Like and Unlike: A Novel

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Chapter I

^ CoMS, Matilda, do now, like a dear, TOod girl, let me fix you a little before you ^o down to tea. x our hair is all in a tangle, and this collar is all rompled up ; and your dress I how it does look ! I do belieye some of the hooks are offturn round, and let me see."

Without reply. Miss Matilda Sterling, who had been standing face to face near her good-natured nurse, and looking at her with a quizzical, but by no means ill-tempered, cast of countenance, while the above harrangue was being delivered, turned quickly round, and seemed q£te as willing to have ■the inspection made as though conscious that all had been right in that quarter.

^^ Of all things ! three hooks are clean gone, and two only hanging by a thread. What upon earth, Matilda, have you been doing ?"

^^ Nothing in th4|p^orld. Aunt Grizzle, but playing hide-andseek in the lumber garret, with Kate Draper and Lizzie BeU. Ah, we have had a grand time of it I"

" I have no doubt of that, darling ; but ^"

" And to-morrow evening they are both coming here, and their brothers with them, and I Inean to ask Patty Pearsall and Ellen Thomas to come too. It will make quite a teaparty, wont it. Aunt Grizzle ?" and the little lady turned rapidly round, and her very bright hazel eye was again fixed on her nurse. It must have been a very hard-hear^Tnurse, indeed, that could have said or done anything just then contrary to the wish or will which was expressed m the countenance there upraised. It was not, indeed) awdki ^ nctj \i^w^-

8 - LIKE AND UNLIKJS.

tiful face ; but then there was nothing out of the way ; the combination of brow, cheeks^ mouth, and eyes was, on the whole, pretty and expressive. There was depth of feeling, and perhaps something of impetuosity beaming from the eye, while the dimples that played so near the finely-arched lips, gave assurance of a readiness to be pleased, and no objection to a frolic.

*' Why do you not name your cousins ? Are they not coming, too?"

"Well, I suppose I must ask them ; but they are so stiff and fussy in their ways — ^we must not do this, and we must not do that — and we must behave so proper — and we girls don't care so much about what is proper — it will be time enough to be particular as to the proprieties when we are grown up ; we are girls, you know, now. Aunt Grizzle, and we want some fun."

Aunt Grizzle, as she was called, would, no doubt, if she had thought there was occasion for it, have given quite a dissertation on the propriety of the sentiments expressed ; but she knew well enough tnat more was said than was meant ; she would not have been afraid to trust her pet under almost any circumstances to act her own will,, and have had no fear that there would have been either rude or improper conduct. She was, to be sure, only fourteen, but she had been nicely trained in all that reg^ded true delicacy and decorum ; and although she liked, as sne said, " to have some ftm," it would be, as Aunt Grizzle well knew, very harmless ftin ; a merer letting off of the vivacity that was playing within ; and she did not believe there could be harm in thaii — ^for these reasons the only reply she made was —

" I think you had better ask your cousins, though, my dear. Tour aunt may think strange if you do '^P

"I will ask them, then, of course, aunty; but what is to be done about these hooks ?"

** You must change your dress, 4^^^ » just wait a moment, though, until I fix your hiur a little — these ringlets are all in a snarl; and you had better change your collar, too, Matilda."

" Well, I will, if you think this will not do."

"It k a good deal rumpled ; and I want you to appear a little decent to-night, not only for your pa*s sake, who always likes to see you in trim, but you know the new clerk will be here to tea, and ^"

"JSto he come^ aunty ?"

" Yes ; his trunk is up in his room, ancLI think he is down in the oflSce. Just wait a moment longer, dear — ^there ! I must have hurt you then ^"

" No, not much ; have you seen the boy, aunty ? is he a real country boy ?"

" Why, he is really from the country.'*

" Oh yes, that may be, and yet he may not be what I call a country boy ; he may have been brought up in the city, you know, and only been in the country a short time, just as I was last year.''

^^ I understood your pa to say that he had never been in the city before."

^^ Then I know just how he looks, Aunt Grizzle, and you see if it is not just as I say. How old is he ?"

" I believe your pa said he was seventeen ; a pretty good sized boy though for his age."

" I know now, Aunt Grizzle, just how he looks. He haA got yellow hair — no not all yeUow — the top of his head is white, and the long straight locks that hang down on his collar and over his ears are yeUow ; his face is freckled, not like Cousin Junius, but large black freckles ; his nose is red ; his eye-lashes are white, and his eyes, little grey specks, twinkling through them ; and then his dress ! I know just how comical thai looks. His coat is blue, or maybe snuff color — I guess it is snuff color — with brass buttons, a little scratched, and the waist behind away up in the middle of his back, with long skirts almost down to his knees ; his trowsers are a kind of bluish grey, too short to reach his shoes ; his stockings of mixed yam, and his shoes great thick dumpers, tied with leather strings. There now, Aunt Grizzle, you see if I am not right!"

Aunt Grizzle wSfcot idle all this time, but kept her hands busy in arranging matters about the little lady and getting her in readiness for the evening meal. The hour was near at hand, and as they were the only ladies to be at the table it would not do to be unprepared when the bell rang. She smiled and sometimes broke into a laugh as the different items in the strange figure Miss Matilda was describing were brought out, and the little lady herself laughed heartily, too.

'*! wonder why papa should have engaged a country boy to help him in his office, when we have so many nice smart boys here in the city. Are boys scarce here. Aunt Grizzle ?"

" Not very, I guess ; but he has taken a notion to have oue from the country; I hoard him say the other day \^ie^iO^%^xv

i town were not good for much, and you know what trouble he has had with the two last."

"Yes, I know, but is this one to live here or to board out?"

" Oh, he will live here, of course. But there's the bell ! now, darling, you won't laugh, nor be ill-mannered, will you ? Remember, the poor boy is a stranger among us, and may be he is very bashful." '

" Oh, I know he will be bashful — ^they always are — ^but I will behave my best, aunty, depend upon it. I must do, you know, ' as I would be done by ;' that's your saying, is it not. Aunt Grizzle ?"

" It is no saying of mine, dear child, although 1 often repeat it to you. It is a Bible saying."

" Oh, yes, so it is ; well, I will think of it, and if I feel like laughing, that will stop me. Just pin this sash, aunty, and then I am ready."

Mr. Sterling, like many of the merchants at the date of our story, who were in independent circumstances, lived in the upper part of his house, above his place of business. Water street was then occupied by respectable families, and it had been his place of residence for many years. The number, now, is of no consequence, for no vestige of its former appearance remains. Nor. would one who has only known tne city for the last twenty years be able to comprehend the vast change that has been made in that locality, nor scarcely to imagine how people of property could ever have consented to live in such a dirty, bustling thoroughfare ! It was, howrOver, neither dirty nor bustling at the time we are treating of; and more especially that part of it which extended below the old Tontine. The houses were in general of three stories, plainly furnished, as most of the houses were in those days, but very comfortable as dwellings. Mr.<(?erling was in the tobacco trade ; he had confined his attention principally to the wholesale business ; and lor some years past, chiefly sold on conmiission for Southern houses. He had become a wealthy man, as wealth was reckoned then. Well acquainted with his business, he was yearly adding to his fortune, and doing it in a very quiet unostentatious way. In fact, he was by no means a man who wished to have it known how much he was worth, or how much he was making. He was exapi in his dealings, shrewd but fair, in pui chasing ; careful to i^Jbm he sold, if on credit ; but, far removed from that little, grasping propensity which so contracts and spoils the souls of many.

The Brat £oor of Mb house was occupied with his business ;

LIKB AND UNLDES. lA

the front room as an office, and the remainder as a lumberroom; and this latter apartment was generally in a very unsettled state ; everything seemed to be there only as about to be removed somewhere else ; empty boxes standing cornerwise to the wall ; kegs of tobacco, some standing upright and some lying just as they had been rolled in ; piles of newspapers, stone jars, bladders of snuff, bundles of blue wrapping paper, balls of twine, some chairs that wanted either a leg or a back, and many etceteras, that seemed not uecessa* rily connected with trade of any kind. Dust, too, lay quite thick on many of the articles, as if they had been in their present position for a long, long time.

The office was a little more orderly in its arrangments, but quite a plain affair ; a high, double desk stood between the windows, covered with rather coarse baize, a very large inkstand, a ponderous wafer-box, a japanned tin sand-box, and a long ivory-handled pen-knife adorned its top ; and near at hand, against the wall, hung a bunch of Holland quills. This desk, however, was only used occasionally, now, for Mr. Sterling had been without a clerk for some time, and his own writing was done at a very respectable-looking 'countinghouse escretoir, which stood one side of the large desk, and at which he sat in an easy leathern-bottom arm-chair. A few kegs of tobacco stood likewise in this room, but they were orderly arranged against the wall ; a deep shelf, too, which occupied one side of the recess formed by the chimney, was covered with samples of tobacco in leaf, carefully labelled. There was no carpet on the floor, not even a rug under the feet of its owner. It had rather a dull appearance, but seemed to have been kept with proper care. The entrance to the office was through the hall-door of the house, and as that was of course usually open, an inner door, just beyond that which led into the office, secluded the dwelling proper from annoyance by comers and goers to and from the place of business.

We will now go through the inner-hall door, and look at things up-stairs. A neat oil cloth covers the wide entry, and the stairs we ascend are very easy ; the carpet is plain, but the rods shine brightly, and the balustrade is broad and firm ; the door into the parlor opens from a small gallery at the head of the stairs, and we entev a^^^Qi\ows^ xciQrca.'w^^'v^^'^ windows fronting the street •, tVve i\«mt\«^\cicJ*s^'e.c\^\iN55^ ^"^"^ veij substantial kind, and a fiii© ipoWsV m^^X^^^^^*^^^ tables and chairs and book-caae, auSi \X\^ ^^vvc^^ ^^^ ^

12 LIKB AND UKIIKE.

There is no fire there now, for it is early summer, and the back of the fire-place is concealed by white paper hangings cut into fringes ; the carpet, too, is plain, but of a neat pattern, and the rug seems to have been used some time, and yet looks none the worse for wear ; a few pictures adorn the walls, one is a painting of Mount Vesuvius in eruption, an- . othei* exhibits a ship at sea, battling with a tempest, and the iHJPnMi just breaking through the clouds and throwing her light upon the breakers from which the ship is trying to escape ; and another represents a woodman with his axe and dog in a driving storm of snow, plodding steadily toward his home. The room has a very comfortable, home-like look, and gives an impression of substance and good taste. An adjoining room is used by the heads of the little family as their bed-room ; it overlooks a neatly-paved back yaid, in which is a fine, large button-ball tree. The entrance into this room is from the same passage way or gallery by which we entered the parlor, but we cannot go in now, for the mistress of the family sits there in an easy chair ; she is in delicate health, and not able to mingle in family cares. But that she

• is a good housekeeper and a lady of correct taste, is evident from all that meets the eye. She is much beloved by her husband, and deserves all his respect and care, and there is no earthly wish she has, which he is not ready to gratify. He has no one but her and his daughter upon whom his affections are concentrated — he has near relatives, but they are of such different views and tastes that he can sympathise but little with them, nor take much pleasure in their company.. He is a very domestic man, too, and spends most of his time, when not in his office, by the side of his partner, endeavoring to give her what aid he can in recovering from a long and dangerous sickness, and his hopes that she is gaining strength grow brighter every day.

They have lived together for twenty years, and but one child is left to bless them with her presence, and for whon^

* all their care is exercised, and she, too, has no reasonabre wwh that is not most cheerfully gratified. She has not, as yet, been spoiled, for excellent care has been taken of her moral education so far.

Aunt Grizzle has been in the family ever since its establishment. She was at tfrst an upper servant, but her faithfulness, good principles . and efficiency in management, had won the respect of her employers, and she was now cousidered rather as a friend than a servant. Her especial charge.

UKK AND UNLH^ 13

when not engaged around the peraon of Mre. Sterling or in the affairs of the house, was to superintend the little arrangements connected with Miss Matilda, and to see to it that everything in her room and about her wardrobe was in perfect order, as her mother felt quite anxious that she should be trained properly in that respect, believing, as she often said, ^^ that much of the unhappiness of married life originates in the careless habits and untidy management of the wife."

Aunt Grizzle was devotedly attached to them all ; no labor ever seemed to tire her when either member of the family needed her services ; but toward Matilda she probably entertained an affection as near to that of a parent as it was possible for one who never had a parent's experience. And, although there were no bounds to her wish to indulge her pet, she had good sense enough to know that indulgence was not at all times a kindness. And as Matilda had been trained to respect Aunt Grizzle, and was strongly attached to her, but little »difl5culty ever occurred when the good nurse happened to feel that Miss Matilda could not be gratified.

Mr. Sterling had been unfortunate in his last two clerks ; they were both young men old enough to know all the details of business and to feel responsibility, but their only concern seemed to be, besides that of receiving a good salary, to get through with their work as soon as possible, and do as little outside of that as they could with any grace. Tliere was no manifestation of interest for their employer ; they did not- " throw themselves into the yoke," and work with a will. He soon found that in his absence customers were cavalierly dealt with, and, in fact, that their minds were rather intent upon the pleasures and amusements of the past or coming evening, than on the daily duties of their station. Such help he did not need and would not endure. He iiad, tiierefore, for some time been alone. He had refrained from advertising from discouragement at his past failures, but at length wrote an advertisement and was on his way to the office of the New York Gazette, when he stepped into the counting-room of a firm with which he did business, to collect. a check for loaned money ; they were at that moment engaged in conversation with a boy, who stood with his hat in hand awaiting, as it appeared, their decision in reference to employing him. Mr. Sterling took a seat, as he was invited to do, and of course could not help bearing what they said.

14 UKE AJSTD T7NLIEE.

" Is this all tbe recommendation you have ?" said one ol the partners.

" I have no other, sir."

" Of what use is such a paper as this ? what does a priest know about business ?"

" I believe, sir, he does not mention anything in reference to my business qualifications ; he merely gives what he thinks to be my character."

"What can he know about a young fellow's character. KTo doubt you always put on a demure face before him — and besides, I should think he was an old granny — some old Puritan risen from the dead — ^here. Sterling, read that. By George, I should think he was crazy, and you too, to think you was going to get a place i^ such a city as this on such a document."

" Of course, sir, I did not expect to get a situation without giving my employers opportunity to try my abilities."

"We can't afford to be giving people oppoitunities ; we want a competent hand that can go right4nto things."

The youth made no reply, and waited patiently until Mr. Sterling had finished reading his letter of recommendation, and, as it was rather a unique article of its kind, we wUl give the reader a copy :

** To all those to whom this may come greeting — ^This is to certify that I baye known James Beaufort from his childhood — ^yea, eyen from his birth unto this day. I baptised him in his infancy. I catechised him in his childhood. I haye conyersed with him on his ciyil, religious and social duties, at diyers times and at sundry places, all the way along through the years of his moral and physical growth to the present day. I haye more particularly conyersed with him on the important subject of his souFs salyation, and haye gone with him through all the struggles of the new birth. And I haye finally had the unspeakable pleasure of receiying him into church membership, and look upon him as a precious lamb of the true flock. And haying noted his careful walk and conversation, do with much confidence commend him to all or any who may need his seryices, as worthy of all confidence.

" Yours in the Lord,

^* Lemuel Lanostaff, *' Pastor of the Church of X in the Village Pleasant Vale, Dutchess County, State of New Y<yrky

As soon as Mr. Sterling had finished the letter, be handed it to the youth, who, merely saying, " if the gentlemen should not suit themselves with a clerk, and should conclude to give me a trial, I shall be at the Cortland street House for a few dajrs, " wade bis obeisance and retired.

LIKB AND UKUKX. 15

*' Did you ever know such oonsommate folly I to send a young fellow to New York with such an cpistie as that4 and besides, Sterling, I have no faith in these religious otatkif they are generally sofl-beaded, and so conscientious tlWf'A little white Ue startles them and makes them stare their eyetf

open as if they saw the . No, no ; and then, if there is a

pushing time and a little extra job to be done of a Sunday ; oh, ' their conscience wont let them !' * they daresn't do it I* I wouldn't have one of them if he came recommended by all the old piiests in the country."

Mr. Sterling made no reply ; he was not a religious man himseli^ although very far from having any such prejudices as troubled the gentleman who had been letting out his views so &eel)^ He smiled at the earnestness manifested, for there were a great many unnecessary words thrown into the gentleman's harangue, manifesting considerable warmth of feeling; and Mr. Sterling could not help smiling to think how small a matter would sometimes wake up a man's wrath.

His business was soon accomplished, and he bade them good morning ; but, instead of going to the Gazette office, he returned immediately home.

It was in the afternoon, just as he had finished his dinner, that he took his hat and walked over to Cortland street, and entering the bar-room of the stage-house, looked round to see if the individual he was in search of was there. Many were standing at the bar, and some seated in chairs were enjoying their segars ; presently, he stepped up to a youth who was sitting with his ba<i to the rest, and looking through the window at the passers by ; hjs countenance had a dejected look, and he was evidently deep in thought, for, when Mr. Sterling addressed him, he started as from a reverie.

" I believe I saw you this morning in Pearl street ; you were looking for a situation."

" I am, sir ; yes, sir, I remember seeing vou."

" Have you found a place to your mind r" . " No, sir ; I have applied to tho^e who have advertised, but without avail. Some give one reason and some another. I fear I shall be obliged to return home or go to sea. I suppose I should need>no letter of recommendation to get on board a ship."

'* A sailor's life is a very hard life and a very dangerous one, both to Vife and to moralBj*^

** I know that, sir ; but it is an honest employment, and ti^ I want and must have." 7^^** Tou have been brought up in the country ?" ■ * ?*Tes, sir; I have always lived there.*'

'* Have you ever been in a store there ?'*

" No, sir ; I have lived at home and attended school untfl the last year."

*' Ay, indeed ! Your parents living ? Excuse my questions. I am a stranger to you, of course, and have no right to be putting impertinent questions ; but I may possibly be able to help you with advice, if in no other way. I am an old merchant here."

" I have no hesitation, sir, in answering anythingyou may see fit to ask. I have nothing to conceal. I ami^oor and must depend upon my own exertions. My father died more than a year ago ; his affairs were involved, and our estate had to be sold. All that remains to us is a small cottage, opce a farmer's lodge, which belonged to our place. My mother and two tisters are there now. They have means enough to keep them for a few months, and I have thought bv coming to the city I would be more in the way of being able to afford them substantial aid than by remaining in the country. I might, no doubt, soon accustom myself to labor, BO as to earn a living on a farm; but I believed a better diance offered in the city. I may have judged wrong, though."

** You are well acquainted with figures, I suppose ?"

"I believe I can say that I am. I have learned bookkeeping also — that is, so far as I can leara it from books. Since 1 made up ^y mind to try what I could do here, I applied myself to such things as I supposed would be necessary — writing and arithmetic, and the principles of double entry. Of course, sir, my knowledge is only of that kind which the books could give me; but some whom I have called upon to-day have told me that all that is of no account."

" Yes, it is of some account. It shows that at least you have a determination to do something, and that is a good deal. You may not be able at once to take charge of a set of books ; but if you have the will, and are apt to learn, all the difliculties will soon vanish.

" I should jiot fear them, sir, if I could only have a chance to try ; but my letter of recommendation, I find, is worse tl^aa nothing. I knew it would read strangely to those who

LIKE AND UNLIKS. 17

did not know the clergyman who wrote it. I wlnh it i^lgl^B hav<j been diifferently worded ; but you know, sir, it w5m^^ have been rather rude in me to have offered any sui^gestsona to the old gentleman after having asked him fcir a letter, ^m supposed, if I could bring a letter that woiilii give me a fa^| character, my abilities would be known on tria^^ut it senilis that it is not the way," ^P

" Your letter, I own, is rather a singular document ; but still it is entitled to credit, and you must not be discouraged. You have not been anticipating a large salary, I suppose — that is, not at the start ?"

^* By no means, sir. I do not suppose I can more than get enough to pay my board, at least for six months, and it may be not fju a year."

" WeuJ my young friend, to be plain with you, I will say at once that I want a clerk. I was on my way to put in an advertisement when I stepped into the office where you were. Your letter satisfies me in regard to a very important requisition in the person I want — ^I mean the fairness of your reputation; and, as you say, your aj^ness for business must be proved by trial. If you will c4Bko-morrow morning at Water street, I think I shall be glad to make some arra^ ment with you."

" At what houi*shall I call, sir ?"

*' At nine o'clock."

" I will be there, sir. And I feel very j^ateful to ^ for taking the trouble to call here, and for you ment."

But the tea bell has rung long ago, and Aunt her charge have been some time at the tea-table. Veryl is said by any one present but by the head of the femily. Aunt Grizzle pours out the tea and sips her own very quietly ; Miss Matilda feels and acts very naturally ; she has no occasion to be on her guard against laughing at their stranger guest. She does laugh at times as her father says some pleasant thing, and when she does so, looks at the youth who is seated opposite to her at table as though she wished to have him join with her. She wishes to make him feel that he is at home, and that her papa is not such a dreadful man that those under hifll cannot laugh before him. She is careful also to wink to Aunt Grizzle when his cup is out, and to hand the cake, wliich stands nearer to her t\va\i Sx ^oo^^ \»Q\:is5!B.. ^^^^ feels very, very far indeed from \a\ig\i\xi^ «A. \ias» ^^<e^^fc- ^^^ ideas of what he would be like are a\\ a\,fe.\3^V.\ ^^>2!^^^ ^^"^^