No sooner was it fair daylight, but up started my notable wife, and soon roused the whole family. The little trunk was stuffed with baggage, even to bursting, and tied behind the chair, and the chair-box was crammed with trumpery which _we could not possibly do without_. Miss _Jenny_ was drest, and breakfast devoured in haste: the old negro wench was called in, and the charge of the house committed to her care; and the two apprentices and the hired maid received many wholesome cautions and instructions for their conduct during our absence, all which they most liberally promised to observe; whilst I attended, with infinite patience, the adjustment of these preliminaries.
At length, however, we set off, and, turning the first corner, lost sight of our habitation, with great regret on my part, and no less joy on the part of Miss _Jenny_ and her Mamma.
When we got to Poole's Bridge, there happened to be a great concourse of wagons, carts, &c., so that we could not pass for some time--Miss _Jenny_ frightened--my wife very impatient and uneasy--wondered I did not call out to those impudent fellows to make way for us; observing that I had not the spirit of a louse. Having got through this difficulty, we proceeded without obstruction--my wife in good-humor again--Miss _Jenny_ in high spirits. At _Kensington_ fresh troubles arise. "Bless me, Miss _Jenny_," says my wife, "where is the bandbox?" "I don't know, Mamma; the last time I saw it, it was on the table in your room." What's to be done? The bandbox is left behind--it contains Miss _Jenny_'s new wire-cap--there is no possibility of doing without it--as well no New York as no wire-cap--there is no alternative, we must e'en go back for it. Teased and mortified as I was, my good wife administered consolation by observing, "That it was my business to see that everything was put into the chair that ought to be, but there was no depending upon me for anything; and that she plainly saw I undertook this journey with an ill-will, merely because she had set her heart upon it." Silent patience was my only remedy. An hour and a half restored to us this essential requisite--the wire-cap--and brought us back to the place where we first missed it.