The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-06-03

binei the agreeable with the useful by calling
on such Of Carleton's patients as lay in our way.
Vending homeward towards evening, we stop.
ped at the house of q gentleman on whom be
had lately been in attendance; but the patient
was convalescent, and the call-the most agree
able doctor can make, at least for the patient
and let us in charity hope for himself ALSO
friendly one. l awaited his return, sitting in
the gig; and feeling chilly, enveloped myself
in the servants cloak, by accident brought with
US. / was running over in my mind all the
lovely bits of scenery had passed through
when a smart tug at my cloak aroused me and
q pretty damsel handed me up q glass of beer
accompanied by the whisper, have brough,
you something to drink"
had the affair in q moment. The pluck al
my cloak, and the verbal intimation that fol
lowed, convinced me l was mistaken for the
servant; so i determined to have laugh al
the expense of my generous Hebe. / readily
accepted the trimming cup, saying, 40, thank
you just wanted such a draught, and be
lieve Providence has sent you with it, for see
you are an angel" She tried to pat on G
frown, but the pretty face would not accommo
date itself to the needful lines and angles. She
then looked up slyly in my face, pouted out bel
lips as far as a struggling smile would permit
your beer your master will be here in min
ute" I readily complied with the first and
most material portion of this advice / drank
the beer-no difficult task, when man is thirsty
and the draught good Derbyshire home brewed
but hold my bother 1 did not on the contrary
as | returned the glass heaved deep sigh
partly to relieve suspended respiration after my
draught, and partly-I like economy even in
sighing-to express the state of my feelings TO-
ward heraelE was sadly puzzled how to say
something complimentary, not being used &c
that sort of thing, and at length Numbered out
awkardly enough, wish I'd never seen you
don't believe shall ever be happy again
and if I'm not, won't you have something to an
swer for, that's ALL"
Chow you talkl" answered she. "Why
shouldn't you be happy2 I've done nothing te
hinder you"
do call it nothing to come giving fellow
beer, just to steal his hearth"
" You're only poking fun at me-" was the
reply; but her pretty coquettish air and con
scious half smile, which, try as she would, she
could not screw into a frown, convinced me my
compliments, though clumsily executed, wert
duly appreciated.
Nov do,' said !, be serious, and tell me
If you have a sweetheart and if not, if you
think you could manage little shop. To my
fancy, you're Just the right sort of article; fol
know lots of customers would come for the
sake of being waited on by such pretty smi
ling girl"
Again she looked in my face, but this time
as grave as judge, and, with an expression or
her own of the most complete innocence anc
candor, answered thoughtfully, SWELL, to b.
sure, there's Jim Allen has followed me this
Irk Il 4
quarrels, and is always saying he'll 60 list fol
a soldier; so there's no depending
always did think l should like to keep g
shop"
At this most critical moment step wa,
heard, and the noise sent off my fair enslave,
with the speed of an antelope. Little was she
or for the matter of that was /, prepared for the
approaching denouement Carleton had accept
ed for both of us an invitation to dinner, which
meal happened to be unusually late, as his friend
had company.
After the best toilet circumstances would
permit, we entered the dining room. From my
knowledge of our hosts family habits, felt sure
of seeing my shopkeePer in perspective and
the FIRST hustle of introduction over, glanced
round, and soon caught sight of her. Exactly
opposite, still as q statue, her mouth open te
no great width, the said feature being of mos
moderate dimensions, with her eyes round as
birds, she stood the picture of establishment
In one respect she was unlike statue, for she
was red as scarlet-face, neck, and arms, all in
glow. The instant she caught my amused
look, she busted herself at the sideboard, and
vouchsafed no second glance.
We stayed very late; and when about to de
part, l went to ask from her light for my
cigar, taking the opportunity to slip little
present into her hand, by way of stonement fol
the trick ! had perpetrated, telling her in 6
quiet whisper, the while, at will help to stock
the shop"
At breakfast the next morning told the joke
to Mrs. Carleton, who spontaneously rated me
for cheating the damsel, though she laughed a
the speedy discovery of my imposture.
Two days afterward, in packing up my goods
and chattels, preparatory to departure, missed
my godfather's guinea / ransacked every
place; examined every article again and again
the ribbon and case we're round my neck-ths
guinea was gone. At first, thought Mrs. earle
ton had contrived to possess herself of it, il
order to have laugh at my discontinue; bu
no, she assured me she knew nothing of my
lost treasure.
At this distance of time can own how much
l was affected by its disappearance then wal
portmanteau, and surveyed the rest of my pos
sessions with species of calm despair. hal
expected they would vanish from before my
eyes. Begin with your nursery books, deaf
reader, and gaze in fancy on every picture o
despair which your upward course of reading
has presented to your spiritual vision. Fancy
Mrs. Bluebeard when the blood wouldn't come
off the key-Little Red Riding. Hood when sht
found the wolf was not her grand Pooh
these are q mere nothing; Aladdin, when biz
lamp was gone, would be nearer the thing bu'
l thought myself fully as desolate as Mariu.
amongst the ruins of Carthage. BE did no,
feel his desolation more than did the loss o.
that guinea. With it, was q perfect Samson
of strength, ready for any undertaking; with
out it, l was the hero shorn of his locks, snG
consequently powerless.
" Absurd!" say. Well, it was. But it was
my pet absurdity and which of you is withou,
one2 Who can look back and say he has moi
been at some period of life influenced BY 9
superstition equally ridiculous? believe there
are few who, searching into the memories o.
early days, cannot recall some incident, insig
Riicant in itself, which still retains the power
to influence their actions; or sentence, uttered
perhaps thoughtlessly enough, which possesses
a charm for them which only death can dissolve
If the child be indeed father to the man, *
are the impressions received in early youth a.
a strong man to puny child in comparison
with those of later age and frankly con
TESS my superstitious feeling with regard to the
lucky" ~ coin increased tenfold after haG
lost it. U>
declare was not one bit surprised when
on the morning fixed for my departure from
Csrleton's, l received news of very serioui
change of fortune. / expected a blow from
some quarter, and was almost Indifferent whence
it should come.
Just after coming of age, I placed in q Ger
tain individual unlimited confidence: and IL
addition to that, ! trusted hip with q sum
amounting to many thousands of pounds. The