Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1829-01-03
MISCELLANY.
Efon, the Philadelphia Album.
TIE c o WIFE.
BY Mia Wimckesfsy.

Phsbe?-it ~ our grandchildren singing
the vesper hymn we taught them. See
how happy they lock as they sit on the
bank OF tho clear silver stream which
flows through the flower garden. They
arc twining garIands Of wild roses TO
place on our wrinkIed brows. Pence and
love are ia their hearts, and purity 10 ok
their thoughts.-Innocent creatures
may che las, days Of your existence be
~ cloudless as the first
This pleasant speech was addressed
| by Stephen Broon,o, an opulent farmer
Of county. to his second wife,
WIN was not, however, much younger
than himself. lie had been great, de-
voted to the companion OF his early lifo,
and slso to al only child, who was un-
fortunate in his MARRIAGE, and died in
his youth, leaving all infant son 10 the
care Of his widowed and boreaved pa
rent.-The little orphan was adopted
into his grandIather's family, soon after
which the old gentlemen married Phebo
Fenton, q maiden lady possessed ofcon-
| siderable fortune, and who had in youth
been celebrated for her beauty. Some
whispered il was in consequence Of an
early disappointment that she lived un-
married; but others boldly asserted that
It was owing TO her pride, which was SO
great that she refused every offer, hop
ing TO obtain "a still better one, until,
not only her beauty began to fade, but
men grew suspicious, and stunned her
a. q vain ~coquette; be this as il may,
she was o%vorjoyed at the age of fifty to
| obtain SO respectable a settlement as
that offered by tho wealthy Stephen
Broome.
Sac was naturally Of a restless, un-
happy temper, and by being idolized in
youth and neglected in nge, she had be-
come psevish and f%retful, and il called
into cxsrtion oil the stoicism of our good
farmer to "pass life pleasantly" with
her.
About two years after their marriage,
q female infant was found one morning
at the door, which was evidently left by
design. All inquiry and search on the
subject proving Intellectual, they adop-
tod it is their own, and it shared the
kindness and attention which had be-
foro boon wholly bestowed on the little
orphan William. She was named Ma
omi. after Naomi Of old, this being the
particular desire of Mrs. Broome.
The little innocent grew to be a bloom
ing and interesting child, and Mrs.
Broome, although she pretended to have
a great objection for her, was solicitous
to have her put to a trade, or by ome
| other means sent out Of the family to re-
side. She urged, as her reason, a fear
that William would become attached 10
her, as they could never consent to his
making a BRIDE of a poor founding.
This was a very perplexing circum-
stance to the noble hearted Stephen
Broomc; yet dceruing it expedient to
avoid family disscnsion as much as pos
sible, he told his wife that little Naomi
should be sent away in due time to pre-
| vent the evil she feared.
The children took great delight in
each others society, and, as their stud
los were pursued together, they were
seldom apart. No sooner was their task
Of learning finished for the day, than
they would issue from the dull c%onine-
ment Of the study loom, to inhale the
pure air Of freedom, and wander among
the flowers, and fruits. and fragrance Of
the beautiful Garth. Frequently after n
long absence they would return covered
WITH garIands of roses and wild flowers,
and then they would strip themselves Of
their fragrant ornaments and hang them
about their grand parents, for such both
the children had been instructed to call
thcm
William had reached the age oftwelvc
anc Naomi ten years, when the words
were uttered, which appear at the COM
mencement Of our tale.
The liule orphans wero sitting on a
green bank surrounded with the first
opening flowers Of spring, aud tuning
their sweet voices to the praise of ma
lures God. Mr.. Browne looked on
| them with all tho admiration Of his doa-
ting fondness; but his wife, who loved
no being On earth except herself, and
was consequently a disconnected crea-
ture, could not endure the sight Of SO
much pure affection and happiness, and
xith a smile that was full Of malice, she
haughtily said:-'You are charmed with
their music, old man, and you te, ch
them to love each other; rely upon il,
they ,ciN lore longer than you may
wish , They cannot love longer replied
tho good Eatured husband, 'for nothing
could please me better than 10 have my
children united in holy marriage as soon
a. they would nrrlvc at a suitable uge;
yet since you ARC so strongly opposed to
the idea, little Naomi shall be sent away,
hrl osnaai ar uifA hoe M pxa.a.l