THE
ATLANTIC MONTHLY.
A Magazine of Literature, Art, and Politics.
VOL. XVI.—SEPTEMBER, 1865.—NO. XCV.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by Ticknor andFields, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District ofMassachusetts.
Transcriber's Note: Minor typos have been corrected and footnotes movedto the end of the article. Table of contents has been created for the HTML version.
Contents
COUPON BONDS.
WILHELM MEISTER'S APPRENTICESHIP.
TWILIGHT.
NEEDLE AND GARDEN.
SCIENTIFIC FARMING.
DOCTOR JOHNS.
NATURAL HISTORY OF THE PEACOCK.
UP THE ST. JOHN'S RIVER.
A NEW ART CRITIC.
THE LUCK OF ABEL STEADMAN.
AT BAY RIDGE, LONG ISLAND.
"RUNNING AT THE HEADS."
THE CHIMNEY-CORNER.
A VISIT TO THE EDGEWORTHS.
ON A PAIR OF OLD SHOES.
ODE RECITED AT THE HARVARD COMMEMORATION.
OUR FUTURE MILITIA SYSTEM.
REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTICES.
RECENT AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS.
COUPON BONDS.
PART I.
On a certain mild March evening, A. D. 1864, the Ducklow kitchen had ageneral air of waiting for somebody. Mrs. Ducklow sat knitting by thelight of a kerosene lamp, but paused ever and anon, neglecting herstocking, and knitting her brows instead, with an aspect of anxiouslistening. The old gray cat, coiled up on a cushion at her side, purringin her sleep, purred and slept as if she knew perfectly well who wascoming soon to occupy that chair, and meant to make the most of it. Theold-fashioned clock, perched upon the high mantel-piece of thelow-studded room, ticked away lonesomely, as clocks only tick whensomebody is waited for who does not come. Even the tea-kettle on thestove seemed to be in the secret, for it simmered and sang after themanner of a wise old tea-kettle fully conscious of the importance of itsmission. The side-table, which was simply a leaf on hinges fixed in thewall, and looked like an apron when it was down, giving to that side ofthe kitchen a curious resemblance to Mrs. Ducklow, and rested on one armwhen it was up, in which position it reminded you more of Mr. Ducklowleaning his chin on his hand,—the side-table was set with a singleplate, knife and fork, and cup and saucer, indicating that the personwaited for was expected to partake of refreshments. Behind thestairway-door was a small boy kicking off a very