The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-08-05
Misfellauenns.
From the Atlantic Monthly for July.
MIDTOWN FIRESIDE STORIES
THE WIDOWS BANDBOX.
BY MRS. HARRIET BEEcnEn STOWE.


'Lordy massv! Stick yer hat into the
nor'east, Horace, and see Y We can't stop
out this ere wind. I'm emmy most used
up with it,
So spake Sam Lawson. contemplating
mournfnlly new broad.brimmed straw
hat in which my soul was rejoicing.
1t was the dripping end of one Novcm.
Der afternoon, which closed up n "spell o.
weather. that had been steadily driving
wind and rain for week past, and we
boys sought the shelter and solace of his
shop, and, opening the door, let in the
wind aforesaid.
Sam had been all day in one of his per-
iodical fits of desperate industry. The
smoke and sparks had been seen flying
out of his shop chimney in u frantic man.
ner, and the blows of his hammer had re-
sounded with sort of feverish persistence,
interningled with n doleful wailing of
psalm-tuncs of the most lugubrious de-
scription.
These fits of industry on Sans part
were an aflliction to us boys, especially
when they happened to come on Saturday;
for Sam was rs much n part of our Satur-
day-aftei noon calculations rs If we had
regular deed ofproperty in him; and we
had been all day hanging around his shop.
looking in from time to time in the vague
hope that he would propose something to
brighten up the dreary monotony of a hol-
iday in which it had been impossible to
90 anywhere or do anything.
Sam. aint You coming over to tell us
some stories to-night|
Bless your soul and body, boys! life
amt made to be spent tellin' stories.
Why. shall hev to be up here workin'
till arter twelve o'clock. Sam, who was
suddenly possessed with spirit of the
most austere diligence. Here be up to
my neck in work, things kind o comm
in heap together. Theirs Mrs. Cap'n
Broad's andirons, she sent word she must
have 'em tonight; and there's Lady 10th.
rop. she wants her warmin'pan right of,
they can't nom on 'em wait mint long
er. I've been driving and working all
day like a nigger slave. Then there was
Judith Pettybone, he brought down them
colts to-day, and / worked the biggest
part o. the morning shoein' on 'em; and
then Jeduth he said he couldn't make
change to pay me. so there want nothin'
comm in font; and then Hepsy she KEEP
jawin' at me all dinner-time bout that.
Why, / warn't TO blame now was L? l
can't make everybody do jest right and
ply regular, can 1? So ye see 1t goes,
boys, gettin' yer bread by the sweat o
your brow; and sometimes swcatin' and
not ge.tin' yer bread. That ares what
call the cuSs the 'rignal cuss, that come
on man for harkcnin' to the voice o his
wife-that are what was did it. 1t alters
Kind o. rifles me up with Mother Eve
when think ont. The women hain't no
bisness to fret us they do. cause they sot
this ere state % thing goin' in the iust
place
But. Sam. Aunt Lois and Aunt Nabby
are both going over to Miss Mehitabel's To
tea. Now you just como over and eat
supper with Us and tell us story, do
Gone out to tea, be theyP said Sam,
relaxing his hammer, with Frightening
CLEAN stealing gradually across his lanky
visage. Wal. that arr looks like provi-
dental openin' to be sure. Wal, l guess
I'll come. What's the use Of never harih'
n good time? Ef you work yourself up
into shoe-strings you don't get no thanks
for il, and things in this worlds bout rs
broad as they is long; the women VI scold
turn 'em which way We will; good mug
o. cider WAS some cold vtuals over to the
Deacon's u. kind % comfort feller up,
and your granny, she's sort o. merciful,
she don't rub il into "a fellow all tho time
like Miss Lois
Now let's see. boys said Sam, when
comfortable meal of pork and beans had
been disposed of and mug Of cider was
set down before the fire to warm. Il
s'pect yell like to hear Down East story
tonight
or course we did. and stumbled over
each other in our eagerness TO get the
nearest place to the narrator.
Sans method of telling story was rs
lcisurely as that of some modern move
writers. He would take his time for it,
and proceed by easy stages. 1t was like
the course Of dreamy. slow-nioving riv-
er through tangled meadow flat-not a
rush nor bush was reflected In IL; In
short, Sam gave his philosophy Of matters
and things In general rs he went along.
and was especially careful TO 50 impress
an edifying moral.
Wal, ye see. boys, We know was born
down to Newport,-thcre where it's all
ships and shipping. and sich. My old
mother she KEEP boardin' house for sail
ors down there. Wal, We see rolled and
tumbled round the world pretty consider
able afore got settled down here in Old
town. -..
Ye see my mother she wanted to bind
me out To blacksmith, but kind o. sort
o. didn't seem TO take to II. 1t was kind
o. hard work. and boys Is apt to want TO
take life easy. Wal. / used TO run of to
the sea- shnro md Iiaa sfrpfchpd Out Ou