Litchfield enquirer., 1834-05-08
THE WIDOW.
BT THOs; HAYNES BAvLKv, Esa.


this a strange avowal-but why? 1t is the
glory of man 10 ayow admiration for the
fairer, and, alas the weaker sex; aud i'll
woman, in bloom Of youth, and pride of
beauty, BIO weak, and dependent on the at
teRtiOus Of manhood, how much more is
she an object of interest and compassion
when, sinking into the vale of years, we
see her deprived Of those who once loved
and protected her, and no longer possessing
the attractions which, while they last, may
win for their fortunate owner friends in
the aged, and lovers in the youngn
l am no longer young myself. and this
may perhaps account for the eccentricity al
my Partially. But let not tho reader i'm
agine that l would marry an old woman
far from it. II is at a res. .ectful distance
thar admire her, and the tender interest
which feel for her is of that nature, that
when look upon her loneliness, herpov-
erty. her fricndlcss conditiop--when,I see.
her as sac IS. and think Of what she may
haze been, spite Of mysei!, my eyes will
Gil with tears.
ani aware that many sensitively senti-
mental persons, who would shed tears over
the unreal distresses. Of an imaginary hero
inc in novel, would ridicule my sympathy
for my old woman; yet cannot but think
that my feelings are excited by a more le-
climate cause than theirs.
have recently lodged in country town,
occupying the first floor Of small house
in the high street; aud over my head, on
the second floor, lives Mrs. Saunders, the
widow Of n captain in the army. When /
took the lodgings was told that should
find them very quiet, for Mrs. Saunders
saw no company, and was "a very regular
genteel old lady, And so found her;
her step was noiseless, and her very cough,
when she had one, was almost inaudible !;
she saw no company; and indeed, excep-
ting when she addressed her maid, seldom
hcardthe sound of her-own voice. Well
might they say that she was regular. 1t is
in a cathedral town than we dwell, and re-
gularly every day in the week she attends
the morning service; twice on every Sum
day is she to be seen in her accustomed
seat; her daily walk, her meals, her outgo-
ings, herincomings, nay her down sitlings,
and her uprsings,' seem regulated by
clock-work As she still wears the widows
inky cloak stiff cap, and deep yelled
bonnet, at first concluded she had but re-
Gently been deprived Of her husband; hut
l afterwards learned that she had been a
lone -womaR' FOE thirty years! She is now
upwards of sixty; aud she was scarce
thirty when he on whom her young heart
had layished all It's alfections-he whom
she had lOged with enthusiasm, hOnOred'
with sincerity and obeyed' implicitly, was
suddenly snaiched from her in the very
flower Of his age. She then thought il im-
possible to survive him-yet, thirty years
have passed since she knelt by his bedside,
with his cold hand in hers; and she still
lives, and may live for years!
There comes to many, time when they
can say with truth, shall never again be
happy But they who speak Of death
as the certain early termination of their
sorrows, little know how long human ma
ture may survive all its fondest hopes, and
all its warmest affections, Like poor old
Mrs. Saunders, we may find them after a
lapse Of thirty years; wi,hered indeed,
aud changed in appearance, but still, like
her, in the garb Of woe or, If that be
thrown aside, still bearing in the widowed
heart the memory Of the past.
| have owned my prediction for OLD
WOMEN; had it not existed, Mrs. Saun-
Fders and would probably have been to
this hour unknown to each other. Besides,
all old women do not unfortunately in
terest me: had tho widow been women
of ringlets and rouge, with bonnet with
pink lining, short petticoats, and shoes
with sandals, should have hated the sound
Of her venerable trip, and should probably
have done every thing in my power TO an
noy her.
But my old woman had none Of these !;
deep was the Grape upon her black bonn
bazine gown, but often deeper were her
signs as she walked slowly down our little
staircase. There was 0 detection in her
manner that interested me and ms watch-
ed her from my bay window walking slow
Iy down the street, thought / never had
seen more sad, nor more respectful
looking old parsonage.
Loving old women as had always low
ed them, this old woman appeared more
loveable than any l had ever seen!
was determined to make her acquain-
lance; but how 10 manage it without an
appearance of impairment intrusion was
not easy: however, though no longer uery
young, was twenty years her junior, and
therefore hoped, that il, by any accident,-
we became on speaking terms, no imputa-
Asrs. n.A.uerw., s..a.~<s n...ll ku anu