.•. , :1 r • SAMUEL WRIGHT, Editor and Proprietor VOLUME XXX, NUMBER 7.7 TUAISIIED EVERY WHIM MORNING (Vice in Carpel Hall, N - ortili-esest corner of I .Front and Locust streets. 'Perms of Subscription Gne.eopy per annum,if paidin advance, 31 30 if not paid willatithree narniihsfrom commencomeniofthe year, 300 CoacLitist i Copy. Na.ulllcripiton received fora le-s time than <ix *months; and no paper will be tlNcontinued unit! all trrearagezure paid,unlessat the optionof the pub• iCrAloney may bercmittedbymail aithep üblish ePn ri6k. Rates of Advertising. i cquarefGlinesjorte week, so as three weeks, 75 each tuhsequentissertion, 10 112: i ne , ] one week. 50 three weeks,l. 00 . . , Large radverti.cment•i a proportion. A liberaldisuount will he inside to quarierly,half• early oryearlyadvertisers,who are strict') confined o their business. lutus. October to May. The day that brightens half the earth, 1% night to half. Al,, sweet! One's mourning k another's mirth, You wear your bright years like a crown.— While mine, dead garlands. tangle down In chains about my feet. The breeze which wakes the folded flower Sweeps dead leave: from the tree:— So partial Time, as hour by hour lle tells the rapid years, ehen! Brings bloom and heauty ,till to you, But leave hie blight with me. The rain which calls the violet up Out of the moistened mold Shutters the wind-flowers fragile cup; Far even Nature has her pets, And, favoring the new, forgets To love and spare the old. The shower which inntres the bud a rose, Beats MT the lilnc.bloom, I am a lilac,—so life goes,— A lilac that bus outlived May,— You arc a blush rose. Well:idol)! I pa's arid give you room! glitttiinto. Guests at the Red Lion It's now nigh on for ten years since the Red Lion and I parted company. The Red Lion was once the best house inTunstone,but the railway knocked up the coaches, and that knocked up the business, and I was glad to get away while I had anything to get away with. My wife (God bless herl) I shall never see again in this world. She was very lame, and couldn't get about without help; so she sat for the most part in the little snuggery behind the liar, which I had fitted up for her as nice as money could make it. Iler bird cage hung from the ceiling, and in a warm corner near the fire there was a hassock, which was the special property of her tabby. Opposite to where my wife sat was a little mahogany cupboard let into the wall, the door of which was generally half open, so that when she looked up from her sewing or knitting, she could see ranged on the shelves the famous old china which her grandmoth er gave her for a wedding present; and above it the silver teapot, thegilt caudle-cup, &c.; and, at the top of all, the great punch-, bowl, which was used only on grand ecca sions; all of which articles she used to take much pleasure in looking at. Mr room was divided from the bar by a glass door, which she could open or shut at pleasure; so that when any friend or acquaintance dropped in, she could, if so minded, have a chat with them; and though she sat there day after day, and month after* month, it's my opinion that she knew mere about the Tunstone people, and their private affairs, than any person in town, except, perhaps, my head-waiter, Jim Topping. A very de cent sort of fellow he was—middle-aged, brown, lean, with a stoop of the shoulders, and only one eye; but that one as sharp as a gimlet, and equal to the two eyes of most people. Poor fellow! he has been dead these seven years; and lies in Tunstone churchyard, with the finest double daisy growing on his grave that could be had for love or money. It was a flower he was always fond of, so I had one planted over him out of compliment to his memory, It was one December afternoon, the very winter we had that long black frost, when I heard Jim talking to my wife. "I've put them into number nine," sayshe, "and a verp nice couple they seeme to be. outlets and a chicken for dinner,Wm." "Where do they come from, Jim?" says I, "From the railway-station, " says Jim; "further than that I cant say. Name on the luggage is Oldwink." I was not long before I went up stairs to .pay my respects. 'When I entered the room the gentleman was standing with his hands under his coat-tails, looking very earnestly through his spectacles at a print over the chimney-piece. "After Ciainshorough, eh?" he was saying. "Great painter, Gainsborough. This is in die best style. Background well filled in; side lights skillfully introduced; pyramidical grouping strictly observed. Full of merit, my dear. A wonderful painting. The original is in tic jallery of my friend_Lord Papyrus. Ah, landlord, is that you?" The speaker was a portly, well-built, mid Ale -aged gentleman. Its 'cheeks and chin were well filled out, and he had a hearty color in his face; he had a hearty voice too —rich and full, that sounded as if he had a sugar plum always in his mouth. lie had not a great deal of hair left, but what he had was brushed and frizzled, and made the most of. A large old-fashioned brooch held hie white cravat in its place; and his feet were encased in shoes and gaiters. He had a well-fed, comfortable look, such as a land lord likes to sec; and I set him down at first sight either for a retired doctor, a clergy man out fur a holiday, or a gentleman living on his private means. The lady was considerably younger tbnn her husband. She was rather sharp fea tured, and rather hard of hearing. I think, too, that she painted a little, but many la dies do that, and are thought none the worse off for it. "We think of staying a few days with you, Jolson, if we are suited. We shall, in fact, probably stay Sunday over. We have been traveling a groat deal lately, and Mrs. Oldwink repsires a little rest and quiet. You require a little rest and quiet, eh, my dear?" he said, elevating his voice, and ad dressing the lady. "0, yes, certainly, a little rest and quiet," she replied with a nod of the head, and fell to work on some crotchet again, as if for dear life. "Her health is hardly what it ought to be," resumed Mr. Oldwink, in a low, im pressive tone. "But we must get you to drive us out, Jobson, for an hour or two every day; and try the effect of this pure country air. I trust that your sherry will bear investigation." I went down stairs deeply impressed with the affability of Mr. Oldwink, and fetched up a bottle out of a private bin, which was never touched except on private occasions. After dinner, Mr. Oldwink drank his wine and read the daily paper; and we heard no more either of him or his lady till the fol lowing morning. The same evening another stranger ar rived at the Red Lion, who walked direct into the commercial room, and ordered tea and a bed. We somehow took him for a commercial gentleman, but he had no lug gage with him, except a very small carpet bag. Milan tie Monthly He just walked in, ordered his tea, asked what company there was in the house; and then, saying he had got the toothache very bad, tied a red silk handkerchief round his head, and getting into a warm corner, never stirred out of it till he went to bed. Next morning came a letter directed to Mr. ParkiQs. That was all we learned about him. As for his appearance, it was neither gentlemanly nor vulgar, but mid way between the two. He was dressed in a suit of brown clothes, and was altogether a quiet, common-place sort of fellow. He still complained of the toothache, and kept the red handkerchief bound round his face; he said he should not stir out that day, but try what a little nursing of himself would do towards taking away the pain. Half an hour after that, when I set off to drive Mr. and Mrs. Oldwink through the town, looking through the window I saw Mr. Parki.,s walking up and down, with his head tied up, and his hand pressed against his cheek. He brightened up for n. moment as we passed, and came to tho window to see us off. I drove Mr. and Mrs. Oldwink through Tunstone and round Tunstone, and pointed out all the interesting places I could think of. Mr. Oldwink seemed to be a gentleman of much information, and made learned re marks on everything wo examined. Mrs' Oldwink had not much to say, but appeared to be so greatly gratified with the outing, that Mr. Oldwink arranged another for the following day. When I reached home I was greatly sur prised at finding Mr. Purkiss seated com fortably in the snuggery with my wife.— This was a favor seldom granted to any but very old friends, and I hardly knew what to think at seeing a stranger there. I sup ' pose my wife's heart had been first drawn toward him by the report of his toothache: and as he took all the remedies recommend ed by her, she , hardly knew how to praise him enough, and said he was the nicest gen tleman she had seen for a long time. I drove out Mr. and Mrs. Oldwink every forenoon. We visited every place of inter est for miles round Tunstone; and Mr. Oldwink made me tell him everything I knew about each place we visited; and al ways added to what I said a few moral re marks of his own, so that I became more certain than ever that he was a clergyman away from home on a holiday, and when I just hinted the matter to him, (for I confess I was curious about it) ho only smiled, and said I might have been further out in my guess. As for Mr. Purkiss, I give you my word that he grew more of a puzzle to me every day. Neither Jim nor I knew what to make of him; and when Jim did'nt know what to make of a man, that gimlet eye of his al ways did double duty in the way of keeping watch. He and I laid our heads together about it, you may be sure; but the more we thought about it the more in the dark we seemed to be: and though Mr. Purkiss was a quiet, inoffensive, civil-spoken man enough, yet, as I've always found, the less we know of people the more inclined we are to judge hardly of them. If he had any business to do in Tunstone, he seemed in no hurry to du it; for he seldom went out, and never for more than half an hour at a time—and that o[ itself was very suspicious --but was gen erally moving up and ;lowa the house from one room to another, as people having the toothache often will do; and Jim found it hard work dodging about after him so as not to let him know he was watched. Well, Christmas Eve arrived, and all our guests departed except Mr. and Mrs. Old- "NO E.NTERTATNMENT IS SO CHEAP AS READING, NOR ANY PLEASURE SO LASTING." COLUMBIA, PENN wink, and Mr. Purkiss, and they informed me that they intended staying over Christ mas day. Now, during all the years I was in the public lino, I made it a point of ask ing any company we might have in the house to dine with me at my own table on Christmas day; and I don't think ilia any of them could ever say that I gave them a shabby dinner or a poor bottle of wine at such time. I kept up the custom in the present instance, and was pleased that my invitation was not refused. My old friend Scatcher, who makes a capital fourth at a rubber, did not neglect to come; and we all sat down on Christmas day as comfortable a little party as you need wish to look at. I would have done anybody's eyes good to have seen Mr. Oldwink, as ho sat on my left hand, looking so beaming and affable as he uttered a grace for the seasonable bounties of roast goose and onion sauce. As soon as the cloth was removed, I could see that Scatcher was fidgeting for the cards to be brought out; so I made bold to ask Mr. Oldwink whether he would make one at a quiet rubber. "Why, really, my friends," he remarked, "it is very seldom that I touch a card; in fact, I am a novice at all games of chance or skill; but, on an occasion of this sort, I should be very sorry to mar the festivity.-- Do not, however, expect much from me.— Let the stakes be low, if you please; just sufficient to give an interest to the game.— Say half-crown points—l could not, con scientiously play for more; with, if you like, and extra shilling on the odd trick." Scatcher and I opened our eyes; we had never played for more than a shilling a cor ner; but, of course, we said we did not say so; so it was settled at half a crown. As for Mr. Purkiss, when I asked him, he said in his quiet way that ho should be happy to do as the rest of the comp , tny did. So we cut for partners; and, as it fell out, it was Scatcher and Mr. Oldwink against Mr. Pur kiss and myself. Mr. Oldwink passed me his snuff-box while Scatcher was dealing. "A remarkable box that, Jubson," be observed, seeing that I was admiring it.— "It was presented to me by the Emperor of Russia, in return for a secret service which I rendered his majesty during the time I was traveling through his dominions. He sent me this snuff-box, and an autograph letter of thanks. Diamonds trumps. Knave turned up." Mr. Purkiss held out his hand for the box, but Mr. Oldwink took it up and put it in his pocket; perhaps he did not like to have it fingered by strangers. The luck of Scatcher and his partner was something astonishing, they won rubber af ter rubber, while our scores were scarcely worth counting; but I must say it was chiefly owing to the splendid cards held by Mr. Oldwink. I could not understand how it was that when that gentleman dealt, he invariably turned up an honor, and had generally two more of the same snit to keep it company, with a long hand of something else to follow; I don't think I'm a bad tempered fellow, but really I began to feel very aggravated at losing one half-crown after another in the manner I did; but Mr. Purkiss, who of course lost as much as I did, was so cool and quiet, that I was ashamed to display my ill-feeling. At the conclusion of the fourth rubber, Mr. Purk iss got up, turned his chair round three times, and then sat down again. Scatcher rubbed his chin, and was evidently puzzled. Mr. Purkiss smiled. "When I was a lad," ho said, "I remem ber hearing my grandmother say that when you were unlucky at cards it was a good thing to turn your chair round three times; so we may as ire!! try an old wife's remedy." It may seem hard to believe, but it is nevertheless a fact, that after my partner had turned his chair, he never failed, when it was his deal, to turn up an honor, and hold two more in his hand, so that the next two rubbers were won by us. At the end of the second Mr. Oldwink got up, rather hastily as it seemed, and said he was tired of playing; and Mr. Purkiss had a quiet laugh to himself in a corner. So I opened a fresh box of cheroots, and the cards were put away. Next morning, as I was coming down stairs, Mr. Oldwink called me into his room and shut the door. "Who was that Mr. Purkiss who was playing with us last night?" he asked. "I know no more of him than sou do, sir. He sits in the commercial room; he has been here for four days; and how much longer be intends staying I don't know." "To speak the truth, Jobson, I don't like the looks of that man." "I'm no great admirer of him, myself, MS "Mind, Dobson, I don't say the man is not an honest man, or a merotorious man, and I am merely speaking in your interest, Jobson—for such a matter can in no other way concern me—when I say keep your eyes on the spoons. I hope I am not wronging the man when I state it as my opinion—and conscientiously I state it— that he has somewhat of a hang-dog coun tenance." I was much obliged to Mr. Oldwink for putting me on my guard. And. so I told him. I then went down to Jim, and con sulted with him as to what ought to be done. Jim had nothing to advise, except that he should still continue to keep his eye on Mr. il A, A I lA' ►s' iP 1 ' 10,1: . Purkiss. tie agreed with me that it was rather a suspicious case; and at last sug gested that the opinion of Mrs. Jobson, should be taken. So together we went to my wife, 'and opened the matter to her. We, however, gained no advantage by the proceeding. She called Jim and me a pair of old fools; declared that Mr. Purkiss was ono of the nicest gentlemen she had ever come across, and gave it ns her opinion that Mr. Oldwink was nothing better than a humbug. Jim and I retired discomfited, and talked the matter over again in the pantry. Jim's gimlet eye did double duty for the remainder of the day. It was a relief to all parties when Mr. Porkies asked for his bill next morning, and desired that his carpet-bag might be sent to the station. He took a very polite farewell of my wife, saying ho hoped soon to have the pleasure of seeing her again. When I told Mr. Oldwink that Mr. Pur kiss was gone, he smiled blandly upon me, and rubbed his fingers gently through bis hair. "It is well," said he. "It was your interest I had at heart, Jobson, in saying what I did; but, if I em anything of a physiognomist, that man is destined either to be hanged or transported. And now, my good friend, in ten minutes Mrs. Oldwink and I will be ready for our usual matutinal drive." Two mornings after this Mr. Oldwink again sent for me up stairs. "Jobson," said he, be good enough to let me have my bill in half an hour from this time. Mrs. Oldwink and I depart by the 11-45 train; but previously we shall take a walk into the town to purchase a few little mementoes of our visit to Tunstone. Mrs. Oldwink desires me to say that she has been very much gratified by you atten tion and evident desire to please. Speak ing for myself, I may also express a similar feeling; and I may add that I shall not fail to recommend the Red Lion to my friend Sir Rufus Bloomsbury, who, I believe, in tends coming down hero in May for a fort night's fishing. In half an hour from this time, if you please." Mr. and Mrs. Oldwiuk went out, and re turned in about half an hour, carrying two or three small parcels. The bill was looked over, and paid without a murmur. Mr. Oldwink's luggage stood ready to be con veyed to the station. "Jason," said that gentleman, suddenly, as if the thought bad but just struck "it would not be amis', I think,. if you were to get your trap out and drive Mrs. Oldwink and myself as for as Licepwood, the first station on the line to London. It is a suggestion of my wife's—and not a bad one, I think. By driving fast, we should be just in time to catch the 11.45 train from here. What say you? Would the mare do it in time?" "I'll warrant her, sir," I replied. "The trap shall be ready in three minutes." "So it was—and we all three got in. The luggage, which was not heavy, was put under the scat, and down Highgate we whirled at a spanking pace, and in five minutes Tunstone was left behind. Our ride was pleasant, but short, for Deepwood was only five miles off. Mr. Oldwink praised my mare to the skies, and listened to me with much attention while I men tioned all her good points, and told him what way her best qualities might be brought out by one who understood her. We were just driving into Deepwood when I noticed Mr. Oldwink fumbling with his pockets. A moment after, he turned to me, looking very serious and alarmed. "Jobson," said he, "I find that I have left my purse and a packet of very impor tant papers on the sitting-room table of the Red Lion. What is to be done?" "Don't know, sir, I'm suro, unless we drive back for them," said I, letting the mare drop into a walk. "Or will you go forward, and let me send them to your ad dress through the post?" "It's not that I care so much for the purse, but the documents are of great im portance to me. Let me consider what will be the best plan to adopt." lie laid his fingers on his lips and thought for a few moments. "I have it!" said lie, brightening up. "A train for Tunstone passes here in fire min utes from this time. Jobson, will you re turn by it, and obtain the purse and papers? We must let the 11-45 go on without us; but there is another train at 12-30 from nis i j tone which stops here—You will have time Ito get the articles and return by it. We will meet at the station here and go forward by it, after paying you for your trouble, and you will return home with the mare. Will you so far oblidg,e me?" Such a request it was impossible to refuse. We saw the train approaching. I jumped out of the trap, ran to the station, and took my ticket; and looking out of the window as the train started, I saw Mr. Oldwink draw ing up at the door of the railway hotel, and preparing to alight. When I got out of the train at Tustone, who should I see on the platform but Mr. Pur kiss. Ile gave me a nod and held up his finger; but, as I had no time to lose, I pre tended not to hare seen him, and dived into tke crowd; but when I reached the door, there he was again . "Mr. Jobson, I want to speak to you a minute." "Can't stay now, Mr. Purkiss. Another time I shall be most happy." "Another time won't do. Now listen to me. Iyhere have you left Mr. Oldwink?" "I don't know what right you have to ask the question, but I loft the gentleman you namo at Deepwood." "Did ho pay his bill before leaving the Red Lion." "Certainly he did. But really, Mr.—" "Now don't lose your temper. lie paid you with a twenty pound Bank of England note, did ho not?" "lie did." "The note is a forged one. Got it about you?" "No; it's at home." "Well, I tell you again, it's a forged one; and more than that, that your friend, Mr. Oldwink, is one of the most notorious swind lers in the three kingdoms." You might have knocked me down with a cork when I heard Mr. Parkiss say these words. "And who are you,sir?" I at length con trived to stammer out. "And how came you to know all these things?" "I am an officer of the Detective Force. I have had my eyes on Mr. Oldwink for some time, but he is such a slippery customer that it was difficult to prove anything against him. I tracked him to your house, and then as I was quite a stranger to him, I took up my quarters there, in order to watch him more closely. But he began to suspect me after awhile; as did you also, Jobson, in an other fashion; so that I found it advisable to leave the Red Lion. But I did not lose sigh tof my gentleman; forthough you thought I had left the town, I was, in reality, snugly located at the Green Dragon, opposite your house, where I received confidential commu nications from your wife respecting Mr. Oldwink, by a trusty messenger, every two hours during the day. Don't look so wild, Jobson, or people will think you are losing your wits. Well, this morning I was in formed that Oldwink was going to make a few purchases previous to leaving Tustone: by the 12.45 train; so I set my man to watch him, and note all the shops he favored with his custom. As soon as he was housed a gain at the Red Lion, I took a banker's clerk with me, and went the same round lie had taken. The result was, that we found ha had purchased nearly a hundred pounds' worth ofjewelry at different shops, togeth er with a small parcel of valuable velvets, for all of which he had paid for with forged notes, receiving the change in gold and sil ver. This done I posted off to the station , expecting to nab my gentleman on the plat form with the property on him. But he was to deep for me; the 11-45 departed, and he never came; and my man has just been down to inform me that lie and you had set off by road. And now I'm off to Deepwood by the train which starts in five minutes; so do you just get a nip of brandy to keep your clock work in order, and then go hack with me; and slippery as he is, see if I don't lay hold of him yet." Judge what my feelings were while I lis tened to Mr. Purkiss's story. I was ready to bite my thumbs off with vexation. When I reached Deepwood no Mr. Old wink was to be seen; and my companion laughed at me when I expressed my sur prise nt not finding him there. "Tu think you should expect such a ; thing!" said he. "Why he is miles off by this time, unless your mare has broken j down." Here was another blow for me, for I had had no idea that he would take off j with say mare. "It would not do for him l to travel by rail," added Mr. Purkiss, as an! after-thought. "He was afraid of the tele- I graph." We found on inquiry at the railway ion that the old scamp had stayed there about! five minutes only, to bait the mare, and take some refreshment; and then, after asking a few questions respecting the roads, had set off at a good pace northward. In three minutes we had a gig out, a horse in the shafts, and ourselves seated behind it, anal after learning which road the fugitives had taken, set off after them as hard as we could go. "And Mrs. Oldwink, what of her?" said I to my companion. "Birds of a feather—you know the rest," he replied, biting off the end of a cigar. It was a raw and bitter afternoon, with showers of sleety rain at intervals. The horse that carried us along was a good one, pretty near equal to my mare, and fresh to begin with. So on we went, over hill and dale, through a very wild and lonely coun try; erery mile, as it seemed, leading us further away from any town or village; and with but one wayside inn to break the soli tude, at which we stayed for a few minutes to bait our horse, and where we gathered tidings that made us hasten on again. We had got, perhaps, a matter of ten or twelve miles from Deepwood, when Mr. Porkiss suddenly flung the cigar out of his mouth, gave the horse a sharp lash that made it bound madly forward, and pushing his lint tighter over his brows, gave vent to n smothered "Hurrah'." There they were before us. It was some minutes before they found out that they were followed. Mrs. 01 , 1 wink, happening to turn her head, was the first to see us; next her husband gore a backward glance; and then, half rising in his seat, lashed into my poor mare in a style that made my blood boil to see. Though we did our best, the distance between us gradually increased; and in one sense I could hardly regret that it was so, since it proved so plainly the superior bottom of my mare. There was not a word spoken for some time, so great was our anxiety. It $1,50 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE; 82,00 ll' NOT IN•ADVANCE had become a question of speed and endu rance between the two horses. The road which had been level and straight for some distance, came atlength to a considerable bill, nearly coveted by a thick plantation of young trees, up the side of which it wound with a sharp curve. The gig before us passed out of sight when it reached this bend of the road, while wo were still a considerable dis- tance from it. IThen we came up to the curve, we saw that there was another bend in the opposite direction higher up the face of the hill, and that Oldwink had passed the second cornet...before we reached the first, and was therefore still out of viow.— The hill was so steep that we were obliged to allow the mare to walk up it, for fear of blowing her completely. What then was our surprise, on passing the second cor ner, to find the gig and its occupants only about fifty yards ahead of us. Purith.s rubbed his eyes as though be could hardly believe them. But there the fugitives were real enough; fur Oldwink was looking over his shoulder as we turned the corner, and on seeing us took off his hat, and moved to us as though wishing us good day. "Must hare halted here a minute or two to breathe the mare," said Mr. Purkiss, after cogitating fora few moments. "He necd'nt have done so," said I, "if he has understood how to manage her." Oldsvink moved rapidly ahead, and grad ually placed the former distance between The afternoon was beginning to darken, and the mists to creep down the hill aides. The road, though level, had now become very crooked; and the gig before us was out of sight as often as not. Oldwink himself frequently looked back, but Mrs. Oldwink sat calm and upright beside him, and never noticed us even with a glance. We had got, as near as I can reckon, about three miles past the hill, when, for the fifth or sixth time, we lost the gig be fore us behind a bend of the road. We were four minutes, I should say—or, at the outside, five—before we passed the corner, and recovered sight of it; and when we did see it, we both of us this time had need to rub our eyes in earnest. There—a hundred yards ahead of us—stood the gig; and in it sat Mrs. Oldwink in the most unconcerned manner possible; but Mr. Oldwink had dis appeared, and with him the mare. Mr. Purkiss pulled up suddenly when this sight met his eyes. Ire knew no more than my self what to make of it. Oldwink certainly was gone—the mare certainly was gone; but why leave Mrs. Oldwink in that heart less manner to meet her fate alone? And why did that eccentric lady appear so perfectly unmoved at being thus so uncere moniously deserted? Mr. Purkiss whistled softly to himself, while we advanced at a walk towards the deserted lady, who did not condescend even to turn her head when we drew up close behind her and descended to accost her. Mr. Purkiss was the first to approach her. "A dummy, by Jove!" he screamed, as ho peered under the bonnet. "Done again, as I'm a sinner!" It was as he said. The figure we had taken for Mrs. Oldwink was merely two cross sticks placed upright in the gig, and covered by the lady's ample shawl and bon net—in fact, neither more nor loss than a resreetable scarecrow, "Well," said I, scratching my head, "I confess I don't see the meaning of this thing." "You don'tt" said Mr. Purkiss, glancing savagely at me, for he was evidently out of temper at last. "Why, what a stupid you must be Don't you see, man, that when Oldwink halted close to the plantation, in stead of his doing it to breathe the mare as we thought, he did it to give his wife an opportunity of making off into the wood with the jewelry? This thing was then dressed up, and we were enticed forward as far as this spot, in order to give the woman an opportunity of getting clear away. And now to finish the affair, Oldwink has made off with your mare across the country, and will meet his wife at some place agreed on, twenty or thirty miles away from this. Well, he's a slippery customer, and no mis take" Further pursuit was useless fur the pres ent, even if we had known which. rood Oldwiuk had taken; and very down the mouth we both looked as we turned .our faces back to Dcepwood, which we did not reach till far into night. What my wife had to say to me about this little affair when I got home, need not he set down here. And the wigging she gave Jim! Poor old girl! it served her to talk about fur many a month after, so• that I found it best after a while to shorten her tongue by buying her a peach-colored satin BEM I have nothing more to add, except that Mr. Oldwink and his wife were taken at Liverpool some three months after by Mr. Purkiss; for some years after which event they were both cared for at the expense of an enlightened public, Siamese Women and Children Up to the age of Len years, Siamese chit• Iron of either sex are not troubled with any superabundance of clothing, and it is sel dom that a child is seen wearing the small est shred of a garment, except on days of festivals. Jewels, sometimes of very great value, aro put on young children. Among the higher classes, girls and boys, np to the ago of twelve, near a number of gold chains, [WHOLE 'NUMBER 1,516. sometimes four, six, or seven at a time, all different, and each having some amulet or ornament attached. The hair is allowed to grow long on the front part of the bead, but the rest is kept shaved, leaving this circular patch to be twisted into a knot, which is kept in its place by a long orna mental pin. Often a wreath of the white jessamine is twined to fit closely about this knot, and the effect is pretty. Both boys and girls are dressed (if their scant meas ure of - clothing may ho called dress,) er ttetly alike, so that it is not easy to distin guish them. At the ago of twelve the lock of hair is cut off, leaving a patch which bears a strong resemblance to a small black hair brush. This, in the man, is combed back, and al lowed to grow a degree longer than in the women; not so much so, however, as to sug gest any marked difference to a stranger. The women keep their locks carefully oiled, combed, and gummed, to stand upright. and they take infinite pains to keep the top of this brush smooth a velvet. A Si mese lady's hair is held to be in perfect order when she can plunge into the river, and duck her head many times under with out disturbing the smoothness and upright ness of her national hair brush. The cere many of cutting off the lock of hair, is kept with entertainments and rejoicings. It is the great event in your Sienese life, and re sembles the coming out amongst young ladies in other countries; for in Siam chil dren are supposed to reach years of discre tion rather early. After a girl marries, ;he gives up tLo wearing of ornaments and trinkets. These are set aside and reserved for her children in their turn. Boys, as I have mentioned before, have an opportunity of learning to read, by entering themselves as neophytes, or attendants on the priests. Whether girls have any schools or persons authorized to teach them, I do not know; but it is not uncommon in Siam to find women able to read and write. I met with three or four myself, and these were persons of the lower ranks. The occupations of the females are various and far less circumscribed than in any other parts of the East. In fact, the women in Siam occupy a moral positicn many degrees superior to that of their sae ters in neighboring countries. The wife of Simeso has no unimportant voice in the domestic arrangements of the family. She is cash-keeper and seems to possess the right to claim all her husband's earnings. The women, as a race, arc very intelligent. and observant; those belonging to the high er classes: seem to have pleasing and modest manners. The head wife of the prime minister is a very interesting woman; she is not young, but is by no means want ing in personal attractions. She has no children; but that does not seem to disturb her husband's affection, or her influence over him. She came with her attendants. by invitation, to lunch with us, and although our talk was limited for lack of words, she could contrive to make herself agreeable. It was the first time that a Simeso lady of rank had ever visited on equal terms a foreign family, but it would have been difficult to guess this from her perfectly easy and quiet demeanor. She satat the luncheon table, with the gentlemen; and, although she bad probably never before used a knife and fork, or any of the nppliances of an English table, she acquitted herself with, perfect propriety and good breeding, even to the overwhelming act of taking wine with her host. Her step son (the admiral) ac companied her, and she was attended by about thirty maidens, two of whotn were younger sisters, very pretty girls; the rest were slaves. The whole party of attandon.t3 remained sprawling on the ground during her visit. An absurd little incident will serve to , show how diligently these people observe the custom of prostration. The lady re quested permission to visit the sleeping apartments, in order to see how English people arrange rooms, she was accordingly taken up stairs, followed by the entire body of maidens and her step-son, who did not at all see why he should not have the benefit ors peep as well. She expressed her antis faction at all the arrangements, and espe cially her delight at a small iron crib be longing to my child, which seemed to strike them all as a devise of luxury and refine ment not to be equaled. Finally, when everything in the room had been duly handled and examined, she inquired in a perplexed manner, where we kept our mo ney, as she could not see a strongbox of any kind. It should be mentioned that on a precious visit to her own house, I had been shown over her private apartments, and in the sleeping room saw four large iron safes which she pointed out as seeming to add much to the honor of the family. There happened to be a box of mine in the corner, however, covered over with the usual ar rangement of cushions and frills; this being shown hcr,she seemed greatly relieved to find ( judging from the size of the boz, which, however, was empty at the time,) that we had, or appeared to have, some worldly pelf, and delighted at suola a charming way of covering it up. As she was about to de scend the stairs, a commotion disturbed the whole beyy of damsels, to whom it appeared suddenly to occur, that by going down first, their mistress would place herself beneath them; a thing not to be tolerated for a no: went. Accordingly, with a sudden rush, the young ladies passed her, on their hands end knees, lust as she ens about to desalt:4,
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