Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-01-12
MISCELLAN Y
4 Story of the Times

StOTy OI tHe lUes.
Mr.. Scriptor was the chief proprietor of
periodical having an extensive circulation
Mr. Serptor sat in his private Office. lie
was, unqucstionnby, ruminating for his
hand which rested on the table, supported his
head, which seemed unable to rest comforta-
bly, in any settled position. Books and pa
pers were strewn about him in every direc-
ton, and there was large blot upon the
scrawed sheet before him. and small river
of ink coursed its way down over the desk
upon the hoor-it had even trckled down up
on Mr.. Scriptor's newest suit of clothes, but
he did not notice it. lie was absorbed
- Cunfound the times 80 sail Scriptor to
himself, bringing his fist down upon the desk
by way of emphasis. People cannot or
rW not meet their dues. Money must be
paid out, and there are no returns. Every
thing is high-abominably hig h Orders are
becoming more and more scarce every day.
Well, there is only one thing to be done
My hands must be subjected to Il decrease
of wages, or must discharge them-that is
all -
This conclusion Scriptor evidently juupcd
at, for he started up suddenly, took swal-
low Of Otard, and having thus added sufficient
artificial color to his already horid complex
ion, to well sustain the character assumed,
began violently to pace the floor, (Mr
Scriptor had that morning presented his wife
wltha check for the purchase of a thousand
dollar shawl }
Here, yoI John !''
The lad made his appearance.
"Stir up this fire a little. Fill up the
crate, and put on the blower Dear me ,
| how cold it is This weather is enough to
freeze one
| The frost clung thick to the window pane (;
/ the singing wind drove back the frozen damp
Of breath into the faces of the pnssers- by,
and the snow creaked sharply under foot.
Some one knocked at the Office door.
Come in ~ Scriptor was still agitated
and continued walking. II was a most un.
fortunate moment for poor Harry. ' Good
morning said he, blandly
/ :, Good morning, replied Scriptor, gruily
Harry perceived that he had mistaken his
time. - Do not let me interrupt you, sir, if
you are busy"
Well, nO--not exactly-that is to say
ah-not particularly 50. What is it sir'''
You published an article of mine last
week, ii am not mistaken"
Let me see-ah-I believe we did. Yes,
we did. " The Lost Soul" | think was the
title
4" The same. And came to ask as a ia.
yor, if you could not make it convenient to
pay me the price of it now, as am in great
need of the money :" His seedy and thread.
bare clothes, and wan, hollow check, bore
ample testimony TO his poverty.
"Well, really, we should be most happy
to accommodate you, sir hut YOU see the
times are hard, (here Scriptor jingled the
loose change in his pocket, a. evidence of the
fact and it is with great difficulty that we
contrlye to make both ends meet
" 1t was but five dollars think" pleaded
the author,
True but you see every dollar
tells think we informed you, if you were
not already aware of the fact, that our terms
are invariably, six months credit" and
you have still two months to run"
" - understand. But my present dis
tress and the exisencies of the case prompted
me to apply to you AS a lart resort Til, Sc,
we're weather Is very trying to the poor"
" Hem Yes, it is-it must he. have
already taken the subject into active consid
GRAFTON, and yesterday published in one oi