Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-04-23
MISCELLANY.
THE WEDDING AND THE FUNERAL.
BY MRS. HALE.

BYMRS. HALE.
There was a great hustle in the vii
lace Of B when James Murray,
Esq. was married to Lucy Marsh.-
Weddings arc always, especially by
! the ladies, considered important occa.
sions, and the marriage of a rich and
distinguished young man with the most
beautiful and amiable girl the country
could boast, afforded matter of descrip-
ton for many a tea party, and specu-
laton for many fire side. "They
tell me the furnishing Of the house
cost James all Of three thousand dol
lars" said Mrs. Colvin, 81 wonder
what his father, poor man, would say,
were he living to see such extravaganza
and wasten'
"Waste do you call it?' said Miss
Lucrctia Crane, elcvating her long
neck as she gave her head a most SUI
perciliou. toss" Why, it is nothing
more than is necessary, if one intends
living genteelIy in the country, they
would hardly call it decent in Boston.
The only thing ti,at gives me any I'M
easiness, is, that Lucy will not UNDER
stand how to arrange her furniture and
order her table in good style. A great
deal depends on being accustomed to
such things-and though Lucy has
had a tolcrab,y good education, she is
not highly accomplished, and has new
or had her taste improved by mingling
among fashionable society. And her
parents were so poor she could not
learn much at home"
"Shc learned TO work." observed
Mr.. Colvin, dryly-" and that, allow
me to say, Miss Crane, if not a high
accomplishment, is an indispensable
one for every American lady. 1t is
true, the wife Of James Murray ap-
pears to be placed above the necessi-
ty Of exertion; but sudden changes of
property arc more common among
men of his vocation than any other;
indeed, changes in every station frc-
quently occur, and that parent who
does not accustom his children to re-
fleet on probability ola reverse, and,
to the best of his ability, qualify them
to support it, is, in my opinion, not
only weak but cruel. Lucy is not,
fear, in spirit, very we'll calculated to
bear misfortuncs-shc is too tender
and confding-but she has always
been an Industrious girl"
"It might have been better for her
to have kept to her needle, and mar
ricd John Russell, as | am well con-
vinccd she was once engaged to do"
replied Miss LucretIa, with that kind
Of laugh which bctrays both envy of a
rival, and exultation at the prospect
of seeing her mortified -" ! have been
told"- she continued in low but ca
ger whisper, 81 have heard that James
does not always conduct like the gen.
tleman he pretends to be-"
ave should be cautious Of trusting
reports affecting the character Of oul
neighbors," said Mrs. Colvin, forget.
ting that she had began the scrutiny
by taxing James with extravagance.-
"James is generous, intelligent and
agreeable gentleman, and his talents
do honor to our village. What did
you ever hear to his disadvantage"
go they do say he has been known
to take little too much-at particu.
lar tines when in wild company
AT least my brother heard he did SO
when in college," replied Miss Crane.
at cannot-must not be true," said
Mr.. Colvin hastily" James was pious.
ly brought up-he has had excellent
advantages, and possesses good judg-
ment and a quickness Of penetration
rarely cqualled. He is also ambitious
Of obtaining the confidence of the
people, and the honors Of public Of
flee. He will never yield to that most
brutalizing vice which degrades men,"
81 have good reason for believing
he has been guilty of it," said Lucre.
tia, composedly. "But perhaps there
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