Roxy Hastings — page 154: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

aaalll al « a ‘te G bh OF fe a -” » - 4.al- ROXY HASTINGS. 145 - *“You’re a little goose then. Gobleigh has made a_for- tune furnishing beef to the army. But when you were a baby, not so very long ago, he kept a market, and we bought our steaks of him.” ~ “Tt don’t make any difference. They .have money, and we haven’t. I’d sell steaks, too, or codfish, or red her- rings, or anything else, to get rich.” “Well,” said the mother, smiling, “perhaps something will turn up, as Mr. Micawber says. Be patient. People never get out of trouble any sooner for grumbling.” ‘‘Mother is always so cheerful. I believe if she was going to the guillotine she’d enjoy the scenery on the road.” The widow laughed, and added : ‘“You promised to spend a day with the Wilkes at Tarry- _ town before we left the city, didn’t you?” ‘“Oh, yes,” said the girls, eagerly. ‘‘Can we go?” “You may go Saturday. I can spare you money enough for this. Write to-morrow, and tell them you are coming.” Saturday came. The girls went at nine, and, after they were gone the mother dressed herself over with much care, to go and see her children at Hoboken. Doubtless she was anxious to appear well before the little dears, for she had never in her life been more particular in the selection and adjustments of every article of her wardrobe, to say nothing of the brushing and waving of her very beautiful hair. Somehow it happened that nothing had been said about this expedition at table (why should such a trifling affair be proclaimed ?), and Jedediah had, with a strange lack of politeness, proposed to meet the widow at the ferry, at such hour as she should name. She named eleven o’clock, and when, punctual to her ap- pointment, she arrived at the river in a stage, she was sur- prised to find Jedediah waiting for her there, with a car- riage. This seemed a useless expense now, as they had al- most no distance to go on the other side; but she made no comment, except to say, as she sank back upon the spot- less and luxuriant cushions: ‘‘How do you find such nice hacks, Mr. Burr? I declare this looks as if it had neyer been used.” “Tt never has been, until to-day, madam. It was only finished last week. This is my own.” 3 “Oh, I beg your pardon. I was not aware that you kept a carriage.” “T never did. I ordered it, with the rest of my follies, “S (Elo) GEomichoo