The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-09-12
CHATTER II.

corridor and staircase are regarded by
i them as another apartment. The child
rem play there, while the women gossip
and the men smoke When little Chip
made too much noise, her mother would
say
'sYou drive me wild; go out in the COR
Fidor and play"
The child obeyed submissively.
The same corridor was on the upper
1ooi-of an ancient dwelling. Economy OF
space had formed no part Of the original
plan. 1t was broad with high ceiling,
and protected on the side nearest the
stairs by heavy wooden railing. At one
end it was lighted by a large window that
i overlooked all the other roofs and chin
news, and little way off the green turf in
the garden Of the Speeds house lay cool
and fresh among the dusty old walls and
superannuated buildings.
There was little, to be sure. that was
very gay in the prospect. Still the child
liked it infinitely better than the outlook
from the window of her parents rooms,
/ which were always sunless, and well-nigh
/ intolclable whom it rained and her father
i could not go out.
Horace Chip was indolent, and always
forming plans f. make magnificent for
! time. At frs he had imposed upon his
/ wife, but after repeated disappointments
4 she learned TO estimate him at his real
i value, and no longer attached any import
i ance to his wild dreams. Her comfortable
/ little dowry, wasted hy him in foolish
/ speeulations, had dwindled to mere pit
/ tance an Indian shawl, sacred to great
occasions, the lace she had worn on her
wedding day, and two diamond clasps,
small enough, certainly, but still so bril-
liant that Sylvia often implored her moth
er to open the white velvet case in which
4 they had lain for thirty years or more.
/ Mr. Chip had been for years seeking
some active employment, his health, as he
affirmed, not allowing him to lead II
sedentary life. 1t must be acknowledged
that in the early days of his life, when
| his business was prosperous and money
was plentiful, when he kept his horse and
groom, he was thrown from his carriage
and severely injured.
This accident had served ever since for
an excuse for his idleness No one was
ever five minutes with Mr.. Chipp without
his saying, in confidential tone
'.You remember the accident that hap
pened TO the Duke of Marlborough p And
then lie would add. invariably tapping his
own bald head, Precisely the same
thingw
Situation after situation had been
abandoned as not lucrative or dignified
enough, so that at the time of which we
speak he was a burden to himself and to
others Everyone can relate anecdotes of
| the eceentlicities of artists and literary
men; but who can adequately describe
/ the preposterous follies of n half educated
| unemployed tradesmanl Ii a new street
! was being laid out he felt called upon
/ daily to inspect the progress of the work
/ I.
specialtes OF the different shops, and
sometimes Mrs. Chip, weary of seeing
her husbands vacant face pressed against
| the window-panes, would say, as she
ironed the house linen
"fou know the pastryeook's shop, in
such a street, where they sell such ex-
cellent bunsf Go and get n couple and
we will have them instead of ~ pudding
to-day"
So the husband sailed forth, slowly
travelsed the streets, went to the shop,
and passed half the day out of doors, re-
turning in triumph, wiping his forehead,
as he entered the house with the bag OF
buns, for which he had spent few pence
and the whole morning.
His wife made no complaint, though she
honestly wished that he would earn
some money The poor woman made no
more than he, but she so thoroughly
understood the art of saving it, that abso-
lutte poverty had never yet entered their
doors. Their rooms were always scrupu-
lousy clean, and the old furniture shone
brightly under her care.
Opposite the Chips door were two
smaller ones. On the first. a card, fasten-
ed by four small nails, bore the name OF
"Florence, Designer of Wallpaper Pat
terms for Manufacturers" and ON the
other was small brass plate with this
inscription, MRS. We're de Lacy Beetles
and Humming- birds" The De Lacys'
door was always open, and showed a
large square room, where two women,
mother and daughter, the latter almost a
child, labored at one of those small indus
tries demanded by the luxurious fancies
of ladies' of wealth and taste.
At that time twas a fashion to ornament
hats and ball-dresses with those brilliant
beetles from South America. and with
those dainty birds whose breasts glitter
as if set closely with rnbies and emeralds
This was Mrs. De Lacy's speciality.
A wholesale house TO whom the goods
were consigned from the Antilles sent
; them at once on their arrival to Mrs. De
Lacy. When the cover was removed, a
dull dead odor and fine arsenical dust
filed the ROOM The beetles were piled
one upon another; the birds were closely
packed, each with its wings stretched on
y bit of stiff paper All these were TO be
mounted each beetle must tremble on a
fragment of wire; the RULED plumage OF
humming- birds was to be smoothed, and
two pearl beads inserted instead of the
eyes that were no longer there; and each
tiny creature must be made 10 assume q
life-like position.
II a L1, IL 1,n,
daughters direction; for Dora, though sc
young, had such exquisite taste, such
originality of invention that no one could
arrange the birds as she could.
Lame from her infancy iii consequence
of an accident that had in no way lessened
the beauty of her refined face. Dora had
acquired, in consequence OF her enforce
seclusion, certain high bred pallor, and
her employment was of such a nature
that the natural beauty of her white
hands was uninjured. Her silky hair was
always carefully arranged, and she passed
her days buried in n large armchair,
before table that was covered with
fashion plates and birds of all tints, find
ing some compensation in the elegance of
her occupation for the poverty and anx.
iety of her life.
She knew that all these little wings
would glitter at West-end .tetes, and, by
the fashion in which she would arrange
her birds and beetles, it was easy TO divine
her thoughts.
On her sad and weary days the wings
were widely spread, as if eager for a
fight fast and furious enough to bear the
little creature far away from this poor
abode, and petty cares and trials. But
, when she was happy, the tiny things
themselves looked radiant
| Happy or unhappy, Dora toled on with
unhagging energy; from sunrise until
far into the night her table was piled with
work. When daylight was gone, and the
bell of the factory sounded its dismissal
Mrs. de Lacy lighted her lamp and, after
} a light repast, the two resumed Their
labors.
These indefatigable women had but one
aim, one fixed idea in life; and this was
, the dramatic success of Mr.. We're de Lacy
From the unfortunate day that he hat
left provincial theatre to play TRACED,
3 in London, We're de Lacy had expecte,
. some manager, more discerning and less
l ignorant than the others, to discover hi.