Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-05-18

ing all the time how her husband would
oxpend the thousand dollars hut as she had
learned something of the eccentricity of his
character. she doubted not that he mean tot
give an agreeable surprise and her curios
ity grew 50 great, that she could hardly sleep
during the interval.
At length the momentous day arrived
The arrangements were all complete, and
Mrs. W retired, to perform the all
important business of arraying her fine per-
son in fine attire. She fingered long at the
toilet, relying on the fashionable unpunctu-
ality of fashionable people and at length
when everything was complete, she left the
room, arrayed, like Judith of old. glorious
ly, to allure the eyes Of all who should look
upon her, and full Of sweet smiles and graces,
Notwithstanding the uncomfortable pinching
of her shoes and cors2ts. Her husband met
her in the hall.
Well, my dear, our guests have all arriv-
cd, he said, and opened the door of the
receiving room. Wonderful , wonderful
what an assembly There are congregated
the crippled, the manned, and the blind, the
palsicd, and the extreme aged \ group of
children from the amshousc were also there.
who regarded the lady, somc with mouths
wide open, others with both hands thrust
into their hair, while others peeped out from
behind the furniture, to the covert of which
they had retreated from her dazzling presence.
At first she was petrificd with astonishment,
then dispeasure crossed her face, till, hay
ing run her eyes over the grotesque assembly.
she met the comcally grave expression of
her husbands countenance. when she burst
into a violent fit of laughter. during the
paroxysms of which the bursting of her corset
laces could be distinctly heard by the COM
pany.
Mary = said her husband, sternly. She
suppressed her mirth, stammered an excuse
and added,
You will forgive me, and believe your
selves quite welcome
That is well done, whispered Mr. W
then turning to the company, he said.
My friends, as my wife is not acquainted
with you, and [ will now make few pre-
scntations.
Then leading her towards an emaciated
creature. whose distorted limbs were unable
to support his body, he said This gentle
man, Mary, is the Rev. Mr. Brown, who in
ia tie cause Of our common Master \ vio-
lent rheumatism, induced by colds contracted
among the new settlements of the West,
where he was engaged in preaching the Cos
pei to the poor has reduced him to his pre-
sent 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, Il. you now see
/ Then turning TO a group of silver locks
and threadbare coats, he continued d" These
are soldiers of the Revolution. They were
all sons Of rich men. They went out in theil
young strength to defend their oppressed
| country.
They endured hardships. tolls, and suffer
ings and such as We hardly deem it possible
for men to endure and live. They returned
home at the close of the war. manned in thei
limbs, and with broken constitutions, to fin,
their patrimonies destroyed by fire or tn,
chances Of war, or their property othcrwis
wrested from them. And these men live il
poverty and neglect in the land for the pros
perity of which they sacrificed their all
These venerable ladies are wives of these pa
riots, and widows of others who have g0n
to their reward. They could tell tales tina
would thrill your heart, and make it better.
Then turning to another, he said lhi
is the learned and celebrated DR.. NJ, VIII
saved hundreds of lives during the spotte
! epidemic. but his great success reused tn
anilnosity Of his medical brethren, who sue
cecded in running his practice and, whc
blindness came upon him, he was forgotte
by those whom lie had delivered from dealt
This lovely creature is his only child and sh
is mothcrlcSs. She leads him daily by I'll
hand, and earns the food she sets before hin
, Yet her learning and accomplishments al
wonderful. She is the author Of those e2
; quisite poems which appear occasionally i
the Magazine.
These children said hc, turning to Il
group of juveniles who gathered at the otht
end of the room, were orphaned in infanC
by the Asiatic cholera and their hear
have seldom been cheered by smile, or the
palates RECALLED by delicious food Now di
, YOUR eyes, love, and lead on to the dinir
! room
l She obcyed and, notwithstanding h
, emotions, the humping of coarse shoes, al
7 the rattling of canes, crutches, and wood,
9 legs, behind her, well nigh threw her in
, another indecorous laugh
To divert her attention, she glanced ov
r the table. There stood tho dishes for viii,
her husband had stipulated, in the shape
y two moustrous, homely looking meat pie
and two enormous platters of baked mea
= and vegetables, looking like mighty mou
J., tains among the delicate viands which s.
4 had prepared for the refined company viii
P she expected. She took her place, and pi
:, pared to do the table honors but her hu
band, after a short Thanksgiving to boun
o full God addressed the company with, NO
brethren, help yourselves and one another,
fuch as you doom preferable. | will WI
&c upon the children.
a hearty and iovial meal was made, I
l. minister setting the example, and as I
hearts of the old soldiers were warmed wi
ID wine, they became garrulous, and each
es counted some wonderful or thrilling adv,
r, turc Of the revolutionary war and the
IT ladies' told their tales Of privation and sufl
y ing, interviewer with the histories Of fathe
Il .b..I Il ItaII, Ii
Mrs. W was sobhiug convulsiv
at when her husband came round, lie
served it, and touching her lightly on
as shoulder, whispered.
m My love, shall we have dancingr
That word, with its ludcrous associate
n fairly threw her into Mysteries, and
laughed and wept at once.
e, When she became quiescent, Mr. W
ty thus addressed the company:
n fear, my friends, that you will think
wife frivolous and inconsistent creatu
* and | must therefore apologize for hcr
At were married only last fall, and have atten
Ike several gay parties, which our rich Dclghl
sts gave in honor of our nuptials. and my v
thought it would he gcntcel for us to q,
ais dinner in return. | consented, on conditio
nd one of which was, that | should be allo'
mis- to invite the guests. So, being proier
minister Of Him who was meek and lowl,
Ike heart, | followed the words of commar
ect But when thou makest u feast, call in
ow poor, the lame, and MANNED, and the bin
on You all recplloct the passage. Mrs. W.
not knowing who her guests were, was hi
ed, ly delighted with the rmsc I had proyid
and do not believe that there has beel
noble aud honorable company assent
pe- this winter. My wife desired new furnit,
me lest we should be deemed pirsimonous.
pledged myself to eApeud one thousand
ro- lars in manner more pleasing to our que
are which should o1Niate any su imputat
And now. to you, patriot fathers,
es, these nursing mothers OF our country, |
DO sent the ono thousand dollars. Ii is Just
We hundred dollars to each soldier and suldi
ned fNidow II is a mere lrille. No thanks