Litchfield enquirer., 1855-02-01
WisceIiapy.
The New Cloak.

1uo N0W OlUdks
"There declare, if Mrs. Burton has not
got a new cloak - exclaimed Mrs. Wax
we'll to her intimate friend, Miss Whey, as
they came out of church one Sunday.
~ see she has," replied Miss Vlney, We
ry quietly.
81 know her husband can't afford it; she
will b. the min Of him yet"
81 suppose they know their own bust
ness best. At any rate, 1t Is blessing that
you or | are not accountable for her mis-
deeds," said Miss Whey, who, though what
is technically termed an 'old maid was not
of that class who have been slanderously
styled gossips and busy-bodies. And we
have purposely introduced her to refutc
the foul calumny that old maids are all
meddlers--and we are sure that all spin
sters will be grateful to us .nr the service
~ don't know aboutthat," returned Mrs.
Maxwell. with dubious shake Of the head
"Mr. Burton owes my husband three hnn-
bred dollars, and don't believe he ever will
get his pay il things go on in this way
That cloak couldn't have cost less than thr.
~ dollars"
81 presume they could afford it, or they
would no, have bought it--at any rate they
know best"
Mrs. Burton Is a vain, conceitcd, proud
woman. and pride will have fall one of
these days"
al hope not"
a. hope she will have fall, she would
drop some of those airs then"
81 never thought she was what might be
termed a vain woman"
She is; she is an impudent mink, and
the sooner she is brought on a level with
her circumstances, the better for her and the
world"
She has tho reputation Of being a very
kind hearted person, and an excellent neigh
bor."
~ don't care if she is; she likes to 'lord
it. through the village, and for one won't
be ruled by her,"
" Really, do not understand you ; she
is as amiable and humble as any one need
be-"
"Amiable and humble, indeed. VIVA.
did she buy that new cloak for except to
excite the envy Of half the town, and make
them think she is somebody g.
al hope there is no one so silly as TO en-
Wy her," and Miss Whey cast significant
glance full into the face Of her companion
II don't for one; but | should like to
teach her that she is no better than the rest
Of the world"
"She don't profess to be; she visits the
neighborhood, and I'm sure there's no bet
ter person in sicknes. than SHE is.'
IAN that may be-"
"When you had the erysipelas you re-
member she watched with you when no one
else would"
IL know it, but is one to be tyranized over
forever, because she watched few nights
with me-"
=" How strange you .aik"
"Dol! Didn't she buy that cloak on
purpose to cut figure through the town
and make everybody feel cheap"
No, am sure she did not; she had no
such MOTIVE" replied Miss Whey, smartly
Is don't believe it, there ~
"She is no such woman as that ~
Yes she is, just such a woman as that"
al have seen no one but you who feels
bad abou, it,"
.But me Ia sake! wouldn't have
you think feel bad about it She can wear
what she's mind to, for all me only
hope she can afford il; thsA is all"
al think she can; she has the reputation
OF being pretty careful woman"
81 don't care; but feel it my duty to
warn my husband to look after his debt
When things get to be so awful extravagan,
there's no knowing what may happen"
"Mr. Burton is doing very good busi-
ness, people say"
Nobody knows anything about what he
Is doing. All know is, that when Squire
Smith sold him two cords Of wood last week
and carried in the bill, he couidn pay it.
He actually put the Squire off Till next
week. That looks as though they could af.
ford thirty dollar cloaks, don't itf''
With these sage reflections, Mrs. Wax.
well turned down the lane that led to her
house, leaving Miss Whey to pursue her
way and ponder on the exirAvagance of some
folks.
Mrs. MAXWELL loved foe clothes quite as
much as any ether woman of the nineteenth
century, aud this is saying great deal: ba
then herhusb and was parsimonious. and tho
she loved nice things very much, she loved
money more--which, we take il, amounts
to nothing more or less than meanness.
Mr.. MAXWELL was a farmer, and well of
in the world. The advent Of the railroad
into his native town had turned things top
sy-survy In general, and the heads Of the