The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 17, No. 101, March, 1866 | Page 4

singing all manner of English songs,--such as Mrs. Hemans's
"Landing of the Pilgrims," "Auld Lang Syne," and some of
Moore's,--the singing pretty fair, but in the oddest tone and accent.
Occasionally he breaks out with scraps from French tragedies, which he
spouts with corresponding action. He generally gets close to me in
these displays of musical and histrionic talent Once he offered to
magnetize me in the manner of Monsieur P----.
* * * * *
Wednesday, July 26th.--Dined at Barker's yesterday. Before dinner, sat

with several other persons in the stoop of the tavern. There was B----, J.
A. Chandler, Clerk of the Court, a man of middle age or beyond, two or
three stage people, and, nearby, a negro, whom they call "the Doctor," a
crafty-looking fellow, one of whose occupations is nameless. In
presence of this goodly company, a man of a depressed, neglected air, a
soft, simple-looking fellow, with an anxious expression, in a laborer's
dress, approached and inquired for Mr. Barker. Mine host being gone to
Portland, the stranger was directed to the bar-keeper, who stood at the
door. The man asked where he should find one Mary Ann Russell,--a
question which excited general and hardly-suppressed mirth; for the
said Mary Ann is one of a knot of women who were routed on Sunday
evening by Barker and a constable. The man was told that the black
fellow would give him all the information he wanted. The black fellow
asked,--
"Do you want to see her?"
Others of the by-standers or by-sitters put various questions as to the
nature of the man's business with Mary Ann. One asked,--
"Is she your daughter?"
"Why, a little nearer than that, I calkilate," said the poor devil.
Here the mirth was increased, it being evident that the woman was his
wife. The man seemed too simple and obtuse to comprehend the
ridicule of his situation, or to be rendered very miserable by it.
Nevertheless, he made some touching points.
"A man generally places some little dependence on his wife," said he,
"whether she's good or not."
He meant, probably, that he rests some affection on her. He told us that
she had behaved well, till committed to jail for striking a child; and I
believe he was absent from home at the time, and had not seen her
since. And now he was in search of her, intending, doubtless, to do his
best to get her out of her troubles, and then to take her back to his home.
Some advised him not to look after her; others recommended him to

pay "the Doctor" aforesaid for guiding him to her; which finally "the
Doctor" did, in consideration of a treat; and the fellow went off, having
heard little but gibes, and not one word of sympathy! I would like to
have witnessed his meeting with his wife.
There was a moral picturesqueness in the contrasts of the scene,--a man
moved as deeply as his nature would admit, in the midst of hardened,
gibing spectators, heartless towards him. It is worth thinking over and
studying out. He seemed rather hurt and pricked by the jests thrown at
him, yet bore it patiently, and sometimes almost joined in the laugh,
being of an easy, unenergetic temper.
Hints for characters:--Nancy, a pretty, black-eyed, intelligent
servant-girl, living in Captain H----'s family. She comes daily to make
the beds in our part of the house, and exchanges a good-morning with
me, in a pleasant voice, and with a glance and smile,--somewhat shy,
because we are not acquainted, yet capable of being made conversable.
She washes once a week, and may be seen standing over her tub, with
her handkerchief somewhat displaced from her white neck, because it is
hot. Often she stands with her bare arms in the water, talking with Mrs.
H----, or looks through the window, perhaps, at B---- or somebody else
crossing the yard,--rather thoughtfully, but soon smiling or laughing.
Then goeth she for a pail of water. In the afternoon, very probably, she
dresses herself in silks, looking not only pretty, but lady-like, and
strolls round the house, not unconscious that some gentleman may be
staring at her from behind the green blinds. After supper, she walks to
the village. Morning and evening, she goes a-milking. And thus passes
her life, cheerfully, usefully, virtuously, with hopes, doubtless, of a
husband and children.--Mrs. H---- is a particularly plump, soft-fleshed,
fair-complexioned, comely woman enough, with rather a simple
countenance, not nearly so piquant as Nancy's. Her walk has something
of the roll or waddle of a fat woman, though it were too much to call
her fat. She seems to be a sociable body, probably laughter-loving.
Captain H---- himself has commanded a steamboat, and has a certain
knowledge of life.
Query, in relation