The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-01-21

mead into q mere raput mortuUm. The
darae. leaEing back IN her high arm chair,
regarding the ycoman quite as ruefully, by
the same process of Imagination picking his
sturdy bones and bleaching his ruddy Wis
age TO the complexion of plaster cast.
Their minds travelling in the same direc-
tion, and at an equal rate, arrived together
at the same reflection but the farmer was
the first to give it utterance: Thee'd be
miss'd dame, if thee were to die" The
dame started. Although she had nothing
bat death at that moment before her eyes,
she was far from dreaming Of her own ex
il, and at this rebound of her thoughts a.
gainst herself, she felt as if an extra cold
coffin plate had been suddenly nailed on
her chest recovering, however, from the
first shock, her thoughts flowed into their
old channel, and she restored into the same
spirit: IL wish master, thee may live so long
as T." The farmer, in his own mind, wish
ed to live rather longer; for at the utmost,
he considered that his wife's bill of mortal
ity had but two months to run.
The calculation made him sorrowful;
during the last few months she had con.
suited his appetite; bent to his humour and
dove-tailed her own incinatons into his,
in manner that could never be supplied,
and he thought of her, if not in the language
OF least in the spirit OF the Lady in Lallah
, Roohk-
q never taught bright gazole
TO watch me with its dark black eye,
But when it came to know me we'll;
And love me, it was sure to die!'
His wife, from being at first useful to him
had become agreeable, and at last dear;
and as he contemplated her approaching
fate. he could help thinking out audbly,
"lhat he should be a lonesome man when
she was gone" The dame, this time,
heard the survivorship forboded without
starting; but she marvecd much at what
she thought the infatuation Of doom'd
man. So perfect was the faith in the in
fallbilty of st. Mark, that she had even
seen the symptoms of mortal disease, as
palpable as plague spots, on the devoted
woman. Giving his body up, therefore,
for lost, n strong sense of duty persuaded
her, that it was imperative on her as q
christian, to warn the unsuspectlng farmer
of his dissolution. Accordingly, with a
solomnity adapted to the subject, tender
ness of recent growth, and a memenfO nI0ri
face she broachcd the matter in the follow
inc question: --"Mastcr, how bee'st?' AS
hearty, dame, as n buck, the dame shook
her head,--'ond | wish thee like, at
which he shook his head himself A dead
silence ensucd--the farmer was as unpre-
pared as ever. There is Il great fancy
for breaking the truth by dropping it gen
tly;an experiment which has never answer
ed any more than with lronstono China.
The dame felt thid, and thinking it better
TO throw the news at her her husband at
once, she told him, in as many words, th at
he was dead man.
twas now the yeoman's turn to be stag.
rered BY parallel course Of reasoning,
he had just wrought himself up to q sim-
lar disclosure, and the danes deathwar-
rant was just ready upon his tongue, when
he met with his own despatch, signod, seal
ed, and delivered.
Concience instantly pointed outthe oracle
from which she had derived tho omen,and
he turned as pale as the. pale Of sociGtv'--
the colonrHss complexion OF late hSurs.
st. Mark had numbered his years, and
tho remainder days seemed discounted by
81. Thomas. Like n criminal cast to die
he doubted if the die was cast, and appeal.
cd to his wifc;--"Thce has watched dame
at the church porch, then SAY, master
'And thee didst see me spiritously? IN the
brown warp, with the boot hose Thee
were coming to the church, by Fairthorn
Gap, in the while l were coming by the
Holly Hedge. For minute the farmer
pnused--but the next, he burst into a fit Of
uncomfortable laughter peal after peal
and each higher than the last accor ding
TO the hystcricsl gamut of the hyena.
The poor woman had but one eXplana.
ton for this phenontanon-sh thonght it q
delirium--a lightning before DEATH and
was beginning to wiring her hands, and
lament, when she was checked by the mer-
ry yeoman;- Dame, thee bee'st fool. II
was myselfthee seed at the church porch
! seed thee too,--with notice to quit up
on thy tace--but thanks to God, thee
bees living and that is moro than cared
to say Of thee this day ten month"
The dame made no answer. Her heart
was too full to speak but throwing her
arms round her husband. she showed that
she shared in his sentiment! and from
that hour, practising careful abstinence
from offence, or n temperate sutferancc
Of its appearance, they became the most
united couple in the country, but, il must
be said, that their comfort was not com
plcte till they had seen each other in safe.
~ over the perilous anniversary of St
Marks Eve"