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In the case of the Peppers was truly exhibited the apprehension of the people at the North of coming to the poor-house. If they have a terror -- the people in general -- of any earthly calamity or downfall, it is this condition of poverty. It is feared by the rich as well as by the poor; the learned as well as the ignorant; many an author, poet, teacher, divine, having had the pinchings of hunger in the garret, and tasted in an alms-house or hospital the bitterness of want. It has foreshadowings of evil to the young as well as the old, having a terrible and common celebrity and importance. Parents introduce the idea early to the notice of their children, informing them that unless they save all their money, unless they are sharp in their bargains, look well to their own advantage, are very economical in their necessary expenses, and disinclined to generous charity and benevolence, they will surely come to the poor-house. This is the instruction of many a fireside, the seed sown in the youthful heart, that takes root and grows up into a tree of deadly shade on the pathway of life.

This fear of the poor-house, the terror it inspires, has in itself the gleamings and rumblings of retribution; for as one has cultivated a heart of selfishness, and denied the calls of mercy and charity, so he thinks it may fall to him in the end that the same blasting winds shall sweep away his goods which have carried away the goods of others.

The poor-house is the possible chance of every man, woman and child. It is the refuge of the blind, the lame, the outcast. And who may not become as one of these, even?

Old Mr. and Mrs. Pepper were very careful accumulaters. They worked together to this end always, never designedly parting with any portion of their gains for private enjoyment, nor willingly for any public good. Their dwelling house much resembled in point of age, color, and true value -- the poor-house itself. Within, however, it must be confessed, the very miserly disposition of its occupants, led them to scrub the walls, and air the rooms, and preserve them from decay. Mrs. Pepper thought little or nothing of scrubbing skin from her fingers, and of deadening the tender sensibility of hands and limbs in the service of a drudge at all work. It was nothing worth to wear out herself if thereby she saved a penny, and put a little in the background the tormenting vision of future poverty.

The roof of their old mansion was patched up here and there, that it might not leak a drop! Dampness on the roof was bad enough; but in the chambers -- lo! the poor-house. The house boasted a front door, but it seldom swung on its hinges, as the other entrance on the east end of the dwelling was the more convenient to the kitchen, and it was there the worthy couple passed most of their hours when together. But it had no front fence. That were an idle expense, both to make and keep it in repair -- especially, also, as neither shrub nor flower grew and thrived under the eaves. It was a low, dark, dingy looking house, cheerless, forbidding, uncomfortable. True, man and woman tenanted it -- a married pair sworn to love and helpfulness; but there also was apprehension, selfishness, worldly care, and shudderings over a possible future -- a certain seeming assurance of the dark and gloomy days of want. This it was that ruled out love, happiness, and peace from their home; that blasted their old age, and transformed every blessing into a curse. Omens of the future; omens of a dark and wretched future; omens of poverty, loomed up in every picture of life, to others pleasing and predicatory of enjoyment.

Mr. Pepper was close with himself to a penny, emphatically cautioning his aged spouse never to buy steaks for dinner above the six cent rounds, and those but once in a fortnight; and Mrs. Pepper begged him to moderate his appetite for steaks, by previous indulgence on herrings two for a cent. Mr. Pepper threatened to sell all his hens if Mrs. Pepper allowed herself to use an egg in cooking pies, puddings, or cake; while Mrs. Pepper administered reproof to her husband for putting twelve eggs under a hen, when it was evident from the brood of chickens that only eleven would hatch, in twelve and a half cent trades, Mr. and Mrs. Pepper seldom failed to appropriate the half cent to themselves. Whenever interest on notes for odd days made the fractional value doubtful, Mr. Pepper reasoned the doubts into assurances in his favor. Both Mr. and Mrs. Pepper had, time and again, proved to their perfect conviction, by numerical calculations, the absolute wasting of their fortune in a given time, and they grew more and more miserly, mean, and mercenary as they approached the grave -- seeing, hearing, dreaming of nothing so much as the same portentous symbol of their latter end, the poor-house.

Even Christian men and women at the North are much troubled at the idea of future poverty. It requires all their philosophy, and the aid of much prayer, to overcome these apprehensions. They work hard, and save every thing in their power: very frequently is this so, that they may not die in the poor-house, or in poverty.