The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-04-17
From the Columbian Magazine for April.
Che OLD CLOAK.

I'LL evening pdflN. pray 40 you inleuu 10 re-
main an old bachelor all your daysl Since
your return from Europe, have been contin-
ually expecting to hear of your marriage, but
here you have been two years, and you are
still, to all appearance, in statu quo,' as the
LAWYERS say"
My dear Mrs. Hinton replied the young
gentleman, with a smile, i will be frank, and
tell you the real reason of my remaining a
general admirer of the sex, instead of cOnfin-
ing my attentions to any one bright particu-
lar STAR however much | may be dazzled
by its brilliancy. am actually afraid TO mar
ry.'
Afraid . echoed the lady. opening her dark
eyes TO their widest extent with establishment.
Faint heart never won, you know. Are you
afraid 10 propose!'
No, madam, afraid to marry. You will
laugh at me, dare say, when | tell YOU that
my seat in church has great deal to do with
my solitary state. which seems so much TO
excite your surprise
why, yes replied Mrs. Hinton. one is
always surprised when young man who
without meaning TO fiatter yOu-is certainly a
favorite in society, there Mr.. Norton made
her polite bowl and who has an independ-
ent fortune, still refraiDs from choosing one
of the many fair damsels whom he meets, 10
superintend his establishment. But what in
fiuence your seat in church can have upon
the matter. | am at loss TO imagine"
You must know, then, that sit Just be-
hind Miss La Mode, in DR.. Righthead's
church, and The sig hit of her velvet cloak alb
solutely frightens me from the thought Of
marrying wife who may some day say to
me. My dear, am dying for new velvet
cloak; please to give me TWO or three hun
bred dollars. and will 90 to Stewards and
buy one.' How l should shudder 10 hear
such requst."
Really, Mr.. Norton, this is too absurd for
you, with your fortune, TO talk in such man
ner. shall begin to think you a miser.-
Your wife might dress as eXtravagantly as
she chose. and it would not injure you, And
surely you do not object TO lady's wearing
a velvet cloak 7
i do not object TO any thing that is consist
ent. but | cannot help thinking splendid vel
vet, such as Queen Victoria herself might be
satisfied with, for a coronation robe, sadly
out of place when it is made into a cloak, to
be worn on almost all occasions; particular
ly when il is well known that Miss La Modes
father does not even pay his baker or his
butcher. If l were one Of his poor creditors,
should be tempted to take the cloak from
the young lady, in the street, and sell it for
what it would bring
Mrs Hinton sat silent at this speech. Her
conscience reproached her, for she knew that
she had, on that day, purchased an elegant
new mantle, although her husband had re-
quested her TO be as economical as possible
in her expenditures, as he found it difficult,
in those trying times, TO meet all the demands
made upon his purse. She was woman, how
ever, of generous feelings. as yet unharden-
ed by resisting good impulses, and she secret
" resolved to take back the mantle the next,
day, and prevail upon the shopman TO receive
it, since il was not yet paid for. All this
passed through her mind with the rapidity of
tightening, and turning round with smile TO
address Mr.. Norton. when an over-dressed
young lady, who had been sitting, an inter-
ested listener in the conversation, interpos-
ed.
If Mr.. Norton wants an economical wife,
she said, i would recommend him to offer
himself to Emily HARDWOOD. l think she will
suit him exactly, for she has worn an old
cloak all winter, with no alteration-One that
she has had two years, at least, to my knowl-
edge
| Mr.. Norton looked at the speaker, and the
unamiable expression of her cOunfenance
sunk her in his estimation forever, although
he had hitherto regarded her as very pretty
and interesting. and had sometimes even
thought it almost possible 10 love Caroline
Howard well enough 10 marry her, if he could
only hope 10 cure her of the passion for dress
which she displayed. But this remark seal
ed her fate, as far as he was concerned, and
turning TO Mrs. Hinton, he asked
Who is Emily Harwoodl Are YOU ac-
quainted with herr should really like to be
introduced to young lady who has moral
courage enough TO wear an questionable
garment, after having worn it already two
winters; she must possess more than COM
mon character
Il will introduce you with pleasure said
Mrs. Hinton. she is sweet girl and a
great favorite of mine. confess have my
self been surprised at the pIainness of her
dress. this winter, for her father is considered
wealthy, and she is the only one of his daugh-
tiers of an age TO 60 into society. That is
she, in the simple white frock, and that is
her mother by her side
Mr.. Norton was charmed to perceive that
it was young lady, by her singularly mod
est and unpretending appearance, had attrac-
ted his attention in the early part of the eve
ming. He had intended to inquire her name,
bur lost sight of her in the crowd, and sup
posed that she had retired. She received
him with an easy, graceful air, and after a
few moments passed in conversation, he
thought her positively beautiful. so intelli
gent was the expression of her dark blue
eyes, and so beaming the smile with which
she listened to his lively remarks. He was
also very much pleased with Mrs Harwood,
who did not leave to her daughter the whole
I burden of the conversation. as some mothers
are apt to do, contenting themselves with be-
| ing mere spectators.
When Mr.. Norton laid his head upon the
pillow, that night, it was long before he could
compose his mind to sleep, so much was he
disturbed by the vision of a pair of blue eyes
which danced before him, not to mention darn
rinslets and old cloaks, which mingled to-
gether in strange confusion. He began tt
think he had at last found the object he hat
been SO long seeking, and resolving that HI
would call the next day at Mr.. Harwood's, a
last resigned himseifto repose.
The next morning. Mrs. Hinton, in pursu
, ance of the wise resolution she had made, at