Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-02-09

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Acon-Vrlaz was little, plump, round,
black-e eyed red lirped blue-bearded man. Age
had begun to discount his head, and had
given him sixty per cent. of gray hairs. A.
ton he was bald, and wore little skull-cap.
He had large fat hands, all creased and wrin-
kled, rs il his skin were too large for him
and ON one iorefnger he wore Il great corne-
lian signct-ring, about which there were all
sorts Of legends. Miriam, his dLughter
said--hut what have to do with Miriam,
his daughter She does not enter into this
history ut all.
The evening pipe that Acon-Nirlaz was
smoking was very mild and soothing, The
blue haze went curling softly upwards, and
seemed to describe pleasant figures of / S. d.
as it ascended. Through the grove, across
the front shop, Acon-Nrlaz could see little
specks of gas from the lamps in the street !,
could hear Barney, his little shop-boy, softly
whstling as he kept watch and ward upon
the watches in the front window and the
habiliments exposed for sale on the outside /;
could hear the sounds of fiddle from the
Admiral Nelson next door, where the men-of-
warsmen were dancing; could, by IA certain
pleasant, subtitle smell from regions yet fur
ther back, divine that Mrs. Nirlaz cher father
was q Bar-Galli, and worth hills of gold)
was cooking something nice for supper.
From the pleasures OF his pipe AcOn-Nirlaz
turned to the pleasures Of his iewelry. 1t
lay there on the slate covered counter, rich
and rare. Big diamonds, rubies, opals,
emeralds, sapphyres, amethysts, topazes, tur-
quoises and pearls BY the Jewels lay gold.
Gold in massy chains, in mourning rings, in
massy bracelets, in chased snuff boxes-in
gold snuff, too-that is in dingy, dull dust
from the Guinea coast in flakes and mis-
shlpen Jumps from the mine in toy-watchcs,
in brave chronometcrs, in lockets, vinai-
grettes, brooches, and such woman's gear
The voice Of the watches was dumb the little
TASKS were sccntless; but, how much beauty,
life, strength, power, lay in those colored
baubcs Acon-Nirlaz sighed.
Here, a little clock in the front shop, which
nestled ordinarily in the midst OF wilder
ness of boots, and thought apparently great
deal more of itself than its size warranted
after a prodigious deal of running down,
gasping, and clucking, struck nine Aeon
Virlaz laid down his pipe, and turning the
SfSs' tflaa1r' rs1T tb1G daughter Of Bar (shS
was very stout, and fried fish in sky-blue
satin,) to know what she had got for supper,
when a rk body became mistily apparent
in the reccsses Of the grove Of Guernsey shirts
and sou -westcrs shutting out the view ofthc
distant specks of gas IN the street beyond.
upon a tralnway, SO smooth and sliding was
it, said, three or four times over How is it
tonight with you, Mr.. Nirlaz, how is it
with you this beautiful night Aha
The voice and the body belonged to q
gentleman of Mr.. Virlaz's persuasion, who
was stout and large, and very elastic in limb,
and very voluble in delivery, in the which
there was. may remark, Il tendency to rcite-
ration, and an oily soitness Inducing an idea
that the tramway | mentioned had been sedu-
io"siy greascd) and ii pcrceptble lisp. Mr.
Nirlaz's friend rubbed his hands (iikewise
smooth and well-greased) continually lie
was somewhlt loosely jointed, which caused
hlm to wag his heal from side to side as he
talked, "itor th. G.y':;~-- -" -, =
his face would have been IA great deal hand
somer if his complexion had not been quite so
white and pasty, and his eyes not quite so
pink. and both together not quite so like a
suct puiilng with twu raisine in 1t. MT
Nirlal's friends name was Mr.. Ben Daoud ,
and he came from Westhampton, where he
discounted ILLS and sold clocks.
Take seat Ben, said the jeweller, when
he had recognised his friend and shaken
hands with him Mrs. V be down directly
All well at homo Take a pipe =
will just sit down little minute, and
thank you, Mr.. Nirlaz,' Ben .Daoud answered
voluhly and all are well but little Iceky,
who has thrushes, and has swollen, the dear
child, much since yesterday; but beg Mrs.
Nirlaz not to disturb herself for mc--for am
not long here, and will not take Il pipe,
having Il cold, and being about to 20 a long
.,olrney tomorrow. Aha =
All this, Mr.. Ben-Daoud SAID with tne eA,
treme voluhility which | have noNced' ana
in the exact order in which his words are
set down, but without any punctuation
There was considerable doubt among the
people as to Mr.. ben-Daoud natonailty'
Some said that he came IRON folGnd others'
that he hailed from e-Msln
some inclined to the belief that Amsterdam,
IN 1ollaiid, was his nathi place some that
Gibraltar had given him birth or the still
more distant land OF Iangier. At all events,
OF whatsoever nation he was, or If not OF any,
he was for all Jewry, and knew the time Of
the day remarkably well. lie had been in
the rabbit-skin line of business before he took
to selling clocks, to which be added, WHOM
regiments were in garrison at Westhampton,
the art Of discounting.
Going on journey. eh, Benz asked
AGONY NirlaA. Businessr
'Oh. business, Of course. Mr.. Virlaz, his
friend replied. Always business. | have
some little moneys to look up, and some little
purchases to make, and, indeed, humbly wish
to turn little penny for, | have very many
heavy calls to meet next month"; little bill
or two of mine YOU hold, by the way, among
the rest, Mir. .rlaz.
True the ieweler said. rather nervous
| ", and putting his hand on a great leather
! portfolio in his breast pocket, in which h,
! kent his acceptances and Shall YOU be Ion.
! gone. Mr. Daoud y
This Mr.. Dloud,' following upon tn
/ former familiar . Ben was said withou
| stcrness. bat smoke The creditor awakened t,
| his rights. Itseemed 10 say, Smoke. drink
and be merry til your accented pay,ble al
such date comes due but pav then. or III
sell Won up like death.
Mr. Bon-Daoud see.nvd to have an inklin,
Of this for he wagged his head rubbed hi
hands, and answered, more volubly thai
ever, Oh, Us to that, Mr. Virlaz, dear sir
my journey is but Of two days lasting
shall be back the day after tomorrow, an,
with something noticeable in the way 0