Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1831-12-02
Frem az .Ne,g Yerh con.ts1ation.
AN uNLUcKY SEAL.

y VI
Be careful always so 10 seal letter, that the wri
ting will not tear out in unsenling il; otherwise We
Try disagreeable mistakes, and even unhappy conse-
|quences may arise. Something of this kind hap
|pened, while ago TO friend of ours. He had
written to relation in the country, and among
other things mentioned that particular friend OF
theirs had committed matrimony. The sheet was
written brim full, and in very small hand and
the wafer, which was a broad one, happened com
pleiey TO cover the word matrimony. In breaking
the seal hastily, alas the matrimony was entirely
rent away; and the imagination of the reader was
left 10 substitute any thing and every thing most
horrible in its room.
Mr.. -- Such one has committed --- what
the word committed was well calculated to
mislead If he had committed--why then it was
Ipretiy plain, he had committed something-either
an act Of violence against himself, or crime a.
lgainst his neighbors either suicide, or homicide9
But surely il could not be the latter. lie well
known to the reader; and the most distant idea OF
murder was at once rejected. 1t must be suicide
lthen--yes, it must be suicide Well, poor fellow
he's gone atlast Many is the Jolly time we've had
together. But what could have induced him to put
an end to his own life? He was honored and res
pected prosperous in business: and counting prot
lty young woman. Aha but have it now: the jade
nnst have Tilted him: that's it, I'll bet twenty dol
lars. Poor fellow! well, I'm sorry he's gone-and
for such cause too. o, woman! woman!"
| So reasoned, and so exclaimed the reader; and
prtting the letter 10 his pocket, went TO inform all
his neighbois that Mr., Such One, in New York
had committed suicide, and all for love. The thing
cad like wild fire, and every body's mouth was
fulhof the of the unfortunate man. II had ey.
en- got into the village printing office. and the devil
was busily Engaged in setting il up-when, TO the
great horror and aslonshnent of all the people, The
suicide appeared among them, accompanied by q
Handsome wife.
| sis that your" exclaimed the man who had re-
ceived the unfortunate letter--his eyes rolling as i
line had seen ghost--s'ii.is that you?''
1 'Indeed it is" said the other good natnrcdly
/. and here's my wife, whom have the pleasure
presenting 10 you!'
1 g Your wife! and You are really--but received
letter not two hours ago stating that you had com
United
F." Mltrimony, suppose"
| "Confound that seal!--But I now sec il all al
clear as day. It's WE'LL however, you came Jus
las you did, for in less than half an hour the prnte
would have circulated all the country that yo,
lad committed suicide At my request he was s,
lohliging as to stop the press, TO announce you
death But Iii go this instant, and change it int
Ia marriage"
Away be went in all haste to the printing office
But the devil had been uncommonly expeditions
the suicide was already set up-the form re.locke,
land several copies struck off, and sent in all hast
TO the post.of6ce. The printer indeed very oblig
lngy stopt the press once more, just to say--sSinc
The above was IN type we are informed that Mr.
- has committed matrimony instead of suicide.
But 1t was now altogether too late. The copie
lseDt abroad had communicated the news 10 otbe
papers; and the married man was decidedly dea,
lone from Maine to Arkansaw, and from Cane Ma
Ito the Lake of the Woods.