Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-07-07
From the Boston GALAXY.
THE. TWO WIVES.


afternoon, as we were standing by the corner
of the street, and dreaming of sleigh bells ana
warm brown hearths. Ere you can Teacn
your house, continued, he, "the storm VIII
hurst forth. Come then, go home with me-
You have heard of my Maria-a paragon OF
women,-the best Of wives-.aHons l-fo
shall see how she will receive her husbands
friend"
Alonzo had mentioned his wife to me before,
and although there was nothing particularly
engaging in the description, yet one that you
often hear Of you feel some curiosity to See
As we hied towards the mansion which my
friend rented, we met our mutual friend Dag
get. He too had a wife, and straightway,
when we had passed, did Alonzo fall to COM
msserating the fate of his friend Dagget.
ga wife he has, indeed" said Alonzo, "but
no more like mine, than-comparison aches with
impotency at the thought! Why, she hath
not the heart of woman, which is, or ought to
be, all sensibility. MY friend Dagget is a fell
low of mind-of genius-but unhappily he is
united to woman who cannot appreciate him,
and who is a complete nobody. But here is
mn house. Enter and see what woman can
be-"
AS Alonzo pronounced these words, the door
flew open, glanced at the staircase, and saw
that broom had not passed over it very lately.
The hall lamp was untrimmed, and the brasses
on the doors had not seen rotten stone in ma
ny DAYS. We entered the room. A young la
dy sat by the window, apparently counting her
dangers, for no other occupation seemed to en-
gross her attention. Her dress was good, so
far as the quality of the cloth was concern
ed-but there was a great lack OF neatness
therein, and even the vulgar idea of soap and
water intruded as we looked upon the isthmus
which Joined her head to her shoulders. But
we had not long to make these remarks, as she
arose on our entrance and embraced Alonzo as
if she had not seen him before in a month.
introduced; and Maria gave US TO under
stand, that as the acquaintance and friends of
her Incompatible Aonzo, we were abundanty
welcome.
Having stumbled over broom and handbook,
which lay in elegant negligence in the middle
ofthe floor, we found our way to chair, thick
y covered with dust. II was rather late in the
afternoon, and we were glad to hear Alone
tell her 10 place dinner on table. She replied,
Certainly my Aonzo, nothing gives me more
pleasure than to wait upon you, you know ii is
my meat and drink to obey your wishes.''
Alonzo turned us with a smile of triumph,
as she went slowly from the room, and said,
scan | avoid adoring woman who so readily
executes all my orders. You heard what she
sad!"
We bowed and waited. became extremely
hungry, but in the course of half an hour, we
preaching the room. Snow thought we, shall
break our fast. The raw air gives one ire
mendous appetite"
Maria entered, but instead of bearing in
her hands smoking platter or a table, her
arms were loaded with books and pictures. -
We now expected that Aonzo would seriously
chde, but he again glanced at US most trium-
phantly, and whispered, "see what it is to have
all intellectual wifep'
Wa laJ ~,
volumes, and listen to the remarks of the en-
lghtened Maria. The sun had declined very
near the naked tree on the western hill, before
the subject of dinner was again mentioned
when Alonzo seemed to start from trance,
and rather hastily requested that dinner
might be brought Immediately.
The harsh tunes Of his voice brought tears
into the eyes Of Maria, why threw her arms a.
bout his neck, and declared that she could NOT
live if he was offended with her. This was all
very interesting, of course, and as the affecting |
interview lasted some time, it seemed to give |
us better appetite for dinner. After Alonzo |
had soothed his beloved, and dried her tears, !
he discovered that his rufiles had suffered much
from the embrace, and gently limited that he |
should like to put them off, and new equip his |
neck and bosom.
elbow unfortunately!' cried she, "they have
not yet come from the washer woman's %
"But Maria, my dear, you can send for
them"
'They are but just gone,'' answered she
pulling up the heel of her shoe, to hide hole
in the stocking"
"Why Maria! how many times have re-
quested you to have change of linen always
on hand?"
81 know it," said she, paintivey, ealas! |
am always making those unhappy whom
love!''
y''Don't YaaAI dear Maria," began Alonzo.
eli&m ;" looking at our watch, aud
moving towarb The door-"we have an APP
pointment, and
"Surely," cried Alonzo, "not before dinner
hurry, Maria, and have it on the table"
Mara was gone quarter of an hour,
when she came in with platter of meat,
which she carried so dainily, Just touching
1t with the tip of her fingers, that it sipped
from her grasp-the dish was broken to frae
ments, and the meat rolled upon the carpet
Alonzo broke forth in violent passion, and
accidently set foot upon the grease when he
came tumbling to the floor. His wife scream
ed and chung to his neck, demanding if he
was hurt, and we forthwith took our depar-
ture.
Hungry, cold and weary, we passed swift
~ along the streets. Evening had set in, and
we saw bright cheerful light shining thro' the
nlinds oil neat dwelling on the other side of
the street.-Daggets voice was the next mo-
ment heard. He stood on the stems of his !
house, and invited us to walk in. We did SO.
His wife received us without much ceremony.
Tor she was busted about household affairs.
she asked US If we had supped, and when we
tod her we had not yet dined, she moved out
OF inc room as noiseless as spirit, and as quick
as lightning.
we scarcely had time to mark her neatly