The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-03-21
Selection From Mrs. C0,tdle's Cur
tain Lectures.

tain Lectures.
NJ. Cuattlle hos lent an acquaintance
the family umbrella. Mrs. Guide lee
tires thereon.
That's the third umbrella gone since
Christmas. What were you to do: Why,
let him go home in the rain, to be sure.
Pm very certain there was nothing
about him, that could spoil. Take cold,
indeed! He doesn't look like one Of
that sort to take cold. Besides, he'd
better taken cold than taken our only
umbrella. Do you hear the rain, Mr..
Caudleo | say, do you hear the rain?
And as Pm alive, if it isn't SaintSwith-
ms day! DO you hear it against the
windows? Nonsense; you don't impose
upon me. You can't sleep with such a
shower as that! Do you hear it, | say?
Oh, you do hear it! Well. that'sa pref
ty flood, | think, to last six weeks; and
no stirring all the time out of the house.
Pooh don't think me fool, Mr.. eau
die. Don't insult me. He return the
umbrella! Any body would think you
were born yesterday. AS if any body
ever did return an umUrella!-Ihere
do you hear it? Worse and worse!
Cats and dogs, and for six weeks. And
no umbrella
dren are to 90 to school tomorrow
They shan't go through such weather,
Pm determined. No; they shall stop
at home, and never learn any thing
the blessed creatures !-sooner than go
aud get wet. And when they grow up
! wonder who they'll have to thank for
knowing nothing; who, indeed, but
their father? People who can't feel fer
their own children ought never to be
| fathers.
But I know why you lent the umbrel-
la. Oh, yes; know very WE'LL was
going out to tea at dear mothers to-
morrow; you knew that, and you did it
on purpose. Don't tell me; you hate mo
to 90 there, and take every mean adj
vantage to hinder me. But don't you
think it, Mir. Caude. No, sir; ii it comes
down in baskestfull, I'll go all the more.
No, | won't have cab. Where do
you think the moneys coming from ?
You've got nice notions at that club of
yours. A cab, indeed! Cost me six
| teenpeaae at least-sixteenpence, two
and eight pence, fer there's back again.
Cabs indeed! l should like to know
| who's to pay for 'em? | can't pay for
'ena, and Pm sure you can't ii you go
on as you do, throwing away your prop
erty and beggaring your childrell-buy-
ing umbrellas!
Do YOU hear the rain, Mr.. Caudle? |
say, do you hear it? But don't care;
I'll go to mothers to morrow. [ will;
and what's more, I'll walk every step
of the way, and you know that will give
me nay death. Don't call me foolish
You know ! can't wear clogs, and, with
| ta xf.At9S
a eela-it always does. But What do
you care for that? Nothing at all. l
may BE laid up for What you care, as |
dare say I shall, and a pretty doctors
bill there'll be. ] hope there will! 1t
will teach you to lend your umbrellas
again | shouldn't wonder if / caught
my death; yes; and that's what you lent
the umbrella Tor. OF course!
Nice clothes shall gst, too, lrapes-
ing through weather Tx this. Ny gown
and bonnet will BE- spoiled quite. Need
not wear them then? Indeed, Mr..
Caudle, shall wear 'em. No, sir Pm
not going out doWdy to please you or
any body else. Gracious Knows! it
isn't often s'.t step over the thres-
hold; indeed, | mlght as we'll be a slave
at onee-beiter / should say. But when
| / do so o4t Mr.. Csudle, choose to go
as lady. Oh! that rain-if it isn't
enough to hrc~ ia the windows.
How am to 20 TO mothers Pm sure
/ can't tell. But if l die I'll doit. No,
sir, won't borrow an umbrella. No;
and you shsnt buy one. Now, Mr..
Caudle, only listen to this, if you bring
home another umbrella, l'll throw it In
the street. Ill have my own umbrella,
or none at all.
As! snd it ~ss only last week | had
new nozzls put to that umbrella. Pm
sure if I'd have known as much as do
now, it might have gone without one
for me. Paying for new MOBILES, for
other people 10 laugh ~ you. Oh, it's
al very Well for you, you can go to
sleep. You've no no thought of your
poor patient vito and your own dear
children. You think OF nothing but
lsndil ( umbrellas
Men, indesd!-Call themselves lords
Of creation Pretty lords when they
can't even take care Of an umbrella.
| know that walk tomorrow will be
the death Of me. But that's what you
want-then you may go to your club,
and do as you like-and then, nicely my
poor children will be used-bnt then,
sir, then, You'll be happy. Oh don't
tell me! I know you will. Else you'd
never have lent the umbrella!