Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-05-25

dollars on the evening Of the party,
not in furniture, however, but in
manner far more gratifying TO our
guests, and profitable 10 ourselves,
and which shall exoneraie US from
all imputation Of parsimony and you
may expend in dress, eaiables and
dessert, just what sum you please ;
and do not forget the wines
And so the colloquy ended. The
minister resumed his studies, and his
wife gave her mind to the considera-
ton of the dress which would be
most becoming, and the viands that
were The most expensive. Then
next she went busily about her prep
arations, wondering all the time how
her husband would expend the thou
sand dollars but us she had learned
something Of the ecceniricity of his
character, she doubted not that lie
meant to give an agreeable surprise
and her curiosity grew so great ihst
she could hardly sleep during the in
tcrval.
AT length the momentous day ar
rived. The arrangements were all
complete, and Mrs. w. retired TO
perform the aIl-imporlant business Of
arraying her fine person in fine attire.
She fingered long at the toilet. rely
ing on the fashionable unpunciuallty
Of fashionable, people and at length,
when everything was complete, she
left the room arrayed like Judith Of
old, glorlously, 10 allure the eyes of
all who should look upon her, and
full of sweet smiles aud eraces,
notwithstanding the uncomfortable
plnching oi her shoes and corse,s.
Her husband met her in the hall.
Well, my dear, our guests have
all arrived he said, and opened the
door Of the receiving room. Won
derful wonderful What an as
sembly There were congregated
the crippled, the mnimei, and the
blind, the pal, led and the extreme
aged. A group of children from the
alms-house were also there, who re-
gardcd the lady, some with mouths
wide open, Others with both hands
thrust into their hair, while others
peeped out from behind the furniture,
10 the covert of which they had re-
treated from the dazzling presence.
Al first she was peirified with aston
Ishment, then dispIcasure crossed her
face, I'LL, having run her eyes over the
grotesque assembly, she met the com
lcally gave expression of her hus-
bands counienance, when she burst
into d violent fit Of laughter, during
the paroxysms Of which the bursting
of her corset laccs could be distinctly
heard by the company.
Mary Z soid her husband siernly.
She suppressed her mirth, slammered
an excuse, and added,
You will forgive me, and believe
yourselves quite welcome
That is well done whispered
Mr.. W.; then turning 10 the con-
pany, he said
My friends, as my wife is not ac-
qualnied with YOU, will make few
presentations
Then leading her towards an e.
maciated creature, whose distorted
limbs were snable to support his
body, he said This gentleman,
Mary, is the Rev. Mr. Brown, who
IN his youth travelled much, and en-
dured much in the cause of our COM
mon Master. A violent rheumatism,
induced by colds contracted among
the new settlements of the West,
where he was engaged in preaching
the Gospel 10 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 and him.
But she is old and feeble, as you now
see
Then turning to group Of silver
locks and threadbare coats. he con-
tinued: These are soldiers of The
Revolution. They were all sons of
rich men. They went out in their
young strength 10 defend their op-
pressed country.
They endured hardships, tolls,
and suiierings, and such as we hardly
deem i, possible for men to endure
and live. They returned home at
the close Of the war, manned in their
limbs, and with broken constitutions,
Ia find their palrimonies destroyed
by fire or the chances Of war, or their
property otherwise wrested from
them. And these men live in pow
eriy and neglect in the land for the
prosperity OF which they sacrificed
their all. These venerable ladies' are
wives of those patriots, and widows
of others who have gone to their re-
ward. They could tell tales that
would thrill your heart and make ii
better
Then, turning 10 another he said
'This is the learned ard celebrated
DIR. NJ, who saved hundreds Of lives
during the spotted epidemic +; but
his great success reused The animos-
ity of his medical bretheren, who sue
ceeded in running his practice, and
when blindness came upon him he
was forgotten by ihose whom he had
delivered from death. This lovely
creature is his only child, and she is
molherless. She leads him daily BIZ
the baud and earns the food she sets
before him. Yet her learning and
accomplishments are wonderful. She