The Trinity times., 1855-09-01

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Washington Irving, and venture the asser-
ton that his genial uncle never excclled i,
in felicitous description and pure pathos
The writer is supposed to be tall elderly
gentleman of recluse disposition, and
mild, benevolent manners:
From TIE window l have an extensive
! prospect Of weathercocks and chimneys
and being within view OF the City Hall and
OF the " Five Points" and within hearing
Of nineteen fire bells, there ia q comfort in
my situation, Mr.. Editor, which you proba
big cannot appreciate,
Opposite my dwelling, also, is firc-cn-
glne, which Is IN constant state of prepa-
ration for emergencies, to tue great mystti-
cation of myself and Of several small boys,
which latter daily collect on the sidewalks,
and look with profound curiosity into the
4 N rCcesses OF the engine-room. Never
had engine such devoted attendants. Long
and profound consultations are held re-
spectlng the health of the "machine" by
young men in pea, jackets the wheels are
creased three times day, and, about as
often, the object OF their solicitude is gently
efcIse, while scout ng part es OF yoQug men,
IN strai .ht hats, wlth ringle in trent OF
tde!r cars, sollcltious for the welfare OF the
insurance companies, walk to the corners
to see II they can discover ind cations OF
tire IN any direction. Ii none are to be
seen, they walk moodly back, aud form
Knot III front OF the engine-house. The last
ire is then talked over, and the merits OF
p1PD 4
sorely afraid, from what | overhear, that
our city is but scurvily provided with fire
engines, as il seems by their conversation
that every machine in the city, except their
own, Is utterly useless, and not Ire has
taken place, whose extingushment is not
owing 10 tle superior Merits % iAeir en-
gne, aud the superior energy OF its follow
ers.
have no influence in \ gh quarters, or !
would certainly recommend this particular
company to the peculiar notice OF the cor
poratlon for think that something should
be done for these public benetactors and
am somewhat surprised, after all their
usefulness, that nobody should make honor
able mention OF it except themselves.
The evil repute Of my dwelling is a sure
protection against all intrusion; and from
having lived b,re so long without injury,
the neighbors begin to look at me askance
aud seem to think that one who can re-
main unscathcd amidst the terrors of the
haunted house, is himself no better than he
should be.
For this reason, | have form d but two
acquaintances The first is small dog of
the neighborhood, who seems to have no
owner, and who, as great favor, manages
to Dire ~eioout mealtimes. | suspect him
OF Famongrel, Tor he s long bodied
with bread chest, remarkably
a set VIDE apart, ann shb !. Is
d and as he sits IN iroL' Of
me, unlike one of those old fash
ion,> ms which we sometimes meet
with ,untry kitchen. lie has a long
aud sta al, which be generally carries
Ike liag-stail, at right angles to MS body,
and has grave aud melancholy cast Of
c,pnntensnce but notwithstanding st.ong-
lfOm nay "lHUOM .-.--..ea ,-a~-,s.. f.,-
tecttd him IN acts OF larceny, which give
me but poor opinion Of his morals, aud
which, long since, would have utterly ru-
inLd the reputation OF a dog OF less devout
exterior, However, lonely old man Ike
myself can pardon many things i'll friend,
though that friend be y dog but 1t dos
APPEAR Suspicious that h. should invariably
drop la at meal-time. 1t .ometmes seems
to me that he has no better opinion of me
than the rest Of the neighbors and being
d.ssolute fellow himself, has 9-L III down
Tor one Of the same kidney.
In making his visits, he always pauses ut
the door OF the room, and throwing h,s
head on one side, with one eye partly
closed, seems engaged in calculating my
height in feet and inches, after which he
stalks tolemnly across the threshold, and
seats himself directly in front Of me, wait
ing to be noticed.
The Other acquaintance Of whom spoke.
is bright-lac d little boy, about ten years
years OF age, who, in spite Of the terrOrs OF
the dwelling, breaks ia upon my solitude,
aud during the short time that he remains
here, the whole place assumes an air OF
cheerfulness. lie is a glad-ey, d little fel-
low, with a merry laugh, that seemed to
gush out from the very bottom Of his heart
he is full Of ur.osity, asking o thousand
questions, and viii SIT by the hour listening
TO the stories Of my past LIFE. AT iist bs
visits gave great oAence TO the dos, who
immed lately became particularly assiduous
in his intentions but nnding that the boy
d d not drop in az n.eal-times, he has become
ftCOuC ltd 10 HE company ana even pcIlhlls
HIM to pat HIM On the b, ad though, not
withstaadlng all his deler,nce to me, |
doubt whether even could venture to med.
die with that tall upright mast which hc
calls his tail.
1t il strange that q friendship should thus
spring up between young child just burst
lng lAto ide, and ur ouLd d by gay ant ci-
patioHs, aud . PTay-head d man, whose
dream Is over; aid who, While he listens 10
the hopes aud prospects OF his young com
panioA, feels that, with every year OF his
life, one by one, they VIII vanish, to bright
en- his journey no more. | have often
thou b, - ! listened 10 his joyous yOce, Of
the troubles aud trials that must await HIM,
when be goes forth to join in the great
struggle 81 life +; Oi his bitterness Of heart,
ar friend after friend IL missed from his ac-
custom place Of the rcytrses ~h ca he
must meet; Of the trLachery he must eXpc-
riencc, whore be looks for irieud-hp; Of
coidacss wh, re be looks for love aud Of
the deep deappOlntment- which lurk about
his patu, uLtI gradually see hs opening
aud cOuhdng nature growing more and