Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-10-21

Once he was the gayest, happiest ieiioW
in the whole circle of my acquaintance.
Elegantly equipped with white hat,
fashionable green coat with shining
steel buttons, striped pointed waistcoat,
long, puckered, scolloped pantaloons,
from which the brightest polished boots
gracefully introduced themselves to the
notice Of the public, he moved, the de-
Hight of the women, the envy of the
men, and the admiration OF all. But
now, oh heavens, what contrast! /
scarcely believed il to be him. His
dusty clothes, long beard, and disorder
ed ru1le, made me doubt the reality of
what beheld. Had you seen me, gem
tie reader, like monument of astonish-
ment firmly fixed to the spot, am fear
full you would have applied to me the
couplet of the poet,
"And 50 the Prince Of Denmark stared.
"When 6rsi his fathers ghost appeared"
As soon as | had in part recovered
from my surprise, advanced towards
him, and taking his hand, gave utterance
the following sentence:
"Why, Jim, my old friend, how de-do3
have not seen you for an age--but how
you are alteredn
"Altered. you may well say that. |
am sick, very sick-and have known
little else than affection this many and
many long day. o. | am weary of this
world, for am wretched, miserable,
unfortunate creature~
Scan it be possible' ! thought when
last saw you, that you were on the eve
of marriage" Jenny groaned,) "and
that you promised yourself eternal hap
piness in union with the lovely Emily"
Jenny looked really CHASTITY as the
name of Emily fell from my lips, and |
could not avoid inquiring whether she
was dead?o
Jenny deeply sighed, and supposed
| had really conjectured the cause of
his dependency.
"Well, we must all die; the tomb, "a
las. is the only resting place, and in
little while we shall all occupy it," said
|, endeavoring to console him, "but we
must bear our sorrows as becomes us.
Your Emily, no doubt, is now with the
angels
II wish she was,n interrupted Jenny.
"No, you are not acquainted with the
cause of MY misery-you cannot guess
at it that's not the cause"
what then can it be-" inquired /
'haye you failed in your business, or is
tie consumption, like concealed enc.
my, gnawing slowly and steadily upon
your constitutions"
"No--no-now
"Have you lost any dear relation or
friend'
so. no!n
"Well, what, in the name of wonder,
ails you"
{" he worst of all afiictons-Emily,
her whom | described so fervently that
your young heart caught the glow of
affection for her-her whom ! once so
tenderly loved and dotted on that an
gel, as | called her, has become very
| - deviln
started with surprise, as he gave ut
terance to the foregoing sentence, for
had never known any being, as the
musicians say, $50 suddenly change his
tune.o
"She does nothing but storm, and
scold, and fret, from the rising to the
setting of the san; and she leads me the
life of dog. She has bruised my spi-
rits, scratched my face, scalded my
limbs, pulled my hair, and almost bro
ken my heart. o, dear--dear men'
why do you endure this treatment?
All young ladies do not abuse their To-
Ivers so, and you do wrong to indulge
her in such mischief-let her go her
ways, and do you turn your attention to
some fair maiden more worthy of your
hand and heart. Plague on all such in
constant things, | say-they are not
worthy of our thoughts, much less our
isighs Let her go-think no more about
her. Go with me, and | will introduce
you to some young ladies' that will
make your heart throb, my bow"
Jenny interrupted me with Il CAN'T
and deep sigh succeeded.
",nd why, pray"
u am"-here Jenny nearly choked,
and paused.
What" anxiously inquired |.
"Marred y said he. -
"Marriedl To whomP"
| Another sigh ITO Emily"
A groan, the deepest, the longest, the
most heart-reading | ever heard, follow
Cd thir do cIn rntion. rnl l. rx..,a. ,hnnnt