Old News: (From: "The Snow Image and Other Twice-Told Tales") — John Shaqi
Old News: (From: "The Snow Image and Other Twice-Told Tales")Hawthorne, Nathaniel
General
Old News: (From: "The Snow Image and Other Twice-Told Tales")
Hawthorne, Nathaniel
Historical fiction, American; New England -- Social life and customs -- Fiction; Short stories
It must not be supposed that the martial character of the times
interrupted all pursuits except those connected with war. On the
contrary, there appears to have been a general vigor and vivacity
diffused into the whole round of colonial life. During the winter of
1759, it was computed that about a thousand sled-loads of country
produce were daily brought into Boston market. It was a symptom of an
irregular and unquiet course of affairs, that innumerable lotteries
were projected, ostensibly for the purpose of public improvements, such
as roads and bridges. Many females seized the opportunity to engage in
business: as, among others, Alice Quick, who dealt in crockery and
hosiery, next door to Deacon Beautineau’s; Mary Jackson, who sold
butter, at the Brazen-Head, in Cornhill; Abigail Hiller, who taught
ornamental work, near the Orange-Tree, where also were to be seen the
King and Queen, in wax-work; Sarah Morehead, an instructor in
glass-painting, drawing, and japanning; Mary Salmon, who shod horses,
at the South End; Harriet Pain, at the Buck and Glove, and Mrs.
Henrietta Maria Caine, at the Golden Fan, both fashionable milliners;
Anna Adams, who advertises Quebec and Garrick bonnets, Prussian cloaks,
and scarlet cardinals, opposite the old brick meeting-house; besides a
lady at the head of a wine and spirit establishment. Little did these
good dames expect to reappear before the public, so long after they had
made their last courtesies behind the counter. Our great-grandmothers
were a stirring sisterhood, and seem not to have been utterly despised
by the gentlemen at the British coffee-house; at least, some gracious
bachelor, there resident, gives public notice of his willingness to
take a wife, provided she be not above twenty-three, and possess brown
hair, regular features, a brisk eye, and a fortune. Now, this was great
condescension towards the ladies of Massachusetts Bay, in a threadbare
lieutenant of foot.
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