The Humors of Falconbridge: A Collection of Humorous and Every Day ScenesFalconbridge
General
The Humors of Falconbridge: A Collection of Humorous and Every Day Scenes
Falconbridge
American wit and humor
"Our carpets were torn in getting them up, for I had them put down fast
and tight, never supposing they'd come up until thread-bare and out of
fashion; they were stained and daubed. The veneering of the piano and
other furniture is scratched and torn; a hundred small matters are
mutilated. Franklin thought a few moves was as bad as a fire; one move
convinces me that the old man was right. But, my dear fellow, I won't
bore you with my miseries. We are now moved, and look comfortable again.
Call and see us, do. Good bye."
About a fortnight after meeting Perriwinkle, one evening we went up town
to see him and his lady. Mrs. P., before marriage, was an uncommon
even-tempered and most amiable woman. She had now been married about six
months. Upon entering the parlor we found Mrs. P. laboring under much
"excitement," and poor Peter--he was doing his best to pacify and soothe
her--
"Halloo! what's the trouble?"--we were familiar enough to ask the
question--as they were alone, without intruding.
"Take a seat, John," said Perriwinkle. "Mrs. P. and the cook have had a
misunderstanding. A little muss, that's all."
"Mr. Humphries," responded the irritated wife, "you don't know how one's
temper and good nature are put out, sir, by housekeeping; by the
impudence, awkwardness, and wasteful habits of servants, sir."
"Oh! yes, we do, Mrs. P.; we've had our experience," we replied.
"Well, sir," she continued, "I have suffered so in ordering, directing,
and watching these women and girls--had my feelings so outraged by them,
time and again, since we began housekeeping, that I vow I am out of all
manner of patience and charity for them. We have had occasion to change
our help so often, that I finally concluded to submit to the awkwardness
that cost us sets of china, dozens of glasses, stained carpets, soiled
paints, smeared walls, rugs upon the top of the piano, and the piano
cloths put down for rugs; Mr. P.'s best linen used for mops, and
puddings boiled in night-caps. But, sir, when this evening I found the
dough-tray filled with the chambermaid's old clothes, she wiping the
lamps with our linen napkins, and the cook washing out her stockings in
the dinner pot--I gave way to my angry passions, and cried with
vexation!"
And she really did cry, for female blood of Mrs. P.'s pilgrim stock,
couldn't stand that, nohow.
P. S.--Perriwinkle and lady sold off, and took rooms at the Tremont
House, in order to preserve their morals and money.
Miseries of a Dandy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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