o be preserved from the fire at the burning of
Roseland.

Our little circle about this time was animated by a visit from a
peddler. As soon as he was perceived crossing the lawn with a large
basket on his arm, and a bundle slung across a stick on his shoulder, a
stir commenced in the house. Mamma assumed an air of importance and
responsibility; I felt a pleasurable excitement; Chloe's and Flora's
eyes twinkled with expectation; while, from different quarters, the
house servants entered, standing with eyes and mouth silently open, as
the peddler, after depositing his basket and deliberately untying his
bundle, offered his goods to our inspection. He was a stout man, with a
dark complexion, pitted with the small-pox, and spoke in a foreign
accent. I confess that I yielded myself to the pleasure of purchasing
some gewgaws, which I afterward gave to Flora, while mamma looked at the
glass and plated ware.

"Ver sheap," said the peddler, following her eye, and taking up a pair
of glass pitchers; "only two dollar--sheap as dirt. If te lady hash any
old closhes, it is petter as money."

Mamma took the pitchers in her hand with an inquisitorial air, balanced
them, knocked them with her small knuckles--they rang as clear as a
bell--examined the glass--there was not a flaw in it. Chloe went through
the same process; they looked significantly at each other, nodded, set
the pitchers on the slab, and gave a little approbatory cough.

"They are certainly very cheap," said mamma, tentatively.

"They is, for true, my mistress," said Chloe, with solemnity, "and more
handsomer than Mrs. Whitney's that she gin six dollars for at
Charleston."

"Chloe," said mamma, "were not those pantaloons you were shaking to-day
quite shrunk and worn out?"

"Yes, ma'am," said she; "and they don't fit nohow. The last time the
colonel wore them he seemed quite _on-restless_."

"Just step up," said her mistress, "and bring them down; but stay--what
did you say was the price of these candlesticks, sir?"

"Tish only von dollars; but tish more cheaper for te old closhes. If te
lady will get te old closhes, I will put in te pellows and te prush, and
it ish more sheaper, too."

Chloe and mamma looked at each other, and raised their eyebrows.

"I will just step up and see those pantaloons," said mamma, in a
consulting tone. "It will be a mercy to the colonel to clear out some of
that rubbish. I am confident he can never wear the pantaloons again;
the