Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-04-05
THE DEED OF SEPARATION.

Emma Wilmot, q blooming sprightly
young lady Of eighteen. was reading the
newspaper to her mot her and uncle, in The
boudoir Of the former, and had just finished
the account Of an alarming fire in London.
'Uncle,'' i think there are very few sights
that YOU have not seen pray were you
ever present at q tremendous fire ?
yes, Emma replied Maj or Hervey, !
was once present at fire tremendous
enough TO crafty young lady's taste for
horrors; it was the most awful description
of fire because it was the work Of an incen.
djary, and combustlbcs had been laid to
give its progress additional rapidIty. 1t
was not a London fire either, where the
spring of walchman's rattle acts as the
wave Of an enchanler's wand in procuring
engines and assistance from every quarter.
1t took place in retired country situation,
ten miles from any town, and 10 sum up
the horrors, it was at the house Of my
most dear and valued friends
.W,ll you tell me the particulars, uncle?'
eaid Emma; that is if it will not make you
sad TO do so.'
1T will not make me sad, Emma, for that
fire is connected with the most pleas.
unable event in my life, and most happy
am |, for tho sake Of my friends, that it took
place!
Perhaps your friends were poor said
Emma, had insured their house much be
You'd its value, and were glad of the add
lional money
No, Emmo, you are wrong the house
OF my friend was certainly insured. bat the
Snsurance was beneath it's value and they
.s1t' sfia.iry 'aa,7,.ttats- oi use and ornament.
.endeared 10 them by circumstances, and
which no money could replace however,
they found an article more precious than
any they had lost
%, now guess the mystery-they dis
covered a concealed treasure in the ruins
You are at once right and wrong they
certainly gained treasure, or rather they
Tegained II. for they had possessed it once,
and wsntonly cast it away
Now uncle, you speak in rddles-pray
tell me tho story
Msjo Hervey looked at lady Wlmot,
who gave smile and nod Of assent, and
he began his narrative.
about twenty years ago, | went 10 paw
"A visit 10 young married couple, for whom
had sincere regard: they lived in q
beautiful country house, surrounded by
spacious grounds. II was spring the
whole mel hborhood seemed one sheet of
blossom, and The clustering branches of the
lilac and Iaburnum, gave beauty and fra.
GRANGE to my walk through the avenue
leading 10 the residence OF sir Edgar and
lady Falkland They were young, hand
some, wealthy intelligent, and yet my visit
to them was OF melancholy nature. They
did not live happily together. They had
decided on separation, and the purpose
of my journey was to inspect and witness
deed ofseparate maintenance
How very shocking |" said Emma, mo
thing can Justify The separation Of mar.
ried COUPLE
Il do not agree with you there, my dear,
said her uncle; there may be clrcumstan.
ces which justify this painful measure ;
but such were not the circumstances of
my friends; the moral conduct Of each was
unimpea enable, and they were free from
extrsvagance and dissipation but they
were unfortunately too much alike in some
respects where it would have been most
desirable that they should differ; they