Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-01-31

TlHeQ WIN dSLOnlSnmonI, tnen q QlS-
pleasure crossed her face, till having
ran her eyes over the grotesque as
sembly, she met the comically grave
expression of her husbands counte-
nance, when she burst into violent
fit of laughter, during the paroxysms
of which the bursting of her corset
laces could be distinctly heard by the
company.
Nancy at length said her husband,
sternly. She suppressed her mirth,
stammered an excuse and added,
You will forgive me, and believe
yourselves quite welcome
That is well done, whispered Mr..
N, then, my friends, he said, 'as
my wife is not acquainted with you
[ will now make a few presentations.
Then leading her towards an ema-
ciated creature, whose distorted limbs
were unable to support his body, he
said, This gentleman, Nancy, is the
Rev. Mr.. Niles, who in his youth trav-
eled and endured much in the cause
Of our common Master. A violent
rheumatism, induced by colds contract
ed among the new settlements of the
west, where he was employed preach
ing the gospel to the poor, has reduced
him to his present 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 as you now
see.'
Then turning to a group of silver
locks and threadbare coats, he con-
tinued, These are soldiers Of the revo-
luton. They were all sons of rich
men. They went out in their young
strengtbto defendtheir oppressed coun-
try. They endured hardships, tolls,
aud sutferingS, and such as we hardly
deem it possible for men tie endure
and live; they returned home at the
close Of the war, manned in their limbs
and with broken constitutions, to find
their patrimonies destroyed by fire, or
the chances Of war, or their property
otherwise filched and wrested from
them. And these worthy men live in
poverty and neglect in the land for
the prosperity Of which they sacrificed
their all. These venerable ladies are
wives of these patriots, and widows
Of others who have gone to their re-
ward. They could tell tales that
would thrill your heart, and make it
better. This is the celebrated and
learned DR.. b, who saved hundreds
of lives during the spotted epidemic.
But his great success reused the ami
mostly of his medical brethren, who
succeeded in running his practice, and
when blindness came upon him, he was
forgotten by those whom he had deliv-
cred from death. This lovely creature
is his only child, and she is motherless.
She leads him daily by the hand, and
earns the food she sets before him.
Yet her learning and accomplishments
are wonderful, and she is the author
of those exquisite poems which appear
occasionally in the - Magazine.
These children were orphaned in in
fancy by the ASiatic cholera, and their
hearts have seldom been cheered by a
smile, or their palateS regalcd by de-
Iicious food. Now dry your eyes,
love, and lead on to the dining room
She obeyed. and Notwithstanding
her emotions, the humping Of coarse
shoes. and rafting of sticks, crutches
and wooden legs behind her, well nigh
threw her into another indecorous
laugh.
To divert her attention she glanced
over the table. There stood the dish
eS for which her husband had stipuia
ted, in the shape of two monstrous
homely looking meat pies, aud two
enormous platterS of baked meats anC
| vegetables, looking like mighty noun
tains among the delicate viandS tina
she had prepared for the refined com
. pany which she expected. She tool
her place, and prepared to do the ia
= BILE honors, but her husband, after {
;, short thanksgiving to a Bountiful God
, addressed the company with Nov
: brethren, help yourselves and one an
other, to what you deem preferable
| will wait on the children.
A hearty and iovial meal was made
=, the minister setting the example, ant
as the hearts of the old soldiers wer
- warmed with wine they become gal
= rulous and each recounted some wor
=. derful or thrilling adventure of the r,
- volutionary war; and the old ladie
= told their tales of privations and su
: fering, and interwove with them tn
;, histories of fathers, brothers, or lover
:, y who died for liberty.
- - Mrs. N was sobbing convu
: sively when her husband come rom'
10 and touching her shoulder, whispe
ed.
Love, shall we have dancing
VI VI That word with its ludicrous associ
Ill Ill tions, fairly threw her into hysteric
~ =. and she laughed and wept at once.
81 When she become quiescent N
III N thus addressed the company
u 4 fear my friends that you W
10 think my wife frivolous, inconsiste
~, creature ,and must therefore apo
~ ~ gise for her. We were married or
~. last fall, and have attended several G
-, ~ parties, which our rich neighbors ga
,h M in honor of our, nuptials, and my W
~ ~ thought it would be genteel to give
20 dinner in return. consented on c.
ditions, one Of which was, that
should invite the guests. So being
llu' professed minister of him who v
ing made so lowly in heart, | followed