Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-12-05
From the Columbian Magazine.
THE OLD CLOAK.
by MRS. d.

pray, Mr. Norlon,' exclaimed a lively
lady TO fashionable dressed, handsome
young man, who was standing beside her at
an evening party, pray do you intend TO re.
main an old bachelor all your days ?-Slnce
tinualy expecting TO hear of your marriage,
but here you have been two years, and you
are still. to all appearance, in s,a'u quo, as
the lawyer says
My dear Mrs. Hinton replied the young
gentleman with smile, Il will be frank and
tell you the real reason of my remaining
general admrer of the sex, instead of con-
fning my attention TO any one bright par
ticular STAR however much may be daz-
zled by its briIliancy, | am actually afraid to
marry
'Afraid!' echoed the lady, opening her
dark eyes to their widest extent " it'll aston
ishment. Faint heart Eever won, you know.
Are you afraid to propose!'
mo madam, afraid to marry. You will
laugh at me, dare say, when tell you that
my sea, in church has great deal to do with
my solitary state which seems so much to ex-
cite your surprise
'Why, yes replied Mrs. Hinton, 'one is
always surprised when young man Who
without meaning to faiter you-is certainly
favorite in society, there Mr.. Norton made
her polite bow,) and who has an indepen-
dent fortune. still refrains from choosing one
of the many fair damsnls whom he meets, ia
superintend his establishment. But what in
fuence your sea, 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.. Rgmhcad',
church and the sight of her velvet cloak alb
solutely fightens me from the thoughts Of
marrying wife who may some day say tc
me. My dear, am dying for new veIve
cloak please TO give me two or three hun
dred dollars. and l will go to Stewards and
buy one.' How l should shudder To hear
such request.
Really, Mr.. Norton, this IS too absurd for
one with your fortune to talk in such a man
ner. shall begin to think you Il nicer =
Your wife might dress as exlravagantly as
she chose. and il would not injure you. And
surely you do not object to lady's wearing
velvet cloak =
\ do not object to any thing that is con.
s'stent-but l cannot help thinking splendid
velvet, such as Queen Victoria herself miah
be satisfied with for coronation robe, sadI,
out of piece when it is made into cloak. tC
be worn on almost all occasions; particular,
when it Is well known tina, Miss La Mode
father does not even pay his baker or hi
butcher. If was one of his poor creditor
/ should be tempted 10 take the cloak from
the young lady in the street, and sell il 70
what il would bring
Mrs. Hinton was silent at this speech
Her conscience reproached her, for she kne,
that she had, on tina, day, purchased an ele
CANT new mantle, although her husband ha
requested her to he as economical as possibl
in her expenditures, as he found il difficult
in these trying tunes, to meet all the demand
made upon his purse. She was woman
however. of generous feelings. not as y,
hardened by resisting good impulses and s
secretly resolved to take back the mantle III
next day, and prevail upon the shopman
receive it, since il was not paid for. All tn
passed through her mind with The rapidly
lightning, and she turned round with smi
TO address MIR. Norton, when an over.dres.