Justice in the By-Ways A Tale of Life

erfect equanimity? If not, perhaps you have witnessed in our halls of Congress the sudden transition through which some of our Carolina members pass from a state of stupidity to a state of pugnacity?

he delights in having her friends call her, transposes herself from the incarnation of a

sers, highly-polished boots, a cluster of diamonds set in an avalanche of corded shirt-bosom, and carelessly-tied green cravat, lend a respectability better imagined than described. A certain reckless dash about him, not common to a refined gentl

d woman, reciprocating his warm shake of the

Snivel interrupts him

, and returning it to the table, saying she has just been grievously provoked by one of that black-coated flock who go about t

And he shakes his head, touches her significantly on the

vel. Rebecca!-bring Mr.

orning! (Soloman again taps her on the arm with his glove.) The

character of that society," she continues with a sigh, and wipes and rubs her spectacles, gets up and views herself in the glass, frills over her cap border, and becomes very generally anxious. Mrs. Swiggs is herself a

f in the glass at each turn, now touching his neatly-trimmed Saxon mustache and whiskers, t

all up with t

ike balls of fire, her lower jaw falling with the we

of old Madeira with which he enjoyed her hospitality on h

more left. But pray lose no time in disclosi

anners, and travelling and living after the manner of a nobleman, (some of our first families are simple enough to identify a Baronet with nobility!) was foully set upon by the fairest and most marriageable belles of the St. Cecilia. If he had possessed a dozen hearts, he could have h

ey do it. It's a pardonable weakness." And she reaches

ave received at the hands of Counts and Earls, with na

e credulous old woman, making an effort to rise and proceed t

his one, and then with that one, and finally with the whole society, not excepting the very flirtable married ladies;-that is, I mean those whose husbands were simple enough to let him. Mothers were in a great flutter generally

rtion. "My word for it, Mr. Soloman, to get up in the world, and to be above the common herd, is the grand ambition of o

fashionable society, and the very best gossipmonger in the city, had confidentially spread it all over the neighborhood that Mr. Stepfast told her the young Baronet told him (and he verily believed he was head and ears in love with her!) Miss Robbs was the most lovely creature he had seen since he left Belgravia. And then he went into a perfect rhapsody of excitement while praising the poetry of her motion, the grace with which she performed the smallest offices of the drawing-room, her queenly figure, her round, alabaster arms, her smooth, tapering hands, (so chastely set off with two small diamonds, and so unlike the butchers' wives of this day, who bedazzle themselves all the day long with cheap jewelry,)-the beautiful swell of her marble bust, the sweet smile ev

ere has been so much scandal got up by

o, ere she has time to conclude her

cat for her Milton, and apologizing for her error as that venerable animal, having got well squeezed, sp

the way, Mr. Soloman thinks,

s, twitching at her cap strings,

nguished members, who, I assure you, respect me far above my real merits, (Mrs. Swiggs says we won't say anything about that now!) and honor me with all its secrets, I may,

. O thank you, Mr. S

etting into my head at once when I refe

came of the y

e was what we call-it isn't a p

s, fretting her hands and commenc

fashion to the St. Cecilia, (and on that account on no very good terms with the vulgar world, that was forever getting up scandal to hurl at the society that would not permit it to soil, with its common muslin, the fragrant atmosphere of its satin and tulle), had been carrying on a villanous intrigue-yes, Madam! villanous intrigue! I said discovered: the fact was, this gallant Baronet, with one servant and no establishment, was fted and fooled for a month, until he came to the very natural and se

it from Mrs. Barrows, Mrs. Barrows let the cat out of the bag to Mrs. Simpson, and Mrs. Simpson would let Mr. Simpson have no peace till he got on the soft side of the Baronet, and, what was not a difficult matter, got two of the letters for her to have a peep into. Mrs. Simpson having feasted her eyes on the two Mr. Simpson got of the Baronet, and being exceedingly fond of such wares as they contained, must needs-albeit, in strict confidence-wh

to a terrible passion, poor Constance swore nothing wou

he-not a bit like m

Mrs. Swiggs

on the fellow was not what he should be; and I made it known to my select friends of the St. Cecilia, who generally pooh-poohed me. A nobleman, they said, should receive every attention. And to show that he wasn't what he should be,

Constance nor stayed the d

was no worse," Mrs. S

s together, agreed to consider ourselves a Congress, talked over the affairs of the nation, carried a vote to dissolve the Union, drank sundry bottles of Champagne, (I longed for a taste of your old Madeira, Mrs. Swiggs,) and brought in a verdict that pleased Mrs. Constance wonderfully-and so it ought. We were, after the most careful examination, satisfied that the reports prejudicial to the char

ause. Mrs. Swiggs, with a

, my good Madam," Mr.

a is yet spared to us. You said,

ke is-it isn't all over, you know, seeing how the society can live through a score of nin

the old negress hastily obeys the summons; brings forth a mass of cobweb and dust, from which a venerable black bottle is disinterred, uncorked, and presented to the guest, who drinks the health of Mrs. Swiggs in sundry well-filled glasses, which he declares

ly exclaims, "you've go

t ye!" Mrs. Swiggs replies, resum

er let him get out, for he is sure t

s gray as Methuselah, I warrant you!" And Mr. Soloman, having made his compliments to the sixth glass, draws from his br

precise in those things. It preserves friendship. This is merely a bit of a good turn I do for you." Mr. Soloman bows, makes an approving motion with his hands, and lays at her disposal on the table, a s

taking up a pen and signing the instrument, which her guest deposits snugl