The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-09-20
Cha Tuu 1a'tuous.
FROM the Democratic Magazine.
BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.

4
The following story. the simple and do
rrsric Incidents of which may be deemed
scarcely worth rsla'ing. after such lapse
or,;me. awakened some degree Of Interest,
hundred years ago, in a principle seaport
# Ike Bay Province. The rainy twilight
Of an autumn day; a parlor on the second
aoor of small house, plainly furnished, as
bssccmiup the middiing circumstances OF
is Inhabitants, vet decorated with little cu>
-iosifl,s from bfvoGd the sea, and few DEL
.cale snccimens of Indian Manufacture,
,besc are the only particulars 10 be rremis
"a !, REGARD 10 scene and season. Two
yonnr nfd comcly women sal together by
The Preside, nursing their mutual and pecu-
Ear sorrows. They were the recent brides
# ,w, brolhcrs. q sailor, and a landsman,
end Two successive dqvs had brought tdings
oflpc death Of each. by the chance of Cana.
dian warfare. ana tctHpestuous Atlantic
The universal 81 m2a,hy excited BY this be-
re. vpment. drew numerous condolIng guests
70 the habiation of TIE widowed sisiers.-
Several. among whom was the minister, had
remained riIl the verge Of evening; when one
br orc. wbisnering many comfortable passag-
rs Of Scric;ure, that were answered by more
abuDdan, tears, they took their leave and
leparicd. tc their own happier homes. The
rp,urnrrs. tho not inSensibe 10 the kindness
Of heir friends. had vearned to be LETT alore
I'D A, they mad been. by the relation
o.. o. Inc living. and now more closely SC
h. IN, Of The dead. each felt as if whatever
CO s,latian her grief admitted, was 20 be
G..n1 in the bosom of the other. They
io;..d lhcir hearts. and wept together
silently. Bet after an hour of such indul-
garcc. one &c the sisters, all OF whose emo
Ii-ns we're ,niluenced bv her mild. quiet. vel
10. fchle character, began 10 recollect the
precep-s Of resignation and endurance
winch pielv had taught her. when she did
aot think to need them. Her mistoriuDes
&. SIDES. IS earliest known, should earliest
p Sc 10 Interfere with her regular course Of
i..,es; accordingly, having paced The table
ere the fire, and arranged a fruga
4aeal. she took the hand Of her coDpan
ION.
Come. dearest sister; you have not
eaten morsel today she said, " Arise
pray you, and let US ask blessing on thai
which is provided for US"
K,r siser-in-law was of lively and IT.
f;tabic temperament, and the first pargs OF
her sorrow bad been expressed by shrek;
and passionate lamentation. She nov
shrunk from Mqry's words, like wounded
sufferer from hand that revives The throb
There is no blessing left for me, neithe
will | ask it." cried Margaret with frest
burst of tears.
Would that it was His will that might
never taste fool more -
Yet she ,rembied at these rebellious ex
pressions, almost as soon as they were ut
tered. and, BY degrees, Mary succeeded ii
bringing her sisters mind nearer 10 the
situation of her own. Time went on. anc
heir usual hour of repose arrived. The
brothers and their brides, entering the mar
ried state with no more Than the slender
means which then sanctioned such step
had confederated themselves in one house
hold, with equal rights 10 the parlor, ant
Claiming exclusive privileges IN two sleep
ing rooms contiguous 10 ii. Thither the
widowed ones retired, after heaping ashe
upon the dying embers ofihe fire, and pla
cling lighted lamp upon the hearth. Th
doors of both chambers were left open. 81
that part of the interior of each, and III
beds with their ENCLOSED curtains, were re
cprocaIly visible. Sleep did not steal uPoI
one and at the same time. Mary experience
ed the effect often consequent upon grie
quietly borne, and soon sink into temporar,
forgstfulness. while Margaret became NOR