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“Tank you, ma’am; come again, eb you please–of’n!” said the pouting negro.

“Yes, sah; here’s nudder lady, sah,” says Banquo, ushering in a rather ruddy, jolly-looking and perfectly-at-home daughter of the “gim o’ the sae.” The old gentleman eyed her liberal proportions; consulting his snuff-box, he answered “yes” to the woman’s inquiry, if he was the gintleman wanting the housekeeper.

“Did you read my advertisement, ma’am?”

“Me rade it? Not I, faix. Mr. Mullony, our landlord, was saying till us–“

“Are you married, too?”

“Married two ? Do I look like a woman as would marry two? No, sur; I’m a dacent woman, sur; my name is Hannah Geaughey, Jimmy Geaughey’s my husband, sur; he, poor man, wrought in the board-yard till he was sun sthruck, by manes of falling from a cuart, sur.”

“Well, ma’am, that will do, I’m sorry for your husband–one dollar, there it is; you wouldn’t suit me at all; good morning, ma’am. Banquo, show the good woman to the door.”

“But, sur, I want the place!”

“I don’t want you –good morning.”

“Dis way, ma’am,” said Banquo, marshalling the woman to the hall.

“Stand away, ye nager; it’s your masther I’m spakin’ wid.”

“Go along, go along, woman, go, go, go! ” roared the old gent.

“But, as I was saying, Mr. Mullony said–says he–who the divil you push’n, you black nager?” said the woman, grabbing Banquo’s woolly top-knot.

“Dis way, ma’am,” persevered Banquo, quartering towards the door.

“Mr. Mullony was sayin’, sur–“

“Dis way, ma’am,” continued the darkey, crowding Mrs. Geaughey, while his master was gesticulating furiously to keep on crowding her. Finally, Banquo vanquished the Irish woman, and received orders from his master to admit no more applicants–the place was filled.

That afternoon, old Captain Winepipes–a retired merchant and ship-master, an old bachelor, too, who was in the habit of exchanging visits with Job Carson, sipping brandy and water, talking over old times and playing chess–came to finish a litigated game, and Job and he discussed the matter of taking care of the widow and children of the dead ship-builder. At length, it was settled that, if the second interview with the widow, and an exhibition of her children, proved satisfactory to Job Carson, he should take them in; if found more than Job could attend to–

“Why a–I’ll go you halves, Job,” said Captain Winepipes.

Next day, Widow Glenn and her pretty children appeared at the door of Carson’s mansion; and Banquo, full of pleasant anticipations, ushered them into the retired merchant’s presence.

It was evident, at the first glance the old gentleman gave the group, that the battle was more than half won.

“Fine boy, that; come here, sir–eleven years of age, eh? Your name’s Martin–Martin Glenn, eh? Well, Martin, my lad, you’ve got a big world before you–a fussing, fuming world, not worth finding out, not worth the powder that would blow it up. You’ve got to take your position in the ranks, too, mean and contemptible as they are; but you may make a good man; if the world don’t benefit you, why a–you can benefit it; that’s the way I’ve done–been obliged to do it, ain’t sorry for it, neither,” said the old man, with evident emotion.

“Your name is Cynthia, eh? And you are a fine grown girl for your age, surely. Cynthia, you’ll soon be capable of ‘keeping house,’ too; you’ve got a world before you, too, my dear; a wicked, scandalous world; a world full of deceit and misery –look at your mother, look at me! Ah, well, it’s all our own fault; yours, madam, for having these–these incumbrances, and mine, poor devil–for not having ’em. Cynthia, you’re a fine girl; a good girl, I know. Ah, here’s mamma’s pet, I suppose; Rose Glenn, very pretty name, pretty girl, too, very pretty. Lips and cheeks like cherries, eyes brighter than Brazil diamonds. Ma’am, you’ve got great treasures here; a man must be a stupid ass to call these incumbrances. They are jewels of inestimable value. What’s my filthy bank accounts, dollars and cents, houses, goods and chattels, that fire may destroy, and thieves steal–to these blessings that–that God has given the lone widow to strengthen her–cheer her in the dark path of life? God is great, generous, and just; I see it now, plainer than I ever did before. Banquo!”