Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-02-07
EVENING STAR.
AN INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF A
STATESMAN.
From the Diary OF a Lady.l
AUs. z, 49,: PAsr 10. p. ,

w., p. M
I am very weary, but must write out the
incidents Of this day while fresh upon nv
memory. What peasant one, what a mem
orable day il has been to me- Tbs boys de-
served it well; how beautifully they acquitted
themselves at the examination Of the Gram
mar School, and how admirably they spoke
in the evening. Fred SO calm, self. possessed.
and gentlemanly Charley so bright and
buoy ysnt-so full of fuo how his eyes spsrkled
and told the humor in his speech long before
he pronounced the words.
But let me begin at the beginning. We rose
at the break of day. Honey and 1 washed
and dressed them nicely. Everything, even to
the little linen gloves that Charley hates so
much, was complete. Then we sent them tc
breakfast while made my toilet.
L had just finished my cup of coffee when
the omnibus came for US, and We left the cot
tage as quiet as if no one had risen; for every
member of the household would slumber long
after we came away except Honey. She, l
believe, never sleeps; always ready, always
prompt-bless you, Honey!
We reached the cars In ample time; quite
sufficient to enable Charley to get the geneal-
ogy CT fine brown PUP a pleasant. looking
farmer was taking along with him The man
was SO pleased with the little fellow that they
chatted away the whole distance to Newark,
and 1t was quite pathetic to see the farewell
between them. We soon found ourselves at
the ever-pleasant mu b beloved Astor. There
We found cousin jamie, Mr.. j, and Judge
B. They welc c5med me TO the city once
more; admired my boys greatly. Wasn't 1
happy? But, poor rustic that am, l could
not enjoy their conversation, the noise was 60
great, the confusion so intolerable. Who would
believe one could become so truly uncitifed in
eighteen short months
absolutely trembled when / found myself
once more in Broadway, but soon got into
the vortex, and whiried on like the rest Such
shopping! That Charley how be bobbed in
and bobbed out-stOpping now at this win
dow-then in the middle of the pavement to
admire "a noble span of horses''-then to be
jostled, pushed here then there, while they
laughed till they cried at a monkey which an
organ-srinder was carrying about And 1,
as bad as they, was equally amused at the
cunning creature till, on locking up, I saw
two gentlemen apparently enjoying our ver-
dancy as we did the wonderful tricks Of the
monkey. At last We tore ourselves away.
Poor rustics, we do not see a monkey every
day!
Who should see coming out Of a store but
Mrs. W, as usual charmingly dressed.
She looked me full in the face and her eyes
fell, while 1 wss on the point of rushing up to
her with epep arms. Simpleton that am, to
forget we have lost so much money in these
commercial bOwteUeTScmentS as TO be obliged
to retire to the country to economize. Be.
sides, how could she speak to me at that time
of the day in Broadway ?-me, little rustic,
in my black silk dress, plain stray bonnet,
and simple black scarf To be sure, | had
neat gloves and boots on-more than she had,
with all her fneTy. She never was complete
IN the fullest dress; always something " ant
ing. Fool that 1 was, to feel such a heart.
ache because L was not remembered by a
fashionable woman. How could l expect her
to remember that my house had been open to
her at all hours; how she had walked in and
out, drinking and eating, and using my car
riage as if il had been her own. To be sure
she wrote me long note after We went to the
country to ask how large house We had
what sort of company, rides, walks, and all
that. But when l answered that cur house
was cottage, pleasant and roomy, but DO
spare bed rooms; that had too much to do
at home TO be able to judge Of the society
about me; that L was busy preparing my
hsnery L never heard from Ter again. Heigh-
no; it is sad to be forgotten thus iOne's van
ity is not gratihed at finding we were valued
for our money ard clothes. Thus l mOralized
as We went up Broadway.
We were going to toy-shop. Who should
be there but Mrs. C. She was busy selece-
ing some fancy article. 1 had Just received
one lesson, and am very apt scholar. So
she locked st rae as if she had never seen me
before, and L looked as calmly at her Could
she have forgotten that drea, night when her
savage, drunken husband turned her into the
street, and she took refuge with me ; and how
l wept for her modification, and took her down
to'the boat al early dawn, loaning her money
to get her off 20 her friends at Philadelphia
before the Uppertendom could get hold of the
circumstance! AS We anticipated, we myst-
fed them all until a peace was patched up.
Well, perhaps she does right not to remember
such disagreeable eoRtreteHtps; but could
never have overlooked such acts of kindness
Happy those who can wipe off their memories
as boy does bis slate 1 wonder if
their consciences are al tractable!
She was looking at box of games the very
thing we had come after, and the last one in
the store However, L said nothing while
Charley selected his marbles-those many.
colored alleys Fred took top, and his share
of " these beauties -. and chose light car
riage whip, which I shall want for use when
we drive into town. Charley could carry it
finely he said. Then we must get a small
China tea set for Dolly's "tea fights" the
commission from the little girls. All this while
Mrs. C fingered over the box but in truth
watching me. At last she said-in her depre-
eating tone Of voice
"Oh, Mr. Bonfanti you ask too much for
this box. / positively cannot take it," and
she pushed the box away.
"l'll take it, if you please, Mr.. Bonfanti,"
said 1, laying the price down.
He wrapped it up, and as We left tho store
Fred whispered
"Oh, mamma, how very angry that lady
1ooked!'
It seemed that was doomed to be "cut 1"
on all sides this day. Rose Y passed by
just as we left the store; but her veil required
fixing when she saw me. 1 don't wonder at
that, for her father caused my husband to
lose ten thousand dollars He failed so did
We. He still lives in great style IN his up ,
town house, and we in a cottage in the cOun
try, having given up everything to pay our
debts L wonder how she would act If L re-
minded her that she never repaid me the ad-
vance made to enable her 10 settle her bill
at Newport summer before last I'll write 20
her to morrow, just for the fun of the thing
Goldsmith says, "If you can confess your
poverty the severity Of the sting is partly re.
moved" I'll try the prescription [ was rich
then, and had money to loan; now it is sup
posed, and rightly, too, that there is nothing
more to be got out Of US. d" " importe," said