n, the seats at the
breakfast-table were filled; and, as a single newspaper was all the
apparent means of mental occupation, I anticipated some interesting
conversation.

I waited and I watched. One ran the point of his fork into the
table-cloth; another balanced her spoon on the tea-cup; a third told
backwards and forwards the rings on her fingers, as duly as a friar
tells his beads. As such actions sometimes are the symptoms of mental
occupation, I began to anticipate the brilliant results of so much
thinking. I cried, hem! in hopes to rouse them to expression--and not
quite unsuccessfully: for one remarked, it was a wretched day; another
wished it was fine; and a third hoped it shortly would be so. Meantime,
the index of the clock went round; it was gaining close upon ten before
all had withdrawn from the table. My eye followed one to the
window-place; where, with her back to the wall, and her eyes fixed
without, she passed a full half hour in gazing at the prospect without,
or wishing, perhaps, the mist did not prevent her seeing it. A very
young lady was so busy in pulling the dead leaves from a geranium, and
crumbling them in her fingers, I could not doubt but some important
purpose was in the task. A third resumed the newspaper he had read for a
whole hour before, and betook himself, at last, to the advertisements. A
fourth repaired to the alcove, gathered some flowers, picked them to
pieces, threw them away again, and returned. "Cease thy prating, thou
never-resting time-piece!" said I to myself, "for no one heeds thy tale.
What is it to us that each one of thy tickings cuts a link from our
brief chain of life? Time is the gift of Heaven, but man has no use for
it!"

I had scarcely thought out the melancholy reflection, when a young lady
entered with an elegant work-box, red without and blue within, and
filled with manifold conveniences for the pursuance of her art. Glad was
I most truly at the sight. By the use of the needle, the naked may be
clothed; ingenuity may economize her means, and have more to spare for
those who need it; invention may multiply the ways of honest
subsistence, and direct the ignorant to the use of them. Most glad was
I, therefore, that the signal of industry drew more than one wanderer to
the same pursuit, though not till much time had been consumed in going
in and out, and up and down, in search of the materials. All were found
at last; the party worked, and I, as usual, listened. "I