The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-10-18

70 the unprlnclpled Smltni ana now |
this upright conduct was Its own re.
ward.
He wrote a beautiful hand, and,
while seeking some permanent employ |
ment, earned a trihe occasionally by |
copying manuscripts and engrossing in
an attorneys office. his wife worked |
with her needle but the
care of a young family, and the nee
essity OF dispensing with servant,
hindered her from adding much TO
their resources. Notwithstanding their
extreme poverty, they managed to
make decent appearance, and to pre-
vent even their neighbors from knowing
the straits to which they were often re-
duced. Their little cottage was always
exqulsitely clean and neat; and the
children, dispite Of scanty clothing,
and often insucffiient food, looked, as
they were, sons and daughters Of
gentleman.
1t was Mrs. Dutton's pride to pre-
serve the respectable appearance Of
her husbands wardwobe; and often
did she work till midnight at turning
his coat and darning his linen, that he
might appear as usual among his
equals. She often urged him to visit
his former acquaintances, who had
power to befriend him, and solicit their
interest in obtaining 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 con-
fess his urgent claims; he was Too
proud to be importunate; 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 at the watering-place near
where the buttons resided, and hired
for the season a handsome furnished
house. Walking one morniug on the
sands, in disconsolate mode, our here
saw, with surprise, his former COM
mander approaching, and with sud
den feeling of false shame, he tried u
avoid a recognition. Bat the quick ey,
of General Vernon was not to be elud
ed, and lntercepting him with an out
stretched hand he exclaimed "What
Duttonl is that your 1t seems an agt
since we met. Living in this neighbor
hood, eh.
"And you sold out, think = II
please the mistress, 1 suppose, Dutton'
Ali these ladies have good deal t.
answer for. Tell Mrs. Dutton L shal
call on her some morning, and read he
a lecture for taking you from u.s."
Poor Dutton's look of confusion, a
he pictured the Generals visit surpris
ing his wife in the performance of he
menlal labors, rather surprised the veteI
an but its true cause did not occur to him
He had had great regard for Quito
considering him one of the brayest an
best officers under his command, anC
was sincerely pleased at meeting hin
again; SO, after ten minutes colloquy
during the progress of which the eS
soldier, like the war-horse who prick
up his ears at the sound of the trumpet
F became gay and animated, as old asso
. ciations of the camp and field cam
back OH him, the General shook hir
heartily by the hand, "You'n dine wit
me tomorrow, Dutton, and meet
few Of your old friendsp Come, II
take no excuse; you must not turn hel
, nit on our hands.
At first Dutton was going to refuse
but on second thoughts accepted th
, invitation, not having, indeed, an
, good reason to offer for declining il
Having taken leave OF the General
, therefore, he proceeded towards hi
home, and announced their rencontr
? to his wife. She, poor woman, immet
iatly took out his well-saved suit, an
occupied herself in repairing, as be'
, she might, the cruel ravages Of tim,
as well as in starching and ironing a
a already snowy shirt to the hlghes
degree of perfection.
, Next day, in due time, he arrived 6
General Vernon's handsome temporar
dwelling, and received cordial we
q come. A dozen guests, civilians {
: well as soldiers, sat down to splendi
I banquet. After dinner the converss
: ton happened to turn on the receI
improvements in arts and manufal
q lures, and comparisons were draw
+ between the relative talent for invel
Y tion displayed by artists Of differel
q countries. Matchmaking happenin
. to be mentioned as one of the ar
v which had during late years been wol
i derfully improved, the host desire
O his valet to fetch a most beautif
e little watch, perfect chef-d' euvre
: workmanship, which he had lately pu
' chased in Paris, and which was lie
4 valuable for its highly jeweled ca
a than for the exquisite perfection
q mechanism 1t enshrined. The trink
4 passed from hand to hand; and w
d greatly admired by the guests. The
4 the conversation turned on other topic
IT and many subjects were discussed, III
IS til they adjourned to the drawing roo
,. to take coffee.
|. After sitting there awhile, the Ge
O. eral suddenly recollected his watc
r and, ringing for his valet, desired hi
to take it from the dining-room tabl
Ie where it had been left, and restore
T. to its proper place. In a few momen
r. the servant returned, looking somewh
|. frightened. He could not find Il
n watch. General Vernon, surprise
: went himself to search, but was n
:, more fortunate.