Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-11-01
NIxSUDL ANY.
yRpM THE Hrw-roRK MInRcs.
THE TWO WIDOWED LADIES,
Or-WHICH rs BEST?

Of-WALCA fo 0EoL
On an emincnce that commands the
whole OF the surrounding county stands
II had almost sald sidres--a large,
square, brick mansion, 10 tiie formal sty 10
o! the beginning Of the last century,
bringing TO mind none Of those refined
associations which the sight oI an elegant
modern residence creates, nor any OF
those retrospections of omance and chr
vaIry which 9 lance at Gothic arches snd
embailed towers Immediately awakcns.
What blot on the beautiful landscape
are It's four everlasting red fronts. facing
due north east south, and west; they
meet the eye in whatever direction Que
walks, or drives, and are just as an ugly
face in a crowd, which catches one 5
notice from iis conspicuous deiormlty, IN
spite OF every effort to avoid II. Gay aud
lowering slrubs seem to wither within
the preclucis Of Mount House; sumner
aud winter il wears The same unvaryiDg
aspect, It's dark plantations of iirs shade
1t from year TO year, dressed in the same
unchanging liveries; as for tho fcathery
larch il refuses TO sport It's elcgan, foliage
in such duh com ?any: yet here
"Tho sad but living cypress gooms
"And wthers not, though branch and leaf
"Are stamped with an e!ornal grief.'
Indeed, this tree, of which there are sew
eral remarkable specimens, is 4 favOurlte
with tho lady OF the mansion, quite cOn-
genial with the sOinbre cast Oi her char
acter. 'Come and see my expresses, is
an invitation which she gives only to her
most particular friends. She is widow
af large fortune, wr1h family OF two
daughters, and an only son, strict in her
duties, the very pink Of charity, a conlri-
butor to every subscription from one pen
ny upwards to five hundred pounds, a
supporter of popular education, leaving
the use OF the pen out of tho question,
which she holds to be q dangerous weap-
on 10 the hands of the inferior orders,
and a patroness Of modest merit, as Civ
ing moaoy can be called patronage:-in
snort, she is, to spsak IN fashionable
phrase, ga most excellent woman
most potent, grave and excellent -
How MANY are there among hor depen-
doths, who long to unload themselves Of
the Insuilerable burden which her favors
have imposed upon them And among
those who have offended her by dere-
iiction from the exact path which she
has pointed out, how few there are who
repent them of the evil Of their wsys,
prolanely rejoicing in their ill-iortune,
counting IL n De iyerancep
l know little of the tenor Of Mrs.
Mopeton's matrimonial life but if ono
may judge from the deep sigh she draws
whenever any allnsion is made to the
memory Of her late husband, her widow
ed situation - a matter Of unceasing re-
grst. To be sure there are people 30
ill-natured as to assert, that he died OF
u nervous fever which was brought on
by the monotony Of Mount House, and
by the melancholy picture of care aud
sorrow which his good lad y constantly
presented In her own person-for Mr..
Mopeton was of remarkably lively
emperameni-bu who can believe such
| scandal Of most excellent woman ~
II Is said, that Mrs. Mopeton, who was
an heiress, aud did not change her name
on her marriage, was never known to
smile, except during the twelve months
Of courship that preceded her union
with this very poor, but well descended
gentleman &; during these twelve little
| monihs," tina! fairy time which changes
the most unhindly nature, and brighiens
up the duilest hearr, the lady was cheer
ful, almost gay. In her childhood, she
was 40 continually silent and serious
that she was taken for a paragon Of wis
Minerals symbol, the owl and other
dull creatures who have obtained the
fame Of superior intelligence, sho gave
no proofs to the contrary. However
a lover came, aud sighed, and Miss
Mopeton was happy for the first time ii,
her young life. ......r.
| $50 Mstha smiled, and .iill she would have smiled
| Had h bat iaried,
| "Bd hsdhs played the oo and mar led"
tor courtship il n brief season, and must
end either IN cul or wedding; and
Mr.. d. Arcy at last 'wrung from her a
slow leave To name the day for their
| nuptuals. Malrimony brought its cares
and IT'S crosses, with that insight into the
flat realities of life TO which we must
ALL rich and poor, condescend to be in
iroduced at some period Of our lives.
Mr.. Mopeton found the wife quite a
different person from the mistress, and
after u seven years sacrifice Of health
aud inclination, made his exit, and left
his widow sole possessor and directress
of Mount House and its solemnities.
Now to have something to greve about
was exactly what Mrs. Mopeton wanted;
and she remains at this time just as in