DREAMS AND REVERIES OF A QUIET MAN; CONSISTING OF THE LITTLE GENIUS, AND OTHER ESSAYS. By one of the Editors of the New-York Mirror. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. ALIFORNIA NEW YORK: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY J. & J. HARPER, AND FOR SALE BY THE PRINCIPAL BOOKSELLERS THROUGHOUT MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. THE POOR AUTHOR. I was once, during a walk out of town, much struck with the appearance of an odd looking vagabond of a fellow. He was a stout, prim, middle aged, miserably dressed, broken down gentleman, who wore an air of deplorable drollery and ludicrous want entirely irresist able. His coat had once been of handsome black cloth, but its charms had vanished "like fairy gifts fading away"-many winters had scattered their snows upon the shoulder blades and elbows, from the pinnacles of the latter of which peeped something not very white, concerning which I had my own peculiar calculation. The collar, (I mean of his coat, for that of his shirt had long since retired to the dignity of private life, beneath the complicated folds of his slovenly cravat,) by, long acquaintance with the rim of a hat, venerable on account of its antiquity, had assumed a gloss which was by no means the gloss of novelty, and a dark brown waistcoat was buttoned carelessly around a body that seemed emptier than the head upon which it had depended for support. His pantaloons, "Weak, but intrepid-sad, but unsubdued," were shrivelled tightly over a brace of spindle shanks, withered, weary, and forlorn. Uncleaned pumps covered every part of his feet but the toes, which came forth to enjoy the fresh summer breezes, shoes and stockings to the contrary notwithstanding. A pair of tattered white kid gloves faintly fluttered about his hands, VOL. II.-1 |