The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-10-03
The Unlucky Mistake.

Sinclair, bachelor oil about her own age. Coon
afterwards, she unexpectedly into possession Of
large property, bequeathed by distant relative
This good fortune was speedily followed by severe
affection Her husband, in every respect an estma-
BILE man, was taken suddenly Ill and died. Having
near relations Of her own, and those distant being
already sufficiently auent, she came to the deter
minaton TO adopt Of the neces Of her late hus-
band, should either oft them please her. She had
not yet any of his relatives, all of them re-
siding in distant towns. She had, however heard
him express great regard for half brother, whose
name was Harden, which had made her DESTROYS to
obtain some information relative to his famy. As
she was revolving the subject in her mind she recol-
lected that Mr. Sinclair had told her that poor wild
ow by the name Of Mansfield, who procured liveI.
hood by sewing, sister 10 Mr. Harden's first
wife, and her she resolved to call in the hope of
obtaining the information she desired. She put on
her bonnet and shawl land few minutes walk brought
her to the door of Mrs. Mans6eld's humble dwelling
The widow answered her knock, and conducterd her
into small but neat apartment.
al am afraid" said Mrs Mansfield, in answer TO
Mrs Sinclar's enquiries, hat give yon no sat-
isactory information concerning them. My sister
who was Dir Harden's first wife, died in little more
than year after her marriage, leaving an infant
daughter few weeks old, and never have visited
them since. His second wife ha s kew wise a daugh-
ter, but to the merits of either / am wholly in the
DARK
AT this moment little girl, belonging to family
that occupied part Of the same house. entered with
letter in her hand.
al have just been to the post-office of Mrs Nor
rs,'' said she, Sand the postmaster asked me to
bring this letter to you. He said the postage was
paid''
''This must be from one of the Hardens,' said
Mrs Mansfield, by the post-mark. After neglectng
me eighteen years, don't know why they should no.
tce me now''
81 hope it is from one of the young ladies'" said
Mrs Sinclair, "for some people say that you can
Judge of woman's character by her letters"
eyes, il is from Florence, my niece" replied Mrs
Mansfel looking at the signature, and she going
lay the letter aside, but Mrs Sinclair requested her
to read it.
| Her niece informed her that the perusal of some
letters which she wrote to her mother about the time
OF her marriage, which she had recently found while
! overlooking old papers had awakened in her
strong desire to her. that she had, with her
fathers concurrence, written to her for the pur-
| pose of inviting her to spend several weeks with
| them.
"You must certainly accept the invitation" said
Mrs Sinclair, 't will afford you such excellent op
portunity to judge of the young ladies'
''I am afraid shall be biased in favor of Flor
ince.' she replied especially if she should resem-
BILE her mother. confess, however, that have
inclination to make the visit, though Florence
does not intimate that her mother-in law joins in the
| invitation.'' t ...... .
Before Mrs Sinclair took leave, Mrs Mansfield
decided to write, in answer to her nieco's let
ter that she might expect her in two weeks, for
having some sewing on hand which she was obliged
to finish, it would be impossible for her to &c
sooner. t-.. be.
Two days before the one Mrs Mansfield had sci
for her journey, Mrs Sinclair again called on her. 81
have been thinking said she. "that should like to
accompany you your visit to the Hardens If it viii
be agreeable to YOU" 4.s. 4.:
s'lt certainly will be- replied Mrs Mansfeld,-
but should they be apprised of your intended viz
| it?'' .,....f 81. .a. .-.14 gl..
eft would have been proper, but if go with
I you, it is now too late; as they are people o
\ wealth and fashion, it can certainly be no incon
yenence to them receive two visitors ins tead %
! one" H..t 80 ..'..
It was finally arranged. that Mrs Mansfield livet
entirely alone, and would have one TO prepare he
breakfast that she should spend the night previou
to her departure with Mrs Sinclair. Her trunk wa
therefore conveyed to the splendid mansion Of tn
rich widow and placed in the hall, and after carefully
extnguishing tho fire and locking the door she fol
lowed herself The next morning they had just ris
en- from the breakfast table, when Mrs Mansfield, il
running up stairs to procure something she had lef
in the chamber, slipped and sprained her ANGLE. A
first the injury seemed to be but slight, the anc
soon became swollen, and grew painful that sh'
thought she give mp all idea of undertaking tn
proposed journey. Mrs Sinclair said that she woul'
also remain, but against this Mrs Mansfield urged g
many objections that she concluded to go, provided
she would promise to remain at her home where sh