Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-06-08

readers imagine that the roast turkey was not |
the largest and fattest that the market could |
supply, that the sirloin of beef was not the
juiciest and primest that ever obtained first |
class prize at the Cattle Show, that the plum
pudding was not the richest and rarest, that
the mince pies were not the incest, that the
toasts were not the most cordially proposed
and the most eloquently responded to; that, in
| q word, the feast was not the most glorious
and the company not the happiest that had
ever been known, then I must take the liberty
Of saying that entirely differ in opinion with
| them.
Later in the evening there was general de.
mand for . dance amongst the young people,
and one Of Mr.. Maudsley's sisters who "didn't
dance" undertook to supply the music on the
piano. Little Joe, who heard in the kitchen the
beating of the merry feet overhead, expressed
a strong desire to witness the dancing, and by
the contrivance Of one of the servants was
] smuggled behind q large India screen that
| had been placed in front of glass door at the
| upper end of the room communicating with
the conservatory. Mounted on a fower-stand,
and hidden from observation by the screen,
Joe. Climber peeped through the evergreens
with which it was decorated, and beheld a
scene which completely bewildered him. AS
| the light and graceful forms of the children
fitted before him in the dance, theirl eyes
sparkling with enjoyment, he fancied himself
transported to some fairy land; his heart beat
violently, and his eyes dazzled with light; he
vainly tried to follow the walters in their
may round; his head became giddy, and for
getting for the moment where he was, he
clapped his hands in uncomfortable delight,
and leaning forward with too little caution to
get nearer view of pretty little sylphide in
a pale blue frock, who had, more than any of
the others, attracted his admiration, the screen
was thrown down, and Joe Climber, falling
with it, rolled suddenly in the midst Of the
dancers. A general scream greeted the unex-
pected appearance of this strange guest who
hastily picking himself up, would have made
a precipitate retreat had net Mr.. Maudsley
come forward and called him to remain. The
matter was shortly explained, and Joe, instead
of being ignominiously expelled from the
company, by whom his pockets were filed
with sweetmeats and fruits. This was Joe
Climbers first introduction into polite society.
That night he slept in a little bed made up for
him in the garret. Full of most agreeable re-
Elections he fell asleep, to dream that he was
transformed into gigantic SNOWFALL, rolled by
the pretty sylphide over heaps of sixpences
and sugar plums which stuck to him on every
side. Joe had made the first roll in life.
A few days after the events Just narrated,
Jee was taken into Mr.. Maudsley's Office,
where his duties consisted in sweeping out the
office and busting the desks before the arrival
of the clerks in the morning, and in carrying
the day. Mr.. Maudsley did not, however, stop
here with his kindness, for he permitted Joe
to attend an evening school, whore, true to the
maxim which he had made the rule of his life,
he gathered learning with incredible rapidity
In the house where he lodged there also re-
sided Frenchmsn, who had come to prose-
cute claim for a legacy which had been left
him in this country.
With this person Joe formed an intimacy,
and for some act of civility rendered to him
by the boy, he undertook to teach, him the
French tongue; this was what he ardently
desired and few months instruction made
him so proficient in the language that he could
not only write with ease, but converse fuently
in it.
Three years had passed away, during which
time Joe, by his assiduity and good temper,
had become prime favorite in the office; the
elderly chief clerk, and the heads of the estab b.
lishment, liked him for his punctuality and in
tegrity; and the young men for the readiness
with which he executed their little commits
sions-but more, perhaps, for the confidence
, they had that he was neither "spy" nor " a
, sneak, and that their harmless 4" larks' and
, venial breaches of discipline would never be
brought to the ears of the governors through
Joe Gimber's instrumentality. He was there
, fore pronounced by. common consent "a trump;
and when at the end Of three years he was
, promoted to a seat at desk in their office be
received the warm and sincere congratulations
: of his fellow clerks As Joe jerked himself fol
the first time on to a tall stool which he wa;
thenceforth to occupy in the office, he thought
, Of the SNOWFALL, and felt that be was then q
much greater person than on the evening be
rolled amongst the company in Mr.. Maudsley'i
drawing room.
: 1t was some months after Joe's elevation thai
, a case came into the Office which required that
1 confidential agent should be sent to neighbor
= ing city. iHe was Immediately questioned, and
being found competent for the duty, he wa.
o intrusted with it, and he not only brought the
affair to a satisfactory issHe but laid the foun.
dation of very lucrative business for the Office
: which was recognized by giving him consid
= cradle increase of salary, and an advance in hi
= position in the establishment. Thus, by his rol
q in this affair, Joe Climber, true to his rule O
u life, gathered from it mach and lost nothing
he was now person Of some consequence
and being placed at the head of one of the de
= partments in the Office, was invited as q CUES
u to Mr.. Maudsley's house. The little sylphid,
in blue had grown int beautiful girl. and a.
. Joe-ws beg his pardon, Mr.. Joseph Glmber-
was by no means a bad looking fellow il wa
not surprising that Kate Maudsley should lool
], with fayoring eyes upon him. An inciden
y which am obliged to confess was singularly
unromantic, led to what in affairs of the heart
q is called ian interesting discovery" 1t hap
y pened in this way: Kate was engaged at ia
BILE near the window in a drawing room, whe
J. Joseph entered. cob! Mr.. Climber" sh
!, cried, am so glad you are come, for yo
% = you can help me string these beads they hav
70 nearly tired me out Of patience -
The young man was delighted, and immedi
n ately set about his task, but whether fror
4 swkwardness or his thoughts being otherwis
l, occupied, he repeatedly pricked his finger
1t with the needle, and at length the box con
to tanning the beads fell on the floor Climber, Ii
st great confusion, begged pardon for his awk
wardness, and stopped to gather the bead
g. which rolled about the carpet, at the sam
ID instant that Kate had bent forward with tn
os same intention. l can't pretend to say how
Ie occurred but their cheeks accidentally touches
rs in the same attempt; both drew back, an,
y mutually apologiEed, again they stopped, an,
10 again the young lady's curls slightly brushes
he the gentleman's whiskers; this time, however
RS the blush was accompanied by a smile. Th
s. smile was q preface to certain disclosure
IS which do not feel myself at liberty to repeat
I'd may, however, state that, although the bead
lg remained scattered on the carpet Joe ha
Id succeeded in obtaining from the lips of tn