Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-05-01
By NIasser g. Eisely.
A Matrimonial Adventure Of
GOV. WENTWORTH.

The Knickerbocker for April has
been published for some time. 1t con-
tains much agreeable matter, a sample
of which we subjoin. 1t is an anecdote
of Governor Wentworth, the last of the
Colonial Governors of New Hampshire,
and is still related by the aged people of
the neighborhood in which he lived:
"1e had, it seems, married very
pretty little girl, some thirty years his
junior, who, like most young wives,
was fond of gaiety, and liked better TO
pass the evening in strolling through the
woods by moonlight, or in dancing at
some merry-making, than in the arms
of her gray>haired husband. Never
theless, although she kept late hours,
she was in every other respect an cx-
emplary wife. The governor, who was
quiet, sober parsonage, and careful Of
his health, preferred going to bed early,
and rising before the sun, 10 inhale the
cool breeze of the morning; and as the
lady seldom came home till midnight,
he was not very well pleased at being
disturbed at her late hours. AT length,
after repeated expostulations, his pa
tience was completely exhausted, and
he frankly told her that he could bear
it no longer, and that if she did not re-
turn home in future before twelve o.
clock, she should not be admitted to the
house.
"The lady laughed at her spouse, as
pretty ladies are wont 10 do in such ca
ses; and, on the very next occasion of
merry-making, she did not return till
past two in the morning. The gover>
nor heard the carriage drive to the door,
and the ponderous clang for admittancc;
but he did not stir. The lady then bade
her servant try the windows; but this
the governor had forseen; they were
all secured. Determined not to be out
generated, she alighted from the car>
riage, and drawing heavy key from
her pocket, sent it ringing through the
window into the very chamber of her
good man. This answered the purpose.
Presently night-capped head peered
from the window, and demanded the
cause of the disturbance. ''Let me into
the house, Sir!" sharply demanded the
wife. The governor was immoveable,
and very ungallantly declared she
should remain without all nj ght, The
fair cnlprit coaxed, entreated, expostu>
lated, and threatened; but it was all in
vain. At length becoming frantic at
his imperturable obstinacy, she declared
that unless she was admitted at once,
she would throw herself into the lake,
and he might console himself with the
reflection that he was the cause Of her
death. The governor begged she
would do so if it would afford her any
pleasure and shutting the window, he
retired again TO bed.
"The governess now instructed her
servants to run swiftly to the water, as
if in pursuit of her, and to throw large
stone over the bank, screaming as if in
terror, at the moment of doing it, while
she would remain concealed behind the
door. The good governor, notwith
standing all his decision and noncha'
lance, was not quite at ease when he
heard his wife express her determine
) ton. Listening, therefore, very atten
lively, he heard the rush to the water
side--the expostulations of the servants
the plunge and the screams; and know
ing his wife to be very rash, in her mo
ments Of vexation, and really loving he
most tenderly, he no longer doubted tn
: reality.
"'Good God is it possible y said he
, and springing from his bed, he ran t
r the door with nothing about him but saw
!, his robe de mutt, and crying out 'sav
4 her, you rascals leap in, and say
:, your mistress made for the lake. !
r the mean time his wife fastened ir
y doors, locked and made all fast, an
c shortly afterward appeared at the VIII
!. dow, from which her husband had az
II dressed her. The governor discovere
4 the ruse, but il was too late; and
n became in his turn the expostulator.
- was all in vain, however; the fair Lao
r. bade him pleasant good night, al
is shutting the window, retired TO bed, lie
Or wing the little man to shift for himse
W as he best might, until morning. VIII
e, ther the governor iorgave his fair lad
m tradition does not say; but it is reaso
&c able to presume that he never again
be terfered with the hours she mig
e- choose to keep"
"
SHORT DrALoeuK.-"Well, fris' ,dT
is said and DONE do really ".lisv-. ,h,, Lish,
lc- investigation of the cs- .,