Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-12-16
ORIGINAL TALE.
--s-.-,---~>-N-~~-~~
A Story Of the Panic Times
Written for the Spirit Of the Age.
KE TC Hem AND SKlNE NJ
THE PINCHPENNY BROKERS.
BY WILL: WILLOWILL.

[ooSTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
TE KETcHEM's IN coUNoIL-soMEwHAT
FUNNY.
Manuel Ketchem sat in an easy chair
Vtb his slippered feet resting upon the
rafc Of his parlor fire on the night after
Il. .Williamsons' had honored his family
IT'D their company at the dinner table,
iethem drummed upon the round of the
hair with his knuckle. Not a word was
Doken for we'll nigh an half hour. Ketch-
ID was calculating. His wife and daugh-
hra seemed TO be in much the same mood
nd Fido, the lap-dog, seemed to be con-
hlnpating something also, for he was
@fthed in chair silently, almost without
Hiaking, watching the flicker of the lamp
Ading its light upon the unsocial scene.
ReAlly, ii seemed most unsocial council
ketchem had his eyes fixed on the glow
ind crate, or rather on alittle blazing, glow
mabnountain of coal, which his reflective
hnsy had caused TO assume all manner of
shabes from profile view of Etna to that
Of 8he unwelcome face of a certain man
nan led Dun, the noted and energetic col
lel# ing officer of the city,-the sudden fall
in u of that same little pile of coal caused
NJ Ketchem to awake from his monoto-
II IS reverie, and changing his position in
clTrF ne pa0eeSi the tIf, dog On the hoad,
and made the casual remark -
ii "And you said the Willamson's were
here for dinner =
Yes sir" replied his spouse, "and a
pretty time ! had of it A pretty pass fol-
n lady of fashion to come to, Mr.. Ketchem
when by the negligence of her husband she
is compelled to place her jewelry in pawr
TO obtain articles fit to place before hel
friends for their refreshment! A pretty
pass, now isn'ti itl tell you, Sir, thi
state of affairs must be changed.
"That's my mind, exactly"
"Do you mean to treat me lightly, Sir.
g Not by any means simply agrees
with you, and say affairs must be changed
a tell you, Sir, | will moth perplexeds 5
again-my mind shall not be torn as it wa
to-day. You should know, Sir, that it
your duty to furnish me with the means t
entertain my guests when they honor m
with their presence"
81 left n handsome sum in your hanC
for that purpose only day before yesterday
"Ilaid that out for the bracelet"
A useless piece of folly and pride"
A what y
A useless aud extrayagant folly, MAJ
am"
All me, how little does woman kno
of the trials, the annoyances and the vex
tions she is to encounter, when she leav
the happy home of girlhood to be Il
slave. YES the stare of an unfeeling, unsyI
pathising man. Little did think VIII
nv young heart was awakened to the mt
oiv of Love, that in after years, it wou
feel the crushing weight of grief it now !
aIizes ~ And Mrs. Ketchem wiped her ey
"Don't cry, my DEAR" said Mr.. KetC
en-: al assure you times shall be changed
AYES, that they shall L"
awe are agreed, it seems. Yes, ha
thought il over and over. Do you und
stand me We must retrench; my bu
ness affairs are in such condition.
v7znrrrr,y,ss lIiyitsg 80 Wild 5rItt exSravaga
that the inevitable consequences are as {
the sword of Damocles was eternally hal
inc over our heads. And its fall will pre-
as disastrous to my credit, as it will be
initiating to your pride and reproachfuI
your folly"
"You may retrench 1t you please,
Ketchem,-discharg your clerks and I
your office-do just as you please, but
refinement scorns any such plebian motto
but Il is nothing more than | could exl
from YOU. have long expected you VIC
one day throw off the mask that an ass
alton with people of refinement had pls
upon YOU, and let YOU appear as YOU
nrally are-unrefned aud plebian. Y
have daily expected. this time would COZ
aWell, madam, it has come, and
debtor to you and my daughters for its
id approach" ,,...
ooh! YES; poor, helpless woman
be blamed for all Of mans errors"
@Oh! Pa" exclaimed Miss Clara,
don't intend to curtail our expense
What would the world say OF su
coursel"
II would say that | no longer '
fool that intended to pay my h
debts and that | would no longer op
the poor"
aSuch language, Mr.. Ketchem, no
is very appropriate in your Office bl
pend upon it. | shall not allow such
presence. II you would talk of retr
ment reform and per centum, go TO
ayorite spirit, old Crocus. You NJ