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SAMUEL WRIGHT, Editor and Proprietor
VOLUME XXX, NUMBER 7.7
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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,