The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-10-18

news office. His wife worked diligent-
ly with her needle; but the care of a
young family, and the necessity of dis
pensing with a servant, hindered her
from adding much to their resources.
Notwithstanding their extreme poverty,
they managed to preserve decent APP
pearance, and to prevent even their
neighbors from knowing the straits to
which they were often reduced. Their
little cottage was always exquisitely
clean and neat; and the children,
despite of scanty clothing, and often
insufficient food, looked as they were,
the sons and daughters of a gentleman.
1t was Mrs. buttons pride to preserve
the respectable appearance of her hus-
bands wardrobe; and often did she
work till midnight at turning his coat
and darning his linen, that he might APP
pear as usual among his equals. She
often urged him to visit his former ac-
quaintances, who had power to befriend
him, and solicit their interest in obtain
ing some permanent employment; but
the soldier, who was as brave as lion
when facing the enemy, shrank with the
timidity of girl from exposing himself
to the humiliation of refusal, and could
not bear to confess his urgent need.
He had too much delicacy to press his
claims; he was too proud to be i'm
Fortunate; and so others succeeded
where he failed.
1t happened that the General under
whom he had served, and who had lost
sight of him since his retirement from
the service, came to spend few months
Mt watering place near which the Dut-
tons resided, and hired for the season
handsome furnished house. Walking
one morning on the sands, in discon-
ISOLATE mood, our hero saw, with SIR
prise, his former commander approach
ing; and, with sudden feeling of false
shame, he tried to avoid recognition.
But the quick eye of Gen. Vernon was
not to be eluded, and, intercepting him
with an outstretched hand, he ex-
claimed: "What, Dutton! is that you?
1t seems an age since we met. Living
in this neighborhood, eh?"
eyes, General; 1 have been living
here since retired from the service"
"And you sold out, think to please
the mistress, suppose, Dutton? All!
these ladies have great deal to answer
for. Tell Mrs. button / shall call on
her some morning, and read her lect-
ure for taking you from u.s."
Poor buttons look of confusion, as
he pictured the Generals visit surpris-
ing his wife in the performance of her
mental labors, rather surprised the vet
eran, but its true cause did not occur to
him. He had great regard for Dut-
ton, considering him one of the best
and bravest officers under his command,
and was sincerely pleased at meeting
him again SO, after ten-minutes' col
loquy, during the progress of which,
the ex-soldier, like war-horse who
pricks up his ears at the sound of the
trumpet, became gay and animated, as
old associations of the camp and field
came back on him, the General shook
him heartily by the hand, and said:
you'll dine with me tomorrow, Dut-
ton, and meet a few of your old friends?
Come, I'll take no excuse; you must not
turn hermit on our hands"
At first Dutton was going to refuse,
but on second thoughts accepted the
invitation, not having, indeed, any good
reason to offer for declining it. Having
taking leave of the General, therefore,
he proceeded toward home, and an
nounced their rencontre to his wife.
She, poor woman, Immediately took out
his well-saved suit, and occupied herself
in repairing, as best she might, the cruel
ravages of time, as well as in starching
and ironing an alreadysnowy shirt to
the highest degree of perfection.
Next day, in due time, he arrived at
Gen. Vernons handsome temporary
dwelling, and received cordial well
come. A dozen guests, civilians as well
as soldiers, sat down to splendid ban
quet. After dinner, the conversation
happened to turn on the recent improve
ments in arts and manufactures, and
comparisons were drawn between the
relative talent for invention displayed
by artists of different countries. Watch
making happening to be mentioned as
one of the arts which had during late
years been wonderfully improved, the
host desired his valet to fetch most
beautiful little watch, a perfect chef
dG,ture of workmanship, which he had
lately purchased in Paris, and which was
less valuable for its richly jeweled case
than for the exquisite perfection of the
mechanism it enshrined. The trinket
passed from hand to hand, and was
greatly admired by the guests; then the
conversation turned on other topics, and
many subjects were discussed, until they
adjourned to the drawing-room to take
coffee.
After sitting there awhile, the General
suddenly recollected his watch, and,
ringing for his valet, desired him to take
it from the dining-room table, where it
had been left, and restore it to it's proper
place. In few moments the servant
returned, looking somewhat frightened;
he could not find the watch. Gen. Yer
non, surprised, went himself to search,
but was not more fortunate.
perhaps, sir, you or one of the COM
pany have carried it by mistake into the
drawing-room
a. think not but we will try"
80, xL.,l. I'll 4.