Miscellany: The Old Cloak

'Pray, Mr. Norton,' exclaimed a livoy lady ío a fashionably dressed, handSOme young man, whó' was standing beside hor atan evening party, 'pray, do yon lètetui to rethain an old bachelor all your days? Since your re! urn tVoin Em ï have been conlinually epccting toiiear of y#tir marriage. bat ihere you have been two years, and you Are stiil to all ap- pearances, 'in stutu quo,' m the law.yersj say.' 'My dear Mrs. Ilinton,' replied the young gentleman vvjth a smile, 'I will be frank, and teil you the real reason ofmy remaining a general admirer of the sex. instead of conlining my altention to any one 'bright,part('cular star.' howcver much Í may bo dazzled by its brilltancy. I am actually afraid to marry.''Afraio!' echóos the lady, opening her dark eyes to their widest extent with astom'shmont. 'Faint hcart ncvor won,' you know. Are you nfraid to propose.' 'No, madam, afraid to marrrj. You vvill laugh at me I dare say, when, I te]] you that my seat in church has a great deal to do wilh my solitary state, which seemsso much to excite you r surprise.' cWhy, yes,' replied Mrs. Hinton, {one iaahvays surprised when a young man who - without meaning io flatter you - is certainly a favorite in society, (thore Mr. Norton made her apolite bow,) and who has an independent fortune, slill refrains from choosing one of the many fair dameels whom lic meets, to superintend his estabiishmont. But what influence your seat in church can have upon the matter, I am at a loss to imagine.'You must know, then, that I sit just faehind Miss La Mode, in Righthead's church, and the sight of her velvet clonk absolutely friglitens me from the thought of marryinga wife who may somc day say to m&'My dear, I ani dying for n new velvet cloak; please to give me two or three hundrcd dollars, and I will go to - ■- - s and buy one.' How I should shudder to hear such a request.' Really, Mr. Norton, this is too absurd for you, with your fortune, to talk, ín sucb a manner. I shall begin to ihink yöu a raiser. Your wife might dress as xtravagantiy as she chose, and it would not injure you. And surely you would not object to a lady's wearing a velvet tloak.''I do not object a ny tjiing that is consistent, but í cannot help thinking splendid velvet, such as Queen Victoria might be salisfia3 with, for a coronation robe, sadly out of place when it is made into a cloak, tobe uore on al most all occasions; particútárly when it is weü known that Miss La Mode's fathér does not even pay bis baker or butcher. If 1 were one of bis poor creditors, I should be tempted to lake the cloak f rom the young lady, ín the streef, and sell it forwhat it would bring.' Mrs. Hinton sat silent at this speech. Her conscienco reproached her, for she knew that she had on thal day, purchased an elegant new níántle, although her husbc.nd had requested her lo be as economical as possible in her expenditures, os he found it difficult, in those trying times, to meet all the demands made upon his purse. She was a woman, however, of generous feelings, as yet uuhardened by resïsting good impulses, and shesecrctly resolved to take back the manlle the next day, and prcvail upon the shopman to receive it, since it was not yetpaid for. All this passed through her mind with the rapidity of lightnwg, and she turned round with a smile toaddress Mr. Norton, when an overdressed young lady, who had beensitting, an interested listener in the conversation, interposed.'I f Mr. Norton wants an económica wife;' sfre said, 'I would recommcnd him to ofíer himself to Emily Harwood. J think she will suit him exactly, for shc has worn an oíd cloak all winter, with no alteration - one thatshehas liad twoyears, at least, to. my knowledge.' Mr. Norton looked at the speaker, and thé unamiable expression of her countenance sunk her in his estimation forever, although he had hitherto regnrded her as very pretty and interesting, and had sometimes evn thought it almost possible to love Caroline Howard well enough to marry her, if he rculd only hope to cure her of the passion for dres-s which she displayed. But this rernark sealed her fute, as far as he vas concerned, and turning to Mrs. Hinton, he asked. Who is Emily Harwood? Are you acquainted with her? I should really lilee to be introduced to a young lady who has moral courage enough to wear an unfashionable garment, afier having worn it already two winters; she must possess a more than comtnon character.' 'I will introduce you with pleasure,' said Mrs. Hinton. 'She is a sweet girl ttjiá a great favorite of mine. 1 conless I have myself been surpmed at the plainess of her dress, this winter, for her fathér s considered wealthy, and she is the only one of hís daughters of an nge to go into society. That is she, in the simple - nhe frocfc, nnd that is her molher by hor ?ade.' Mr. iorfon was charmed t-o perceivn that was the young lady who, by hergularly tippen rauco, IimJ attractod hts at tentiop in ihe early part of ihe evening He had intendeti loioquirc hor name, bu lost sight of her in the crou-1. and stip poscd thaf slio had retired. Shc reccivec hfm with an c?sy, gracelu! air, and aftei a fov morrieuts ptrósed ín eonversation, tóhonght hor positivo] y beatUiful, so in tölligont was t!rc e.vpression üf her cir.rk bluceycs, and so beaming the sriiilo -lh Wbich slie ÜsJened lo Jus itvely rcniaiks. lic wasalsu ver iriucljjilcasi Iwith W.rs. Harwoocf, -'"ivliü did nol leave tb her daughter the buiden of the öohversation, as senie muthers are npl tu do, cuntenting thenisclvcs with being mere spoclators. Whcn Iir. Norton laid his head npon bis pillow, that night, il w; s long before lic could compose lus mind to sleep, so much was he disturbed by thé visión of a pair of blue evos wKich danced before him, not to mention tïark rïngTels and old Oioaks, which minglcd togeiher in strange confusión. lie bogan to thiok that he had at last fonnd the object hc had been so long seeking, and rcsolving that he would cal] the next day at ilr. Harvvood's, at last resigned himself to repose.The next morning, Mrs. Iünton, in pursuance of the wise resolution she had made, attircd herself to go out, and was wailing in the parlor for her carriage.- The beautiful mantle lay on the sofa by her side, and she was cxamining it, and making up her mind, after all, she could do without f, and if she could that she ought to do. At thjs moment, Caroline lloward, who was an intímate fricnd, entered.'Are you goingout so cnrly?' she e.claimed, on seeing ilrs. Hinton ready dressed. 'I carne in the hope af seeing you at this hour, tbr l wish 10 teil you thnt bas some the loveliest of mantles you ever saw. I was there ycsterdaynnd looked at them. They werejusl opened.find the clerk assured nvi thnt tlmvwere the only ones iniported, and there are but a dozen altogether: I was afraid they would oli be sold, yet I did uot dare buy one before asking my mother's permission; for falher made such a fuss last week about my buy ing this splendidsilk, without consulting iiim, thnt mother forbade my doing it ngain. J have been all the mom ing teazing her to let me have one, and have at last succseded. So you must posiüvel}' come and choose one too. 'Dut I declare,' she ccntinucd, ;you have one already, as her eyes feil upon the sofa, for she had talked so volubly that she had not even paused lo look round lier. 'But you will come with me, will you?'Mrs. Hinton gravely replied - I am going to return this mantle, and I would advise you, my dear Caroline, if yon had to lenze your mother for leave to buy one, to deny yourseif, and gratify her by informing her that you have resolved to do without it. Fifi y dollars is a great deal to spend in such an nrlicle of dress. - My husband told me this morning that lie was afraid he should be obliged to give up lus carriage and ïiorses, his business isso much less profltablc tlian formerly. Now you know that it is absolutely necessary for healüi that he should ride a great deal. and I resolved to spend as little as possible that he might be able to enjoy his carriage.'Caroline sat without speaking until Mrs. Hititon had concluded, when she said, pettishly - 'Bul you are marricd, and it does not make so much diflerence to you how you dress; just see how beconring this is." - And she turned from the glass, at vrhich she had been arranging the mantle in graceful .foldsover her well-shaped figure; and Mrs. Ilinton could not help acknowledging that it was very bccoming indeed. Neverthcles-?, she still tried to persuade her young friend to forego tlic purchase, for she knew that Caroline's fathcr was very much involved in debt, and It was feared :hat he would stop paymentj althöugh as it appeared Iike many othergentlemen wlio keep ihe state of their affairs a secret frorn thoso most interested in the truth, liis wife and damghler were utterly ignoran! of the circumstances. - But sho found lier argumentsof no eííbct. Indeed, Caroline endeavored to persuade Mrs. Ilinton herself to retain the vel vet she was about to erry back. But sho had too much slrcngiFi of mind lo. be led away by her. vanity, when shc knew her decisión was right, althongli she could not repress that womanish fecling of regret at tho thought of rcbigning so becorning an article ofdress.flinton was so niuch grioved and shocked at the selfishncss of her young friend, that sho ihought she could aever igciin feel tovvard lier the same aflcction she had hitherto experienced. She made ier confcss that the fifty aollars her mother had givcn her, with which to purchase lie wished for m,antle, vraa a sum that had ecn appropriated to a younger sister, ihai sbe might take lessons in drawing, anari of which she was passionately fond, and br vvhich she had a decided genius. She could not forbear hinting to Caroline that a time might come when the "tálenla of her sister would be put in requisuion for more important purpo-ps than thoe of mero amusement; but her persuasión we re lost upon the mir.d of theless nnd solfish gir), nnd she saw her depaYt, with pain, to fulfil her inlention. Mrs. ilinton found no diflïculty in returning her mnntle, and aftcr she had left he store slie wondercd how shc could háve heen -o Ibolish as to suílc-r a monifni'shcsitation on sucl a trining subject. Tho words of M r. Norion had made a deep improssion upon her, and as she lookcd at tiic muititude of poar houseloss wrotches, who throng Hroadway, b&ggiag lor chariJy, she feit how einlul it wr. fo waste in extravngnnce t!mt wliich would bring comlurt and happincss to so many sorrowful hcarts. Whon her husband returned to dinner, shp, like a liue hearted wife, "madea confession to him of hor Iblly the day before, her repentance, and the purposc for whicli she had just visited . Mr. Hinton was a man of sense and intelligcnce. He had often deplored his wife's fondness of display, but she was young when hc married her, and had been so petted trom her childhood by a fond nother and was withal so lovely and neresting, that he could not find it in his leart to deny lier any gratification. trusing that as shegrew older her taste would■chango, lic did not know thnt the passion for dress is one which increnses with indulgence, like all other bad habits, and is hardest to overeóme in the femalc heart, particulnrïy as Was the case with Mrs. Ilinton, where thcre are no chüdren to occupy the time and attention. So deJighted was he with the ingenuousness of confession. Ihat he presented lier ith a sum of money for charitable purposes telling her that he liad recovered a bnd debt which he had longdespaired of, and consequently no Jonger entertainnd the feará which he had mentioned to her in the morning.Let us return to Mr. Norton. He could not avoidnnticipating (hecalling hour a litlle, so mjmtient was heto meel ngcin the object that had so much fascimued liim the night before. As he entered ihe hall, he heard the sound of music. and being shown into the drawing room. found the fair Emily evidenfly giving lessons on piano to a liltle sister. Although attired in a simple mornnig dress she did not appear less Jovely than his memory had pictured, and the bright blush which his unexpected appearance called up made her not less interesting to htm. She dismissed the litlle girl wilh a message to her mother, who soon appeared and received htm kindly. As he glanced around and saw the air of elegance, thongh not of display ihat perVaded the establishment, he could not help recallingMiss Ilnrwoods woi'ds about theoldcloak, and his curiosity was excited lo know wliat could be lier reason for wearinga gannent unfashionable enough to attract observatión. After making as long a cali as he dared, upon first acquaintance, be took ienve, not without being invited by Mes, Harwood to cali again, to which he cordially respon dfd. Not many days after, as Mr. Norton was wa lking in Broadway, he met Miss Harwood, and joined her immediately. He had walleed for soné tiiac by her side without at all regarding her dress, when Miss La Modo suddenly emerged from a shop, and passed on before them, nrraycd in her superb velvet cloak, with fcathers, &c. in the lieiaht of fashíon. The conversation ntthe party instanily rocurred lo hislhoughts. and he glanced at the cloak of bis comunión, lt was of plain daik merino, nnd had evidently, been much worn, ihough every thing about her wns so scrupulously neat and lier simple white hat was so becoming to her fresh complexion, that she was infinitely more atfractive to an intelligent man, than thedashing Miss La Mode. To test her feelings, he remarked carclessly, "That is a beautiful cloak of Miss La Mode's." No blush appeared on her chnek, as she quietly replied, "It is indeed very beautiful." Mr. Norton could not help seeing how superior was this conduct to that of some young ladies, who betray an uneasy fceling of consciousness, when they hear praises of another's appearance, whichthey know to bc more brilliant thán their own. He continucd lo visit at Ilarwood's and was ahvays ktndly rcceived; but he was not ono to decide too hastily on a subject of such vest imporlance as he feit the character of his campanion for life to be. It chanced at lenglb, liial he had a commission froman aunt in the country, for some millinary, and aJlhough entirely unused to making such purchases, he resorted tothe most fashionableestablism?nt of that department. The milliner took him behind a curtnih which separated the two rooms, in order to show him some very recherciie anieles, and requesting fiirn to take a seat upon a sofa, left him, toscarch for the important box which container) the treasu res. He was beginning to grow impatient, when a sweet, well known voice sent a thrill through his heart.It was Emily IInnvood's voicc, npparently ronversing with another young lady, so close to the curtain hc could not avoid hearing every word. He was about' to dart forward and nddress them, whcn the words 'oldcloak' feil upon his ear. - 'N'ow,' hè thoughf, 'perhaps I shall fmd ihc solution of the mystery.' 'No,' said Emily, 'I wil] not buy such a gay hat as this. 'It wil] not suit at all with my old c!o,ak.''Do for pity's sakc my denr Emily,' cxclaimcd her compariion, 'tell me why you have worn ihat same oíd eloak this winter. 1 belicve t is the third winter you have had it. We have all wondered why you did not get a new one, and that spileful Caroline üoward has talked about it nt every party this scason.' 'I aft) vay sorry,' replied Emly,laughing, that Miss Iloward has been nt such a loss Épu suhjects of couversation, as to find nol hing more interest ing ihafl mv poor cloak. llowcvcr, I will tcll you my motive for wearing it, and I Üm sure, dcar flclen, lhat you will approve oí' it. Blo lirst promise me that you will tell no onc elso. [ should not think of e.xplaining to anv but you.' Here Mr. Norton almosl resolved to show himself. Me felt it a breach of honor to hear whnt was evidently a secret; but his interest in the fair Emily was so slrong that he e.xeused himself on that plea, and rcmaincd silont. Helen made the requircd promise, and Emily proceded.'You remember hearingof the dcaih of my unclo Mnrry, last suimner. He had failed just bcfore, so tbat his family were left quite destilute. Catherine, the eldest daughter, had been nt Mrs. Willard's school tbr the last year, and she was very desirous of remaining anolher term, after which Mrs. W'illard vvould engage her as a teacher. She considcrs her one of her finest scholars. Bul it was not possible for her mother to continue such an expense, and my fat her said he cou'd not ofFer to do it unless wo would make some retrenchment in our doinestic nflairs. - Therefore I o fie red to wear my old cloakanotherseason,and to give little Julia music lessons, instend of having n teacher. Nowdo'yoU not think that a sufficient motive? I assure you I have feit more pleasure, this wintr-r, in wearing that old clonk, than I should have'done in possessingone of even more splcndidthan Miss La Modes, for now my poor cousin will be able to support Ijerself and assist her molher in cducating her brothers and sister. ' That is just jike yourelf, Emily,''e?N claimed lier friend 'I only wish I could teil ofit, how ashámed Caroline Howard would be of all her illnatured speeches.'Jt is needless to sny thal there was another auditor who shared in the admiration of Helen. Mr. Norton wassodelighted with the simple recital of Emily thfit he longed to clasp her to his heart, and teil her tfiat bis happiness depended upon her alone. He savv the young ladies take their departure, and in a few momenis nfter hastened away, forgetling his aunt and all her commissions, and leaving the railliner lost in astonishmcnt ai his abrupt departure. He reached Mr. [JanvoocTsalmost as soon as Emily herself, and astonished her by a warm declaration of his feelings. She did not bid him despair, and it was soon after announced that Mr. Norton and Emily Harwood were eng;iged, n.uch to the astonishment of Miss La Mode and Caroline, whocould not understand why shc was preferrcd to tiiemsclves.Mrs. Ilinlon wns delighted with Mr. Norton's choice, and predicled that he would have a pattern wiie. She never ibrgot her good resolutions, but her persuasions were lost on her former friend Caroline, who was, however, soon forced hy the failure of her father, to renounce her extravagant habits. We must do Mr. Norton the justice to say that he had the candor to confess to his own wife, soon after marriage, the means by which he obtained the knowledge of her motives for wearing the oid cloaïc, which was ever after preserved as a precious relie. I can assuro my readers that she did not blame him scverely, and iihould tliis lale ever meet them,I trust that they will both partake the use I have made of the incidents related to me.Matches are made in vast quantities in New York by machinery. Small blocks ofwoodare driven through steel plates filled with holes, in almost an fnstaiö of time. They are Uien dipped into the prepared paste, put up in paper boxes, and sold at somelhing like a dozen fop a sixpence. They are vended about the city by a great number of children, who are boarded and Iodged by the manufacturers. Two millions of matches are used in this city every day, and an cqual quantity exported. - N. Y. Evangelist.A colored woman namod Catherine Freebody. who died in Hartford, Ct., on tho Cth instant, left#100 each to four reIigious societies, .$200 to another, and $1000 to the African Society of Hnríford, for the support of the minislrv. The grand total vnlue of real and assersed property in England and Wales, amounts to the enormoas sum of .$'429,013,775.