The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-01-21
Vol. 81.

takers of snuff. On tho present difference 3,
however, they were satisfied with wishing
each other dead with all their hearts land
there seemed little doubt Of the sincerjs
ty oftho asperaton on looking at their MAJ
lignant iaces,--for they had made horrible
picture in this frame ofmind. Now, il hsp>
pened that this quarrel took place on tho
morning of StMark--a saint who was sup-
posed on that festival to favour his vo,arios
with peep into the Book Of Fate. For 10
was the popular belief in those days, that il
u person should keep watch towards mid
night beside the church, the apparitions os
all those Of the parish who were TO be ta-
ken by death before tho next anniversary
would be seen entering the porch.
The ycoman, like his neighbors, be'iev-
cd most devoutly in this supersti,ion--and
IN the very moment that he breathed tho
unsoemly aspiration aforesaid, il occurred
to him, tho even was at hand, when, by oh-
serving the right of st. Mark. he might
know to n certainty whether this unchric-
tian wish was to be one of those that bear
fruit. Accordingly, little before mid-
night he stole quietly out of tho house, u
IN something OF seXton-hke spirit SO.
| forth on his way to tho church. In tho
mean time the dame called to mind tho
same ceremonial; and having the like mo-
tive for curiosity with her husband, she also
put on her cloak and calash and set out.
though by different path on the same err
rand. The night Of tho saint was as dark
and chill as the mysteries he was to reveal,
the moon throwing but short occasional
glance, as the sluggish Masses of cloud
were driven slowly across her face. Thus
il fell out that our two adventurers wero
quite unconscious of being in company, ill
sudden glimpse of moonlight showed
them to each other, only few yards apart,
both through n natural panic as palo az
ghosts, and both making eagerly towards
the church porch. Much as they had just
wished for this vision, they could not help
quaking and stopping on the spot, as if
turned to pair of tombslones, and in thin
position the dark again threw n sudden
curtain over them, and they disappeared
from each other. Ii will be supposed tho
two came only TO one conclusion. each con-
ceiving that 81. Mark had marked tho 9th.
er to himself With this comfortable
knowledge, tho widow and widower elect
hcd homo again by the roads they came
and as their custom was TO sill apart after
quarrel, they repaired, each ignorant OF
the others excursion,t to separate chambers.
BY and by, being called to supper, instead
of suking as afore,ime, they camo down
together, each being secretly in the best
humor, though mutually suspected Of the
worst, and among other things on the to-
hla ,ha,s w.s ralfs swaeihrnnd. being one or
those very daintios that had often set lhem
together by the ears.
The dame looked and lopgod, but she
rei'ained from its appropriation. thinking
within herself that she could give up
swoeibreads for one years and the farmer
made similar reflection. After pushing
the dish to and fro several times by COM
mon impulse, they divided the treat and
then having supoed they retired amicably
to rest, whereas, until then, they had not
gone TO bed without falling ont. The truth
was, each looked upon the other as being
already in the church yard, mould, or quito
moulded to their wish On the morrow
which happened to be the danes birthday
the farmer was the first to wake, and know-
ing ichai he kneic, and having beside but
just reused himself out Of dream strictly
confrna tory Of the late vigil. he did not
scruplc to salute his wife, and wish her
many happy returns Of the day, the wifa,
ipho kne,0 as much he, very readily wished
him the same, having in truth but just rub
bed out other eyes the pattern ofa widows
bonnet that had been submitted TO her in
her sleep. She took care, however, 10
give the fowls liver at dinner to the DOOM
ed man, considering that when he was
dead and gone, che could have them fsh8
pleased, seven days in the week; and tho
farmer, on his part, took care to help her
10 many tit bits.
Their feeling towards each other was
that ofan impatient host with regard to an
unwelcome gnest, showing scarcely a bar0
civility while in expectation Of his stay, but
verloading him with hospitality when mado
certain Of his departure. this manner
| they went on for some six months, and tho
without any addition Of love between them,
and as much sel6sbness as ever, yet living
IN n subseryieRce to the comforts and incl,
nations Of each other, sometimes not TO DO
| found among couples Of sinceror affoctiong,
There were as many causes for quorrels as
| ever, but every day il became less worth
| while TO quarrel so letting by cones be by
zones, they were Indifferent TO the present,
and though not only ofthc future, consd-
ering each otherf TO adopta common phrasc)
'as good as dead
Ten months woro away, and the farmot's
birth day arrived in its turn. Tho dame
who had passed an uncomfortable night,
dreamt, in truth, that she did not much
like herself in mourning, saluted him as
soon as the day dawned and with a sigh
wished him many happy years to come.
The farmer repaid her in kind, the sigh in
cluded bis own visions had been OF tho
painful sort, for he bad dreumt Of having
The headache, from wearing q black hat
hand. and the mslady still clung to him