Gershom had got to be so much under his companion’s influence, that he complied, though his mind suggested various objections to the course taken, to which his tongue gave utterance as they busied themselves in this task.  The effects of Whiskey Centre had been gradually diminishing in quantity, as well as in value, for the last three years, and were now of no great amount, in any sense.  Still there were two chests, one large, and one small.  The last contained all that a generous regard for the growing wants of the family had left to Margery; while the first held the joint wardrobes of the husband and wife, with a few other articles that were considered as valuable.  Among other things were half a dozen of very thin silver tea-spoons, which had fallen to Gershom on a division of family plate.  The other six were carefully wrapped up in paper and put in the till of Margery’s chest, being her portion of this species of property.  The Americans, generally, have very little plate; though here and there marked exceptions do exist; nor do the humbler classes lay out much of their earnings in jewelry, while they commonly dress far beyond their means in all other ways.  In this respect, the European female of the same class in life frequently possesses as much in massive golden personal ornaments as would make an humble little fortune, while her attire is as homely as cumbrous petticoats, coarse cloth, and a vile taste can render it.  On the other hand, the American matron that has not a set—­one half-dozen—­ of silver tea-spoons must be poor indeed, and can hardly be said to belong to the order of housekeepers at all.  By means of a careful mother, both Gershom and his sister had the half-dozen mentioned; and they were kept more as sacred memorials of past and better days than as articles of any use.  The household goods of Waring would have been limited by his means of transportation, if not by his poverty.  Two common low-post maple bedsteads were soon uncorded and carried off, as were the beds and bedding.  There was scarcely any crockery, pewter and tin being its substitutes; and as for chairs there was only one, and that had rockers:  a practice of New England that has gradually diffused itself over the whole country, looking down ridicule, the drilling of boarding-schools, the comments of elderly ladies of the old school, the sneers of nurses, and, in a word, all that venerable ideas of decorum could suggest, until this appliance of domestic ease has not only fairly planted itself in nearly every American dwelling, but in a good many of Europe also!

It required about twenty minutes for the party to clear the cabin of every article that might induce an Indian to suspect the presence of white men.  The furniture was carried to a sufficient distance to be safe from everything but a search; and care was had to avoid as much as possible making a trail, to lead the savages to the place selected for the temporary storeroom.  This was merely a close