New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-17

,r.,s were a. rank (which il saying much), a. the
ron rsilings ncloting them we're rusty behind II,
. iumble 9f roofs. II was q double house, with
lnng narrow. heavily framed windows. Many
xe.rs AGO IL had had il in its mind to slide down
sideway,; it had been propped up, however and
WAS leaning on some half dozen gigantic crutches;
which ~ mnasium fer the neighboring eats, wealth
er stained, smoke blscken.d, and overgrown with
weeds appeared in these latter days to be no very
cure reliance.
Nothing changed" said the traveller, stopping
In look round Dark and miserable 81 ever A
light in my mothers window, which seems never
IN have been e1tinguished since came home twice
year from school, and dragged my box over this
pavement Well, WELL we'll
he went up 10 the door, which had projecting
canopy IN carved wood, of festooned jack.tOwe
and children's heads with water on the brain, de-
,pped sitter once popular monumental pattern
ana knocked A shutting step was soon heard on
the stone floor Of the hail. and the door was opened
by An old man bent and dried, but with keen eyes
He had candle in his hand, and he held it up
for moment to assist his keen eyes. "Ah, Mr.
Arthur" be said, without any emotion, you are
come at last Step in"
Mr.. Arthur stepped in and shut the door
"Your figure is filed out, and set" said the old
man, turning to look at him with the light raised
again, and shaking his head "butyou don't come
up 10 you lhlueI III NY oPluiVn' A'Vi !c' !Vui
mother
How is my mother
"She is as she always is now. Keeps Der room
when not actually bedridden, and hasn't been out
of il fifteen times in as many years, Arthur They
had walked into a spare, mesger, dining room.
The old man had put the candlestck upon the
table, and supporting his right elbow with his lee
hand was smoothing his leathern jaws while he
looked at the visitor The visitor offered his hand.
1 I'D L. uuh ID Cd "
prefer bis Jaws to which he returned as soon as
he could.
81 doubt if your mother will approve OF your
coming home on the Sabbath, Arthur" he said,
shaking his head wariy.
you wouldn't have me 90 away again
"Oh! II /, l am not the master It's not
what I would have. | have stood between your
father and mother for q number of years. don
pretend to stand between your mother and you.
Twill you tell her that / have come home
"Yes Arthur, yes, Oh to be sure! II tell her
that YOU have come home Please to wait here.
You won't find the room changed" He took an
Other candle from cupboard, lighted it, left the
first on the table, and went upon bis errand. lie
was short bald old man, in high shOuldered
black coat and waistcOat, drab breeches and long
drab CATERS He might from his dress, have been
either clerk or servant and in fact had long been
both. There was nothing about him in the way OF
decoration but a watch which was lowered into
the depths of its proper pocket by an old black
ribbon, and had furnished copper key mOOred
above il, to show where it was sunk His head
was awry, and he had one sided, crab-llke way
with him, as if his foundations had yielded at
about the same time as those Of the house, and he
ought TO have been pr0pPed up In similar manner.
How weak am l." said Arthur Clennam, when
he was gone that could shed tears at this re-
cepton who have never experienced anything
else who have never expected anything else"
He not only could, but did. 1t was the momen-
tary Welding Of nature that had been disappointed
| from the dawn of its perceptions, but had not
| quite given up all its hopeful yearnDgs yet he
subdued it, took up the candle and examined the
room. The old articles of furniture were in their
| old places the Plaques of Egypt mu,h the dun
mer for the fly and smoke plaques of London
were framed and glazed upon the walls. There
was the old cellaret with nothing in it, lined with
| lead, like sort OF coffin in compartments there
| was the old dark closet, also with nothing In it, OF
which he had been many time the sole contents,
in days of punisbment, when he had regarded 1t
as the veritable entrance to that bourne to which
the tract had found him gaOping There was the
large hard featured clock on the sideboard, which
| he used to see bending its figured brows upon him
with a savage Joy when he ~as behindhand with
his lessons, and which, when it was wound up once
a week with an iron handle, used to sound as il
il were growing in ferOcous anticipation of the
miseries into which il would brisg him. Bat, here
was the old man come back, ssyiOg, Arthur, I'll
90 before aud light you"
Arthur followed him up the staircase, which
was psneled off into spaces like so many mourn
ing tablets, into dim bedchamber, the floor Oi
which had gradually so sunk aud settled, that the
fireplace was in dell. On 8 black bier like sofa
in this hollow, propped up behind with one great
angular black bolster, like the block at state
cutiOn in the good old times, sat his mother IN a
widows dress.
She and his father had been at variance from his
earliest remembrance. To sit speechless himself
in the midst of rigid silence, glanciug in dread from
! the one ayerted face to the other, had been the
peacefullest occupation of his childhood. She
gave him one CLASSY kiss, and four stiff fingers
mufled in wOrsted. This embrace concluded, he
ga. down on the opposite side of her little table.
There WAS fire in the CRATE, as there had been
night and DAY for fifteen years. There WAS ket-
tie on the hob as there had been night sAd day for
fifteen years. There was little mound Of dsmped
ashes on the top Of the fire, and another little
mound swept together under the CRATE, as there
bad been night and day for fifteen years. There
was smell of black dye in the airless room, which
the fire had been drawing out Of the Grape and
stuff Of the widows dress for fifteen months, and
out of the bier. Ike sOfa for fifteen years
Mother, this is a change from your old active
habits"
:" he world has narrowed to these dimensions,
Arthur" she replied, glancing round the room.
Ii is well for me that never set my heart upon
it. tallow yaDities"
The old infutnc Of her presence and her stern
strong voice, go gathered about her son, that he
felt conscious of renewal of the tim!d chill and
reserve of bis childhood
DO you never leave your room, mother =
What with my rheumatic affection, and what
with it's attendant debility or nervous weakness
names are of no matter now-l have lost the use
of my limbs. l never leave my room have not
been out of this room for-tell him for how long,
she said speaking over her shoulder.
A dozen year next Christpas,' returned a