The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-06-05


scheme, and was teAEing The Allee man.
sion 10 pieces Poor boy Bic sad love
experiences bad injured bic mipd. lie
was throwing bis mobey away, HE
friend. should interfere aud 'aFe him
from rain. AT night The retaining Hier-
chapls paused before the dsmaniled
mansion, sad wondered what new folly
had broken loose 10 the town.
Maxwell heard Of these things, aud The
next morning high board ience shat the
work from view This only excited the
greater curiosity. Every female tongue
wsgged fast over Tome consummate fol-
ly. What did be intend TO dof Was Il a
house, theatre, shop, or studios
Weeks passed. There was much ham
mering behind the high fence. Then
came the silent painters; and lastly one
night two huge wagons uDloaded sundry
boxes and barrels at the door. The same
evening every family iu the village, and
IN all the villages round about, received q
polite invitation to inspeet, on the FOL.
lowing night, the new establishment
The next afternoon at half past six the
carpenters pulled down the high fence
aud displsyed-well, It could not be call
ed anything. Nothing like 1t bad ever
been seen in the world-at least, so they
said; but then Weston sight never ex.
tends beyond Boston.
There was 10 font neat garden with
a grayelled walk. At one side the road
passed close 10 the steps, so that carriages
came directly to the piazza. Two i'm
mense plate.glass windows and double
door filed the entire front Of the lower
part Of the building. Over the door was
a simple sign, or card; Thomas Maxwell,
Through the windows could be seen
tables spread with white covers, and laid
with dishes OF the most delicate dried
fruit, golden butter, bread, cake, every
thing that could delight the heart OF the
housekeeper The door opened upon a
parlor, carpeted, aud furnished with nu'
merous chairs and small tables. Nearly
every table had some choice display oi
things desirable in gastronomic sense.
A tea urn graced one corner, and beside
il stood coffee urn, while on the table
before il were cups, sugar, aud spoons
Two doors at the back led TO large rooms
completely filled with tables loaded with
foreign and domestic groceries, No
counters, no shelves, not thing to sug.
gest store. English pestness, Partisan
elegance in arrangement, American con
vcnience everywhere.
A pretty girl (from Boston, sat by the
door TO receive the guests. Two stout
young fellows (trom M4ine) were ready
in the rear room, aud Maxwell himself
sat by the tea urn. BY seven O'Clock
they began to come. AT eight O'Clock
there were twenty carriages at the door,
AT half past eight there were more than Z
hundred, and the place was packed.
The whole affair was surprise. Wes
ton did not know what to do, whether tc
applaud or laugh-or cry. 1t WAS not
lunch, for not thing was offered 1t was
not a party, for there were neither cards
nor dancing; nor reception, for nobody
received. Maxwell welcomed everybody
politely, and bade them examine freely.
They did. They did more; they com
mented with most refreshing freedom
Some said it was a joke; nay, II is an oc'
casion for grave remonstrance. The pool
young man had lost his mind. A few
Older heads said it might be a good spec
ulation, but not one said single word o.
approval, or even encouragement.
AT ten O'Clock Tom Maxwell closed VI
the place aud went home. lie could no
exactly describe it, but he ielt it-an in
deiinable something, as If he had passed
under cloud. The next day II was cleaI
enough lie had stepped into a socia
cold bath
In ruder civilizations people showed
their disapproval by quietly burning tht
offending party, or they tore down hi
house or exiled him, or, in the moderl
English fashion, they broke his windows
Nothing OF this happened to Maxwell
None the less sharp and efiectual wer
the arms used against the social offender
They spoke to him when they must
but No need to describe II in detail
lie had totally lost position. Days an
nights passed. There was reception o.
Walnut street; he was not invited
There was German on the hill; be re
ceived no card. At church they noddel
diStanily; no more. He sat in bis pew
pale, with compressed lips, aud an ur
spoken prayer on his tongue. The preach
er said, Forgive your enemies, aud be II
solved be would.
Day by day ii grew worse. AequaitL
ances became strangers; friends becam
acquaintances. The Object passed bin
in the way a one would total strange
lie had become what? In the bitternei
OF his heart be cried out that all men wei
cruel, all women selfish and bard (
heart. He bit Bis lips TO repress Il
mingled tears and modification. Wh
had be done? Was he not man doing
mans work.
Work. All! that was the thing. |
would work, aud forget these creature
The first day the store was opened 4
entire sales amounted TO one dollar and
bali. A carriage from PoItham had slo
ped a, the door. Two ladies had enter
: the store-s,rangers aud ladies. Th
were lost in admiration. 1t Is bett
Regent street, an improved Broadway
very Palais Royal. They emptied thi