ornia tal 7 rnia il THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN; SKETCHES IN PROSE AND VERSE, BY ALICE B. NEAL. SECOND EDITION. PHILADELPHIA: HAZARD AND MITCHELL, 178 CHESNUT STREET. 1850. Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1850, by HAZARD AND MITCHELL, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Stereotyped by J. Pagan. Printed by Smith & Peters. TO THE MOTHER OF JOSEPH C. NEAL As Ruth, of old, wrought in her kinsman's field From the uneven stubble patiently Gathering the corn full hands had lavish'd free, Nor paused from sun, or air, her brow to shield So I have gleaned, where others boldly reap: Their sickles flashing through the ripen'd grain, Their voices swelling in a harvest strain, Go on before me up the toilsome steep. And thus I bind my sheaf at even-tide For thee, my more than mother! and I come Bearing my burden to the quiet home Where thou didst welcome me, a timid bride; Where now thy blessed presence, day by day, Cheereth me onward in a lonely way. (iii) CONTENTS. PAGE. THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN ; OR, LESSONS OF CHARITY 7 Sketch the First 9 Sketch the Second 33 Sketch the Third 59 Sketch the Fourth , 79 Sketch the Fifth 103 Sketch the Sixth, and Last 130 SKETCHES IN PROSE AND VERSE 159 The Portrait ; or, the Wife's Jealousy 161 Trees in the City 175 The New England Factory Girl ; a Sketch of Everyday Life 177 There 's no such Word as Fail 220 The Story of the Bell 222 Voices from Flowers 228 The Sorrow of the Rose 230 A Life History: I. The Bride's Confession 237 II. Old Letters 239 III. A Memory 241 Ideal Husbands ; or, School-Girl Fancies 243 The Treasure Ship 270 Transplanted Flowers 272 Too Late ! 289 The Young Bride's Trials 291 Blind ! 319 1* W THE GOSSIPS OF KIVERTOWN; OB, LESSONS OF CHARITY. (7) THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN; OR, LESSONS OF CHARITY. SKETCH THE FIRST. THE NEIGHBOURS. CHAPTER I. " 'T is an accident scarce worth repeating (But people, you know, dear, mil talk !) How is it you always are meeting With some one you know, when you walk ?" Thank Heaven, they are not censorious ! not at all of a suspicious turn of mind, not in the least disposed to be rashly credulous ; but everybody must admit, that there cannot be so much smoke, without some flame. Laman Blanchard. T was very evident that Mrs. Harden expected com- pany that afternoon. Miss Harriet had dusted the parlours herself. Mrs. Harden had been observed to give particular directions about cleaning the front hall, the bell knob and door-plate inclusive. If proof was wanted after all this for it was not Saturday, when people are expected to "raise a dust" Hannah, the girl, had said, while negotiating the loan of Mrs. Miller's patty-pans, "They wanted twelve besides their own; for Miss Harden expected Miss Folger and her husband, Miss Utley and hern, with all the children, to tea." O) 10 THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. " And children generally is fond of cakes/' added Hannah ; an axiom which Mrs. Miller who was the fond mother of five responsibilities did not attempt to dispute. Two o'clock found Miss Harriet's hair released from curl papers; Mrs. Harden's best cap, the one with white satin rosettes, nicely arranged; and the two ladies descended to the parlour to wait in blank expectation the arrival of their visitors. Presently a rumble of wheels caused both to rush at once to the same window, to the threatened demolition of a carnation pink, and huge horse-shoe geranium there stationed. "That's the cab!" said Miss Harriet. " Well I declare ! so it is," echoed mamma. "But it isn't going to stop, after all." "No! Well, it's too bad." The cab was going to stop, however ; the driver well knew what he was at, and with a grand sweep it turned a little above the house, and drew up in fine style to the curbstone. There was Mrs. Folger. all smiles and exclamations, with Bobby, the youngest child, in her arms ; and the cabman lifted Susan and Sarah Ann, the twins, out after her. There was also a huge bundle of work, and a covered basket, besides a shawl, lest it should be cold in the evening, and Bobby might need it. Here, be it observed par parenthese that the less ladies sew at home, the shorter the day ; and the more children they have to look after, the greater the package of work they take when they go out to "spend the afternoon," in Yankee parlance. Mrs. Harden took the screaming juvenile, with a mighty effort, from its mother, and ushered maternity into the parlour with sundry declarations that Mrs. Folger was the greatest stranger she knew of (they did not see each other more than three times THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. 11 in the week;) and Harriet seized in rapture upon the twins, protesting, as she undid their various wrappers, she so doated on children they were such a treat at their house. Here Mrs. Folger discovered that the cab had stopped at Mrs. Miller's, and while communicating the important fact, Mrs. Mil- ler and baby ascended the steps, and away drove the clattering little vehicle. "Well! if Mrs. Miller don't go all the time!" said Mrs. Harden. " What she pays that man for cab-hire, would keep a decent family in lights, the year round." Mrs. Harden had very limited ideas on the subject of illumi- nations generally so thought Hannah, and so hinted her hus- band; but "economy, after all, 's the main thing," as she so often said. " Would Mrs. Folger sit up to the fire ? perhaps her feet were damp?" suggested Miss Harriet. The walking was shocking, to be sure, and their visitor discovered that the toe of one of her slippers was quite wet; it must have been from crossing the pavement. " Perhaps she had better take the baby ; he was apt to be troublesome." Mrs. Harden could not think of giving the dear little fellow up so soon ; she had not held him more than a minute, and, as Harriet just said, children were such a treat to them. Again, a rumble close to the pavement announced the arrival of the " carryall," and while Mrs. Utley and sons are being shown in, a word on cabs in general, this cab in particular. Perhaps some residents of the Quaker city still remember the hubbub among news-boys and corner-loungers, which the advent of cabs created. We have heard a description of the first ride which was daringly taken by two gentlemen friends, from the Exchange to 12 THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. Fairmount. Stones were thrown groans, hisses and derisive cheers followed their course and happy were they at last to escape these demonstrations of the public's affectionate notice and regard. Scarcely less was the excitement, though it was of a different nature when these most convenient vehicles made their first appearance in Rivertown. Nobody had heard the thing proposed, when all at once Smith & Miller, of the great livery stable, came out with three of the neatest little affairs that ever were seen, and they became the rage directly. So cheap ! one could ride to any part of the town for sixpence ! Sixpences no longer lingered at the end of purses, the bottom of pockets. Young ladies now dispensed with over- shoes, and kid slippers were sported without a reproach from careful mammas " If it rains, I '11 send a cab for you. I 've just sent around for one; I'm going to the head of the street;" so the young lady glanced with an inconceivable degree of satis- faction at the neatly slippered foot, and mamma drove off to do her shopping. But an ebb came to the tide of popularity. Men of business found they could walk from " the wharf to the depot," almost as soon, and quite as cheaply, as they could ride ; and housekeepers could not afford it, while the help broke so many tumblers. Young ladies, aroused to arithmetical calculation, suddenly discovered that four sixpences made a quarter of a dollar, which would go some way towards the purchase of a new neck-ribbon. So, from being constantly in demand a passenger became a rara avis, and at last two of the three were laid by, and "the solitary survivor" was employed mainly, as we have seen, in conveying married ladies and their little ones, " out to spend the afternoon;" bringing Mrs. Folger and the children up street on a visit Mrs. Miller down, when it returned, and THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. 13 again rolling northward with Mrs. Utley. See you not our moral, most philosophical reader? Public patronage is not a whit more stable now than when the populace in olden times shouted one day for their king the next for his murderer and successor. But to return to Mrs. Harden' s parlour, which was so uncere- moniously deserted. Mrs. Utley is by this time quite at home there Bobby's mother is nicely warmed, and Bobby himself has gone tranquilly to sleep. Misses Susan and Sarah Ann are charitably furnishing employment for the man who tunes Miss Harriet's piano. Henry Utley is devoted to the kitten, and his baby brother sits on his mother's lap, resisting all Miss Harriet's entreaties to "Come, there's a darling" with slight kicks, and the exclamations "No, I wont keep away I" The ladies' knitting-work saw the light, and their tongues found motion, as a kind of running accompaniment to the sharp click which rose industriously above the din of the children. Mrs. Folger thought it was a very open winter, and she " should n't be surprised if the river broke up next week." Mrs. Utley was afraid not; her husband had said, at dinner, that they crossed with teams in the morning; the ice must be pretty sound yet. Harriet gave brother John's opinion that the channel would not be clear of ice before the first of April. Miss Harriet, be it observed, was one of those people who perhaps it is that their words are often doubted always give the best of references ; pa, ma or John being made responsible for innumer- able bits of gossip, that would doubtless have astonished these good people, had they reached their ears. Innumerable were the topics that received similar treatment not to be hinted at, the many important secrets communicated with the preface of 2 14 THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. " Don't mention it for the world, from me ! " and interrupted by exclamations of " Do teU ! " " No ? " and the like. At length there was silence comparative silence that is, for the children were as industrious as ever. Mrs. Harden stepped out a minute to tell Hannah, for the fortieth time, to be careful of the china, and as the door closed behind her, a bright face passed the win- dow and lo, another theme. "If there isn't Mary Butler again ! " said one of the ladies, as the three looked after her retreating form. "That girl's always in the street!" "So John says!" But horror for the moment suspended speech, and raised six hands simultaneously. "Did you ever see the like?" "She called him back, didn't she?" "Yes, he had got to Stone's store." " Well, I don't wonder he looks strange just to see her shak- ing her finger at him, just as if she 'd known him all her life, and to my certain knowledge, she never saw him before Mrs. Jackson's party ; but when girls are in the street all the time, what can be expected ? " Mrs. Folger drew a long sigh, and shook her head ominously. Here Mrs. Harden returned, and was made acquainted with the important fact all the witnesses speaking at once that Mary Butler was going up street (for the third time this week, and it's only Wednesday) and met Mr. Jorden just by the bank. He bowed very coldly (didn't he ?) and was going on, when Mary Butler called him back, and they stood laughing and talking for as much as five minutes before she let him go. Miss Harriet, who had known him so long a bowing acquaintance, THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. 15 of a year's standing wouldn't have dreamed of doing such a tiling. Her mother hoped not no, certainly, such an imprudent thing ! The gentlemen came in before the wonder had fairly subsided, and the interesting intelligence was duly reported. How pro- voking Mr. Folger was ! He could not see anything at all re- markable in the affair ; perhaps they were old friends ! and Mr. Harden would insist that Mary Butler had an undoubted right to go up street as often as she chose. But men are always so queer they never suspect ! There was more going on than some people thought for ; the ladies all agreed they should hear from that quarter again. And so they did, for just as Hannah called them to tea, Har- riet directed their attention to the window, with many a silent sign toward that corner of the room in which the gentlemen were discussing the projected river road ; and there in the uncertain twilight of early spring, they saw just as sure as you are read- ing this page they saw Mary Butler going down street, and Mr. Jorden walking with her ! Miss Harriet declared it was very hard to see why some people were so much in the street, in a manner that said as plainly as possible, that she thought it ex- tremely lucid ; and added that " she'd like to have brother John see her walking that way with Mr. Jorden," intimating that if he did, it would be the- last time she'd get out that winter ! Perhaps it is worth while to remark, that Mr. Jorden was one of the eligibles of Rivertown, and Mary Butler was a poor girl, with no income save that earned by a needle, which was probably the reason why it was so very improper, in the eyes of Miss Har- riet, for her to be more than a speaking acquaintance to the " best match in town." Miss Harriet, by the way, had often 16 THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. been made happy for a week by a bow from him, and would have given her new gipsy-hat, plume and all, for a call from one so distingue. Miss Harden just slipped in half a minute (i. e. half an hour) to see if her dear friend Adeline Mitchell was still alive ex- pressing her conclusion as she fondly embraced her, that she must not only be dead, but comfortably buried, as she had not peen her in an age, two days at least ! Where had she kept her- self? A similar response from the lady under question, ended with the declaration, that she had been dying to see Harriet all day, and had expected her every moment. Why had n't she been in ? had she heard the news? . Miss Harriet had heard a great deal in the last twenty-four hours she acknowledged that she had, but was not sure that this particular piece of intelligence was included. What was it about ? "Mary Butler and Mr. Jorden" Miss Harriet uttered something between a groan and a sigh ; and by a peculiar motion of the head intimated that perhap, she knew more about it than her friend. "Go on!" "Well, it's all over town" continued Miss Mitchell. " Every body 's talking about it. I took tea at Mrs. Smith's last night (why was n't you there, Harriet) and two ladies (I won't mention names) said, that they had seen her out in the evening with him ; though Miss Smith you know they live right oppo- site says he never goes into the house, but leaves her before THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. 17 they get to the hotel. It was only night before last she had seen it happen, just in that way." Miss Harden was not so much astonished at this intelligence as her friend intended, and evidently expected her to be ; for with a low and impressive whisper, she assured the speaker that she had seen it with her own eyes. '' No ! then that 's four times they 've been out together. Was there ever such imprudence ? " Miss Harriet returned home in the course of an hour, during which time it had been settled between the fair ladies, that Mary Butler ought to be ashamed of herself that some one who knew her ought to speak to her about it, and advise her as a friend to cut Mr. Jorden henceforth and forever. Every one knew how wild he 'd been ! Thank Heaven, she was not among the list of their acquaintances. Brother John had said her name was brought up at the whist party at the hotel only last night; and when girls were discussed by a lot of young men in that way, there was no knowing where it would end : they should die positively they would never hold up their heads again, if they thought their names had ever been thus profaned. CHAPTER H. " A whisperer separateth chief friends." " Forgive me if I listened To the tales which they have breathed ; It was sorrow more than anger I was wrong, my friend, deceived !" ;ARY BUTLER tied on her neat little hood, and drew the thick Highland shawl more closely about her form. It was a happy face that the little mirror reflected, for content and high health spoke plainly in every feature, and in the soft bloom that mantled the dimpled cheek. And had she not reason to be happy ? Since her father's death, had she not everywhere found kind friends ? What good was there in dwelling on those brighter days when she need not have touched her needle unless it so pleased her when her mother was mistress of a luxurious home, in her far away native city and where she, the darling, the light of the household, was petted and caressed by those who saw in the beau- tiful child but the future heiress of a proud fortune ! Could dwell- ing on these careless happy days recall them ? Pshaw ! after all, they were not so happy so she reasoned with herself there were ever so many things to vex them ; only one was then her guide whose face was now hidden and then she would check the tears that rose with that dear remembrance, and think that his care still smoothed life's pathway, even though the blessed ministry was unseen. True, her mother and herself were now almost entirely dependent on their own industry but if their income (18) THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. 19 was small, their wants were few, and Mary sang like a bird, " as the shining needle flew," while her mother sat by, and silently blessed the daughter whose devotion and constant cheerfulness helped her to bear the bitter sorrow that sometimes clouded her pale face j for at times Mrs. Butler still dwelt upon the wealth and position that had made her youth a dream of delight, and that now was hers only in remembrance. She sighed, when she fancied that her fair child was looked coldly upon for the power that should of right have been hers ; and when she dwelt on the plain neat dress which Mary ever wore, she contrasted it with rich fabrics that gave added beauty to her own early loveliness, forgetting that Mary had a charm over all this " the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit." In such hours of despondency, her daughter's musical voice and cheerful smile alone could restore her to anything like hope. While thus fulfilling a sacred duty, how could Mary be sad, or indulge in murmuring regrets ! Besides, she had of late a new cause for happiness. A kind friend, who had been their guest in affluence, and who still loved them for themselves, had come to reside in Bivertown, and had opened a new source of pleasure and hope. She remembered Mary's early talent for music, and suggested that she could more pleasantly increase her income, as a music-teacher, kindly offering her own piano for practice, and her services as instructor : as Mrs. Jackson was an accomplished pianist, this was no little kindness. This, then, was the secret of her daily walk past the window of Miss Harriet, for Mrs. Jackson resided a few doors above, and her being out so often ceases, with us at least, to be a wonder. " A quick step tells of a light heart," says the old pr&verb ; then surely no heart could have been lighter than Mary's as she 20 THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. commenced her walk ; but as she saw a group of young friends coining down the street, she slackened her pace that she might have a little chat with them. What was her astonishment when they passed with but a slight nod, leaving her to pursue her walk alone ! " It could not be intentional," was her second thought, and, quite undisturbed, she went on as gaily as before. How strangely every one acted that afternoon ! Her friend Mrs. Jackson did not seem at all happy to see her ; but perhaps the troubles of house-cleaning had clouded her temper, and the lesson over, Mary was once more in the street. All at once her face, thoughtful before, was lighted with a smile, as if she was about to meet some pleasant acquaintance ; but her cordial greeting received a very distant bow in return, and Mr. Jorden " passed by on the other side." It cannot be denied that her heart sank within her as she once more entered her home, and her mother missed her happy song, as she plied her needle in a sad silence through the whole of that long eve- ning. Day by day the change grew more marked. One friend after another looked coldly upon her, and though she had ever before watched with impatience the hour of her daily walk, she now al- most dreaded to enter the street, lest she should be saddened by cold greetings and averted faces. Even Mrs. Jackson was strange in manner, and gave her lessons as if it were no longer a pleasure, but a hurried, disagreeable task. Suspense, a dread of some evil, we know not what is often far worse than the evil itself; and it was with a desperate resolve, that Mary at last begged Mrs. Jackson to tell her how she had offended, and why her acquaint- ances were friends no longer. She had struggled against the depression of spirit which all this had caused, but in vain. Her THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. 21 mother had noticed the listless despondency which seemed creep- ing over her, and she, too, had wept in solitude; not at the strange rumours that were circulating through Bivertown for fortunately none had reached her ears, but she feared that con- stant exertion was wearing upon the health of her darling, and had dimmed the bright eye, and paled the rose-tint of her cheek. Mary's sorrow was not lessened, when her friend bade her ask her own heart, if trust once betrayed should ever again be tried. But the tears of the young girl and her protestations of innocence at length convinced Mrs. Jackson that a guilty soul could not be looking from those pure eyes, and she drew the poor girl to her heart, and told her of the slanderous whispers that had little by little chilled her love and destroyed her confidence. She did not dare to tell her all, for she could not endure to sully the pure heart trusting her faith so fully, by even the shadow of those baser stories that had grown from the whispered comments upon her girlish vivacity; but Mary instantly felt the whole truth, and it was the first searing of her affectionate nature. God forgive those, who, however indirectly, cause such pangs as came to her heart earthly forbearance fails to pardon the transgressor. " Knowing as I did " continued her friend, " that you were aware, from the first, of my sister's engagement to Mr. Jorden, I wondered, when the report came to me, that you encouraged his attentions ; I was told that you were seen, walking with him very frequently ; that you conversed in public with the greatest familiarity. Then it was that I began to watch every movement of you both, for my sister's happiness is dear to me as my own, and I knew she would be wretched if he proved false ; and for- give me, Mary, that I at last gave credence to the tales that 22 THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. almost daily came to my ears. I confess they did much to blind me, and at last, I fancied that I had discovered in him an undue interest for you. I mistook sincere and brotherly friendship for affection, and upbraided him for his falsehood. He left me in anger, indulging bitter feelings toward both you and myself. Shortly after you came in, for the first time I received you coldly. Since then I have fancied I saw a change in your manner towards me ; that you hurried when you came to your lesson, as if anxious to go from my presence as soon as possible. Poor child ! how I have wronged you!" There was a slight movement in the little sitting-room, that adjoined the parlour, and the door which had been ajar, swung suddenly shut. Just then Mr. Jorden entered the room, and Mrs. Jackson, still with her arm about the blushing girl, begged forgiveness of them both. There was a hearty cordiality in the warm grasp of Mr. Jorden's hand, and Mrs Jackson's kiss was more affectionate than ever. For the first time in many weeks, Mary Butler's heart was at rest ; though, now and then, a sad recollection came to disturb the present joyousness; but her friends had promised to show the little world of Rivertown, that they discountenanced all the reports in circulation, and hereafter treat her, and love her as a sister, as some amend for the sorrow she had known through them. So she left them, while they were devising a scheme that should do this effectually, and passed Miss Harden near the door with a firm free step, conscious of innocence, and caring little for the proud sneer of that young lady ; though she drew down her veil rather hastily, knowing that her eyes were still swollen with weeping, and not caring that Miss Harden should comment upon it. THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. 23 CHAPTER in. Said Sally, " my mistress and they had a time, As sure as you 're mixing that bread. Miss Martha was mad, and Miss Ellen ran out, And her eyes were all swollen and red." Family Quafrels. " I told you so ! " Everybody's Comment on a Disclosure. OOD gracious ! Harriet, what do you think I 've heard this afternoon ? " Mrs. Harden did not allow her daughter time to put off her bonnet and mantilla, (a velvet man- tilla, one of the four in Rivertown,) before she accosted her with the above startling query. Miss Harriet could not pretend to guess ; but she also had her own private astonishment, and she, too, could tell something if she chose. "Why, what do you mean?" ejaculated her mother. "Not more about Mary Butler?" Miss Harriet gave a slight nod of assent. " Well, if it doesn't beat all ! I heard that is, their Jane (Mrs. Jackson's Jane) just ran in to borrow our flat-irons, (seems to me that Jacksons have most enormous washes ; that child has a clean white dress every morning, Jane says, and two bird's-eye aprons a day,) well, Jane just ran in a minute, and she told Hannah (Hannah saw that she was flustered about something), that they had just had an awful time at their house. Mrs. Jack- son, it seems, has been giving Mary Butler music lessons." " No ! Now, ma, that accounts for what Adeline told me. I 've just come from there, and she said, Mrs. Butler had hinted 24 THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. to Mrs. Mason (you know they board there now), that Mary wasn't going to sew so steady after April, and asked who Ann Maria took lessons of and how much Mr. Broadbent charged a quarter. We thought something must be going on, but we couldn't understand it. Now, it's as clear as daylight. Mary Butler must be thinking that Mr. Jorden's going to be such a fool as to marry her, and she's preparing to set up for a great lady. Mary Butler going to take lessons of Mr. Broadbent, indeed ! when pa says he can't afford to let me ! I wonder how she thinks she's going to pay him. Make his " But here mother could keep silence no longer ; heir information was too important to be neglected ; it had been received by ex- press, and she expected her bulletin-board would be surrounded by an astonished crowd. "I've no patience with that girl" broke in Mrs. Harden. " What d'ye think ? As I was saying, Mrs. Jackson was giving her music lessons. Of course, Mary Butler having nothing to do, can find plenty of time to practise!" (Mrs. Harden evi- dently intended this to be ironical) " and somehow, Mrs. Jackson heard about Mary Butler's goings on with Mr. Jorden. How she heard I 'm sure I can't tell, but it seems to be all over town. / havn't mentioned it to more than two or three, and I guess we saw about as much of it as any one." Mrs. Harden was right there, at least. "Why, don't you know, ma, I told you long ago that John heard it talked about at the hotel, and that Adeline was taking tea at Mrs. Smith's, weeks ago, and they knew all about it. Mrs. Utley and Mrs. Folger were there. It was the night after you had company, in March, I guess it was." " Well, however she heard of it, Mrs. Jackson's not the woman THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. 25 to let such things go unnoticed. I think Jane must be excellent help she runs in quite often to see Hannah. Now, Martha never was in our kitchen once, all the while she stayed there. "We never would have known anything from her. How long has Jane been at Mrs. Jackson's ?" " About three weeks do go on, ma ; I'm dying to tell you something." " As I was saying, Mrs. Jackson of course would not counte- nance such behaviour ; so she bore it as long as she could though she didn't treat Mary Butler half so well as she used to. I always did wonder what she found in her to like, and at last this very afternoon she out with it." "Why, ma there, now I know!" Miss Harriet's face brightened as if she had found the solution of some great enigma. Sir Isaac himself could not have seemed more delighted when that apple acted as a key to nature's mystery the philosopher of still more ancient times did not cry "Eureka," in more joyous tones. " What d'ye know, Harriet? just wait a minute, though, till I get through my story. Mrs. Jackson told her every word, and Mary Butler cried like everything. According to all accounts," (i. e. Jane's and Hannah's,) " they had an awful time. Jane was in the sitting-room taking care of little Archie, and they were in the parlour. She did not hear all they said, for they talked quite low part of the time ; but Mrs. Jackson asked Mary Butler how she could have the face to pretend being ignorant of these stories and told her she had 'encouraged Mr. Jorden's attentions ' these were the very words. Mary Butler cried like a baby, Jane says, and to cap the whole, Mr. Jorden walked right in in the middle of it. (Don't you think it was strange he 3 26 THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. should go to Mrs. Jackson's without ringing ? Jane says he often does; I suppose he must be quite intimate there.") "What did he say?" " "Why Jane didn't hear the rest. The sitting-room door fell to, and she didn't dare to open it, though she wanted to dread- fully. I'd like to know how it all ended. Jane thinks she heard Mrs. Jackson tell her not to enter her doors again ; " (oh, Jane, what a fabrication!) "and I shouldn't wonder if she did such impudence ! " And Mrs. Harden fell back in her rocking-chair, quite overcome with the excitement of the narrative but started up again as Harriet slowly and solemnly said, " Well, I can tell you more about that business." Mrs. Harden's emotions were of a mingled nature. Curiosity to hear the rest vexation that she was not the sole possessor of this important piece of intelligence. "I always told you," added Miss Harriet, "that we should hear more from that quarter. I knew Mary Butler was an artful creature as ever lived ! I was coming by Mrs. Jackson's on my way home from Adeline's, and just as I got by the parlour win- dow, I happened to look up. There was Mrs. Jackson standing by the piano, (the shades were both drawn up,) and Mr. Jorden was on the other side turning over a music-book. Mr. Jorden was pale as death (a slight embroidery, Miss Harriet,) and Mrs. Jackson seemed to be very angry about something. At that very minute I heard the front door open -and out came Mary Butler. Her eyes were red as that curtain, and she pulled down her veil just as soon as she saw me. I don't wonder at it, Mr. Jorden's being angry to think she should dare to dream of his marrying her." Miss Harriet was quite indignant. Had she not a right to be ? THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. 27 Mr. Jorden had never paid her the least attention in fact, she was beginning to wonder if any one ever would, with seriousness. Miss Harriet was verging towards but we forget a lady's age is a subject not to be treated of with impunity. Mrs. Harden went into the kitchen under pretence of seeing when tea would be ready, but in reality to tell Hannah the confirmation of Jane's wondrous tale ; and her daughter slipped on her bonnet again, and wrapping her mother's blanket shawl about her, "ran over" to Adeline's a minute, to enjoy her surprise at what she had to tell. That industrious young lady was making over her stone- coloured merino dress, preparatory to a visit in the country ; (re- member, dear reader, Rivertown was almost a city, and numbered some five thousand inhabitants ;) but she paused in her avocation, and was quite as much overcome as Harriet had expected her to be so much so, that the dress was put by for the night; and the moment Harriet had fairly got round the corner on her way home, Miss Adeline donned hood and cloak, and set out for Mrs. Smith's to enlighten her upon the terrible denouement at Mrs. Jackson's. Mrs. Smith was the gossip, par excellence, of River- town, and the reader may naturally conclude, that before bed-time half the inhabitants of the place knew all about the "strange thing that happened at Mrs. Jackson's that afternoon." Mrs. Smith's were not the only hood and over-shoes that were put in requisition that memorable evening, and all agreed Mary Butler was served right for flirting with Mr. Jorden. " I should not wonder if he told her to her face that she was a presuming piece," said one. " Nor I," said a second. Where- upon, the story gathered as it rolled, until John Harden heard, at the hotel, the very next evening, that Mrs. Jackson had turned Mary Butler out of her house, and Mr. Jorden had accused her 28 THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. to her face of " trying to get him," adding that " she had reckoned without her host " All the young men declared it was a perfect shame, for Mary Butler was the handsomest girl in town, and that was why all the girls were tattling about her. For their parts, they thought she was worth a dozen of some they could namej and if " Jorden" had talked so to her, he deserved a horse-whipping. " He shall get it, too/' muttered Mr. Hoffman, a young lawyer, as he strode from the room. CHAPTER IV. "'Twas plain to every observer's eye, That party spirit was running high, And this was the popular party." F Mrs. Harden was nearly overcome with the Jack- son affair, imagine the state of her mind when, not two weeks after, it was rumoured that Mr. Jorden was going to be married and to whom, of all peo- ple, but Mrs Jackson's sister. Yes, Mrs. Smith must remember her that tall girl that always wore such low-necked dresses, and, positively, she'd been seen sitting at the window in short sleeves ! when she was up from New York last summer. To be sure, if Harriet had done a thing of the kind, all Rivertown would have been in arms about it but it was Mrs. Jackson's sister, and that was enough to rnako anything go down with the young men. The fact was, if Mrs. Jackson had been some people's wife, they'd look out after her a little closer ; she had such girlish ways. But it wasn't her (Mrs. THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. 29 Harden' s) business and perhaps it was well for the poor little lady that it was not. Yes, Mr. Jorden was going to be married, and to a city girl that was unpardonable. Why couldn't people be content with those they'd known for years and years been brought up with, as one might say. As if Kivertown girls were not good enough for any body, and quite genteel enough, too. What was more, Mrs. Jackson was going to give a grand party in honour of the bride, such a party as Bivertown had never seen. Invitations were to be issued a week beforehand, and a large party of New York people were coming up on purpose to be there. Mr. Jorden's brother was to be groomsman, coming all the way from Baltimore for he had been adopted by his uncle, Livingstone Carroll, when he was quite a lad, and Mrs. Harden had almost forgotten how he looked. Jane that girl was invaluable to Mrs. Jackson ; so said her neighbours, and who had a better right to know about Mrs. Jackson's domestics ? Jane said the cake was to come from New York, too, and but Mrs. Harden wouldn't pretend to tell half she heard about it. Didn't Mrs. Smith think Mary Butler 'd feel well now? If she'd only behaved herself, she might at least have had an invitation to the party, and that was something, at all events, considering these gentlemen were coming from New York. Mrs. Harden wondered if Harriet would be asked. Oh, of course, though, being that they were such near neigh- bours. All this was imparted to Mrs. Smith during the few minutes that they stood in Vandeusen's store, Mrs. Smith waiting for Adeline Mitchell, who had promised to drop in and help her choose a new mousseline de lame (Vandeusen's mousseline de laines were so cheap only three shillings all wool, too posi- 3* 30 THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. lively they were almost as nice as Mrs. Utley's cashmere that she gave seventy-five cents for in New York, last fall.) Mrs. Harden had been looking at some sheeting she thought thirteen cents was rather high for bleached sheeting; but, however, she'd look a little further, and call again if she did not find any that would do better. We pass over the intervening two weeks, in which Mrs. Jack- son's I'Tty was the principal topic of discussion, with one diverging exception. Mary Butler left town a week before the bride was expected just about the time they were to be married and no one COT Id tell where she had gone, or for what purpose. Her mother was resolutely silent upon the subject, and the general conclusion was that she was on a visit to some country friend, to keep out of the way of the Jorden party. No wonder, said everybody, that she wanted to be away from River town just then. The bridal party came in the morning boat, almost the first boat of the season and, wonder of wonders ! no one could under- stand it, Mary Butler was with them ! So said John Harden, and John was on the dock. He saw her get into a carriage and drive up with the Jacksons. He was sure it was Mary Butler, for he knew her step so well, though she kept her veil down all the while. Harriet thought John must be crazy in fact, she hinted that perhaps he was not quite wide awake. She was looking out of the window she happened to be there by accident when the carriage came. There was Mr. and Mrs. Jackson the bride at least it must have been, for she had on a magnifi- cent embroidered merino Mr. Jorden, (how queer he did look !) and one lady besides, who was very much smaller than Mary Butler, and had such a beautiful little hand ! Mary Butler never Baw the day when she could wear so small a glove as the stranger THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. 31 wore. The next carriage-load were all new faces one of the gentlemen had such magnificent moustaches, and the lady he was so attentive to, wore a plaid travelling dress and dark-brown gai- ters. Mary Butler, indeed ! She was miles away ; and it served her right, too, the forward chit ! John was not yet convinced ; he knew that his sister had good eyes very sharp eyes, he might say (" Why, John, you good- for-nothing fellow I" broke in the amiable young lady in ques- tion) but that was Mary Butler, and she might see for herself to-night, for of course she 'd be at the party if it was. At eight for Rivertown people thought that hour the extreme of fashion there was a goodly throng of guests assembled in the pretty parlours of Mrs. Jackson. Mrs. Harden was there, in the glory of a new black silk. Miss Harriet was irresistible in pure white, with a pink sash and bows down the skirt ; her hair dressed after the pattern of the tallest figure in the last Lady's Book fashion plate. If it did not look well, it was not Adeline Mit- chell's fault : they did each other's curls always, and as Adeline had no invitation for this particular evening, she had exhausted two full hours and all her ingenuity, to do her friend's hair in the broadest, finest plaits that Rivertown was ever surprised with. Mrs. Folger and Mrs. Utley, though they had not expected to go, for they were little known in Mrs. Jackson's circle, were astonished at receiving cards, with a particular request in Mrs. Jackson's own handwriting, that they would not fail to be there. This they could not account for ; the same note was appended to the card received by the Harden family, and a few others of their acquaintance ; and Harriet had boasted not a little at the circum- stance, from which she drew the inference that Mrs. Jackson wished her sister to be very intimate with them. This was told 32 THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. more than once, and at last became " Mrs. Jackson said posi- tively she should be very much hurt if we did n't come, being old neighbours so long." The bride had not yet made her appearance, but the New York strangers were there ; and Harriet was made inconceivably happy by Mrs. Jacksonjs introduction to the gentleman with moustaches, who began a most entertaining conversation. Mrs. Harden nodded and smiled at Mrs. Utley in delight ; Harriet had doubt- less made a conquest. Just at that moment, the bride and her attendants entered, and both mother and daughter stifled a scream of anger and amazement. Mary Butler beautiful, so beautiful, in her satin dress, with tunics of delicate tulle was the first bridesmaid ! Ah ! there could be no mistake now. And if any there were, it had been quickly dispelled, for Harriet's companion, Mr. Costar, began most earnestly to praise Miss Butler, presuming that she was a friend of Miss Harden's. Poor Harriet, obliged to sit there and listen to the recital of Mary Butler's triumphs, how much she had been admired in the city, how every one had regretted her stay had been so short ! "You have such a treasure in her," said Mr. Costar; "I almost envy your delightful little town that one possession. She must be universally beloved, though, now I think of it, I recollect something Jorden told me of malicious stories got up by a set of disappointed old maids, or some people of that sort. Ah, yes," he continued, unconsciously, " that was the reason my little cousin was so particular that she should be first bridesmaid. I remem- ber that Miss Butler would not listen to it at first. I wonder if any of those people are here to-night ? Do you know any thing about it?" THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. 33 Mr. Costar knew not that each word was a dagger to his listener. He had been told by his hostess to be very attentive to Miss Harden, and was so, because it was Mrs. Jackson's request. As her mother came rushing across the room to her, he politely resigned his seat, and left them to console each other in their mortification. They understood the particular invitation now. They began to have a glimmering of the truth. And was it not punishment enough to see Mary Butler moving as among her equals, admired by the strangers, and noticed by the tlite of Rivertown, who now sought one before unnoticed, because others did so ? And she, not seeming to know any thing of this strange by-play, moved gracefully and gently among the guests, bearing her honours, or rather her deserved praises, most meekly. SKETCH THE SECOND. MORE OF MARY BUTLEB. CHAPTER I. "Where did I leave off? Oh " WIDOW BEDOTT. ITTLE occurred to disturb the tranquillity of Rivertown for some time after Mrs. Jorden, " the bride," as she was called for six months at least, was fairly settled in her comfortable new house. Miss Adeline Mitchell lived exactly opposite, and during the cleaning, moving, etc., her mind and heart had been completely 34 THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. occupied. Now and then Harriet Harden relieved her from her arduous post behind the second story window blind, and the two together could tell you any article of furniture that the Jordens possessed. John Harden vowed he believed they knew how many pails of water had been carried in from the street pump, and the exact quantity of lime that had been used in white- washing. But Adeline said this was only because she happened to mention before him that there were two solar lamps, one for each parlour, and a mahogany bedstead in each of the front chambers. She did wonder, and she could not help it, why they wanted two washstands in the same room ; she was sure there were no less than three marble-topped washstands in that house, besides four maple ones. The very "hired girl" had a new wash-bowl and pitcher. She did not know what others might think, but for her part, as Mrs. Harden said, " easy come, easy goes," and she guessed Henry Jorden would learn to know the value of money one of these days, now that he'd got a wife that could help him spend it. She actually was going to keep two servants, a woman, and a little girl to run of errands, besides the man who took care of the horse and brought the water, and all that. It was worse st^ll when it was duly announced, by observant neighbours, that they had two horses, and Mr. Jorden had ordered a magnificent new carriage at Delamarten's, which magnificent establishment would have passed in New York for a plain, light family vehicle, and would have excited no attention whatever. Yet not once was it seen in the streets of Bivertown but clerks hastened to store-doors, milliners' apprentices dropped straw and silks to run to the "front shop," and servant-girls ran to call their mistresses, bidding them hurry as they came, " or it would THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. 35 get by." Everywhere windows flew up, and blinds flew open ; it was almost as much of an excitement as when " Dickens " passed through Main street the summer before. Every traveller who arrived at the Rivertown House for months afterwards, that was so unfortunate as to wear a linen blouse, and have an uncom- mon quantity of long, light hair, was surely " Dickens himself, again ; " and so any strange vehicle, of whatever description, that could boast of four wheels and a covered top, was at some period and by some persons, taken for the new carriage, and criticised and depreciated as such. Gradually the fever of curiosity came to a crisis, it passed, and in the languor that succeeded the dearth of incident was unre- lieved for weeks. But after the catalogue of Mrs. Jordan's furniture and wardrobe had been duly committed to memory, Mary Butler and her mother were once more taken under conside- ration. Mr. Jackson had interested himself very much 'in their behalf, and through his generous exertions they had gained a tiresome law-suit, and found themselves once more possessed of a small, but, for them, sufficient competency. Mary Butler had her own piano now, and her little parlour was as fairy-like a loudoir as one could wish to see. They had rented a cottage that stood back from one of the principal streets, with a closely shaven lawn in front, bordered by flowering shrubs of every de- scription. A grape-vine clung with its sweeping foliage to the trellis that extended the length of the house, and here Mary was as happy as a bird with her books, her flowers, and her piano. She did no discredit to her teacher, and often, in the evening, her clear voice came ringing through the foliage, arresting the passer- by with its wild melody, until quite a little audience gathered under the elm-trees ; and the murmurs of applause, if not as loud, 36 THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. were certainly as sincere, as those which greet a favourite prima donna on her benefit night. Even Miss Adeline Mitchell had condescended to call upon her, introduced by Harriet Harden, who had claimed acquaint- anceship since the night of Mrs. Jackson's party. Mary could not treat them unkindly, for as the memory of her sorrow faded in the present sunshine of happiness, she grew more and more lenient towards those who had been its cause. With a genuine spirit of Christian forgiveness, she pardoned "those who had trespassed against her," and strove te find palliating circumstances, for what her mother termed " heartless slander," when the tale at last reached her ears. CHAPTER H. Seeing is believing." OLD PROVERB. RS. SMITH had just come in from the kitchen to see how Miss Martin, the dressmaker, pro- gressed in her task of making "auld claiths look amaist as weel as new." It was considered unpardonable extravagance in Rivertown, to hire a seamstress for plain-sewing; and three tailoresses, four dressmakers, and one widow lady, who was handy at everything, circulated at intervals among the better class of families, their semi-annual visits being regarded as quite delightful by the mistress of the house, for gossip was then the order of the day. Miss Martin was a universal favourite in the Harden and Smith clique, for she also sewed for the Jacksons, the Barnards, and the Millers, people THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. 37 of whom they saw very little, except in the street or at church. Miss Martin could tell you all about Miss Barnard's New York lover ; she thoroughly understood the domestic economy of the Millers, and did not hesitate to say that Mrs. Jackson had her own way completely, and as for her husband, it was too bad for a man like him to have to put up with everything as he did. This particular morning the conversation turned upon Mrs. Jorden, and as Miss Martin had been employed by that lady for a day or two previous, there was much to be said, and a variety of questions asked. It was at length settled by Miss Martin's testimony, that the back parlour curtains were worsted damask in- stead of silk ; that Mrs. Jorden always wore a cap at breakfast, and never came to dinner in her morning dress ("such airs !" exclaimed Mrs. Smith,) that Mr. Jorden often passed whole evenings out of the house and here Miss Martin became quite mysterious, and could not be prevailed upon to give any informa- tion with regard to the employment of said evenings. " He haint joined the Odd Fellows?" said Mrs. Smith, throw- ing up both hands. "No," was the concise reply. " You don't say he goes to that shocking ten-pin alley? " "Not that ever I heard of," vouchsafed Miss Martin; and then, urged by her listener, she at length disclosed that she believed quite too much of his time was passed at Mary Butler's. "Of all things!" exclaimed Mrs. Smith rocking back ener- getically upon the kitten's tail, who sent forth a piteous yell as the door opened to admit Adeline Mitchell. " Oh, Adeline, I 'm so glad to see you," was the greeting. "What do you think Miss Martin says? Mr. Jorden is absolutely half his time at Mary Butler's." 4 38 THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. " Perhaps not quite half/' mildly interposed the informant; " and if you '11 never tell but no, I 've no right to mention such things," and Miss Martin industriously waxed a needleful of silk. " Ah, come, go on, we '11 never mention it, you may depend," said Adeline Mitchell, with breathless eagerness. "Positively?" " Never that is, only to Harriet Harden ; you '11 let me tell her, won't you; but it sha'n't go a step further." " Well, then but I guess I'd better not, after all." "Oh, do now." " I 've seen him give her letters, and she'd blush terribly, and hide them in her pocket as quick as thought. Then he always calls her ' Mary,' which is quite too familiar to suit me, and worse than all, Mrs. Jorden's found it out. " You don't say so ! " "What did she do?" " It was only last night (now if you ever whisper this, I shall never forgive you.) I '11 tell you how I happened to hear it. I was sewing in the dining-room, (as she will call it ; / should say sitting-room,) and as I 'd got the sleeves basted in and the hooks and eyes on, I thought I 'd get her to try on the waist, so I just stepped to the back parlour door, but as 1 got there I stopped a minute, for I thought I heard high words, and the first I heard was ' You spend quite too much of your time at Mrs. Butler's, and I won't allow it any more !' then he said something I could not quite understand, and she answered ' No, I 'm not naturally inclined to be jealous; but I shall put a stop to this, I assure you.' Then they talked lower, and so I just walked in, quite unconcerned, and there they stood by the fire-place. Just as I THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. 39 opened the door, he tried to put his arm round her waist, to make up, I suppose, and she pushed it away there, like that/' and Miss Martin, suiting the action to the word, gave Miss Adeline a somewhat ungentle repulse. " Well, I always said, from the first, there was no good in their acquaintance. You remember what a time Mrs. Jackson made a year ago about it ? " said Mrs. Smith, appealing to Adeline Mit- chell. " Don't I though if they did pretend to be such good friends afterwards ? I 've always thought the Jacksons took her up be- cause she happened to get a little money about that time. To be sure, she runs there now every day of her life ; but I '11 war- rant Mrs. Jackson would like to put a stop to it if she could." Suddenly, Miss Mitchell recollected that she had promised to run in and see Harriet a little while that morning. " Oh, stay to dinner," said Mrs. Smith, " and we can talk it all over. I 'm most through in the kitchen, and then I 'm going to cover cord for Miss Martin ; I 've got nothing in the world to do." But Miss Adeline was already tying on her bonnet. " We 're going to have pot-pie," urged her hostess. " And apple-dumplings," suggested Miss Martin, whose choice in dessert had just been consulted. But the love of gossip prevailed over that of apple-dumplings, and Miss Mitchell disappeared just as Mrs. Smith was summoned to the kitchen by the hired girl's announcement that " the crust was riz." Mrs. Harden and Harriet were hastily informed of all that had occurred; Miss Martin's relation having received this em- bellishment, that Mrs. Jorden had said " though not naturally 40 THE GOSSIPS OF RIVERTOWN. jealous, she could not help being so now, and she'd put a stop to all such proceedings at once." Nor did the ladies separate until the younger ones had made an engagement to call on Mary But- ler the very next morning and judge for themselves. Scarcely had Adeline departed, before Mrs. Harden recollected that she had not promised secrecy, it having been exacted only of Har- riet ; and as dinner was over, and the pudding baking nicely, she might as well run into Mrs. Van Deusin's an instant. Before night, half Bivertown pitied "poor Mrs. Jorden," and blamed her husband and Mary Butler. CHAPTER III. My friends at least I call them s