment, then dis
pleasure crossed her face, till, having
run her eyes over the grotesque assem-
bly,, she met the comically grave express
sion Of her husbands countenance, when
she burst into violent fit of laughter,
during the paroxysms of which the burst
ing Of her corset laces could be distinct
Ily heard by the company.
Mary said her husband, sternly.
She suppressed her mirth, stammered
an excuse, and added
You will forgive me, and believe
yourselves quite welcome
That is well done,' whispered Mr..
W, then turning to the company
he said,
My friends, as my wife is not ac-
qulinted with you, will now make II
few presentations.
Then leading her towards an emacia.
ted creature, whose distorted limbs were
unable to support his body, he said -
{ This gentleman, Mary, is the Rev. Mr..
Brown, who in his youth travelled much,
and endured much, in the cause of our
Master. A violent rheumatism, induced
by colds contracted among the new set
Elements of the West, where he was en-
gagged in preaching the Gospel to the
poor, has reduced him to his present
condition. This lady, his wife, has
piously sustained him, and by her own
labor procured maintenance for herself
aud him But she is old and feeble, as
you now see.'
Then turning to group of silver
locks, and thrcadbare coats, he contin-
ued
These are soldiers of the Revolution
They were all sons of rich men. They
went out in their young strength to de-
tepd their oppressed country. They
endured hardships, toll and sufferings !;
and such as we hardly deem it possible
for men to endure and live. They re-
turned home " the close Of the wal, !,