Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-12-28
THE BELLE OF BLOOMSBURY.
A New-Year's story.

THE BELLE OF BLOOMSBURY.
A New-Year's Story.
/. .
1t was New-Year's Eve-the snow
fell fast and thick on the frozen ground
In Bloomsbury Square the trees anC
lawns were white and crisp with frozcr
snow. The. crimson curtains and the
blazing fires made the dining-rooms oi
the handsome old-fashioned houses oi
the square seem earthly paradises tc
the houseless, ,bare-footed outcasts whose
"rags of wretchedness' were blown
aside by the keen east wind. The crue
wind drove the snow-hakes in theft
pinched, blue faces, and covered theil
tattered garments and lean, sallow flesh
with what was at one moment a white
overcoat and the next an icy bath.
With what wolfish eyes those shiver.
ing, famished step-children of fortune
glared first at the dining-tables, GOV.
cred with the snowy damask, and gilt.
tering with glass, china and silver, or
which the freight was reflected like
rubies and topazes, and then at the
clean, cOzy kitchen, where before thf
noble fire the turkey, the saddle of NUT.
ton, or the sirloin was roasting.
One of the houses in question belonged
to Mr.. Pomfret, a solicitor with u fail
business in the city. He had showy
handsome wife, a very proud, preten
tious and pedantic woman, and subtle
and sly, withal--a tyrant where she
dared, and ruling Mr.. Pomfret, who
dotted on her but who had great idea
of mans supremacy, by pretending to
obey him, always the while craftily
managing to have her own way in every.
thing. They had six children-twc
boys and four girls. The eldest, a boy
was fourteen; the youngest, girl, was
four. One poor, pale governess-Miss
Moses educated the four girls and haC
charge of the two mischievous boys
Masters Wellington and Nelson-dur
ing the holidays.
Mrs. Pomfretwas of warlike spirit
and was very fond of heroic names
Her father had been Captain in tn,
Marines-and she had herself dubbed
him Colonel after his deeease-an(
she was equally attached to both thu
army and navy. However, the grea
boasting-piece of the family was Mr.
Ponlffets younger and only brother
Sir Henry Pomfret.
He-was a barrister in good practice
had written law, which had becom,
an authority, and was so lively and gen
tlemanly and popular that he. mad,
friends wherever he went.
He. was so bright, so genial and 81
lovable that even those clients who haC
weak causes he could not gain retained
him still as a friend, and continued thei
"refresherse in the shape of good din
ners and choice old wines. On tn,
other hand. those clients for whom h,
gained by his eloquenoe and learning
important yerdicts positively idolizeC
him. txe}tFjAs u k,l
Oneiamong them, nobleman of po
litical influence, obtained for Harr,
Pomfret Colonial Judgeship with tn,
honor of knighthood, and g our brother
Sir Harry Pomfret, the Judge ~ became
Mrs. Pomfret's favorite boasting-piece
in conjunction with "my father, ih
Colonels'
Sir Harry had been abroad thre,
years atthe time of which we are writ
ing, and was about thirty-five years o
age. Itwas, as we have said, New
Years Eve, and showing fast Mrs
Pomfret was In full dress. Mr.. Pom
fret had promised to return from hi
office at five to dinner, in order to tax,
herself and the children to the play;
great treat this, for Toole, the conf,
genius of the age, was to delight tn,
audience with two Of those rare con
ceptons of mingled nirth and pathos
fun and feeling, which made him tn,
acknowledged genius of the grotesqu,
and graceful, grand master of tn,
sources of smiles and tears.
Mrs POmfret was hungry and cross
and was watching for her husbands cal
and scoYlmg at the ragged, wolf-eyeC
outcasts' glaripg at the roasting TURKEY
at the Kitchen lire, when suddenly from
an upper window few pence, wrapped
in paper, fell at the blue feet of the out
casts. 1
Mrs. Pomfret reddened with anger
and rtishedup-stairs. The school-room
was on the second floor. She suspected
Miss Moss of the oifense that had exas
perated Shef She wanted TO vent hel
ill-humOr ON some One-the safest per
son M the house was Miss Moss.
Miss Moss was a second cousin 0.
Mr. Pomfret ,sAn orphan and quite des
t'tNNNtn 9AAC Atlll OAAA1 DCtll lGCclitu DA
Mrs. Pomfret, boarded, lodged and paiC
twenty pounds a year at Sir Harry's
request, on condition that the relation,
ship was toTbe kept secret, and never
alluded sto. Another cousin Of Mr.
PomftEtA Bella, commonly called
Dahl hliasap pomvile--also lived with the
Pomtfets. She had been so named by
an lrisb suitor, who naturally pro.
nouneed Della Dahlia, and her style ol
beauty'aRd her gorgeous velvet dresses
gavey her7a close resemblance 10 thai
sPlendid flower, the dahlia. The Irish.
man s'blunder was universally adopted.
Mr.. Pomfret was her guardian,
She had some fortune, and paid ElOC
per annlm for her board and lodging.
She was great belle and great fiirt,
and, having high spirit, Mrs. Pomfret
was as obsequious 10 her as she was
oyerbearing to Miss Moss.
On the landing of the second fooi
Mrs. POmfret met Masters Wellington
and Nelson sigglihg. -t3ftr
Who dared to throw pence out to
beggars, against all my rules and or.
dersp' asked Mrs. Pomfret. mot you,
/ am sure, my precious loyesP'
knowrjt was Miss Moss, nam.
ma said Master Wellington.
"She's always giving 10 beggars,'
said Master Nelson
Mrs, Pomfret, red with wrath, en-
tered the school-room.
hao