Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-03-25
CHI A PIT e R II.

The conversation recorded above passed
between gentleman on the autumnal side
of fifty, but still possessed of hale person
and distinguished bearing, and, spite of a
taste of the vixen in her kindling eye, and
rather more than taste of it in her nimble
tongue, a remarkably pretty women of about
five and twenty.
Lady Methusalah Rust exchanged her
maiden for her present name more at the
instigation of her friends than from the warm
promptings of her own heart
The disparity Of years between the par
ties was in her prudent mothers opinion am
ply compensated by the very handsome for
tune possessed by Sir Methusalah Rust. If
he was old, so was his baronetcy; so were
the title-deeds Of his estate, the timber upon
it, and even the very wine in his cellars
He had it in his power to dover a wife
eligibly and provide for scampish younger
sons and cousins to the tenth generation.
Besides all this, Sir Methusalah was en-
phatically scholar and gentleman pos
sessing the esteem of his equals and the love
and respect of his tenants and dependents.
The proverb, which in rather forcible lam
guage hints at the probability of persons of
precarious means, suddenly indulging in e.
questrian exercises, ending their career in
very exceptionable society, is daily and hour
ly borne out with various notifications.
Lady Methusalah Rust was one of its illus
tratlons; the possession of wealth to an a.
mount she never expected rendered her reck-
lessly extravagant, and the expenses of her
first season in town had been so profuse that
Sir Methusalah resolved upon a soourn at
his country seat, and consequent retrench-
ment an arrangement by no means in ac-
cordance with the tastes and wishes of his
dashing and ambitious young wife.
No stone was left unturned to induce him
to alter his determination caresses, promi-
ses of prudence, entreaties, and finally peev-
ish complaints and unceasing worrying had
been tried iii vain their only effect was to
produce corresponding degree of ll-tem-
per, and at times actual Immature in the
bosoms of the husband and wife; the one
frequently twitting the other with disparity
of years, and receiving for answer provoking
illusions to former poverty; all the excel
lent qualities on either side were overlooked
and they were fast paving the way to flu
ture of disquiet, mutual disgust and unhap.
piness.
Sir Methusalah began to look upon his
former fondness as folly, and Lady Rus,
merged all the blessings of her really eligi
BILE situation in the absurd fancy that wealth
title, attention, affection and position were
bad exchanges for former privations ant
treedom and if the truth must be told, eacl
looked upon the other, not as helpmatC
and friend, but rather as a clog or incum
brance. My lady at times wondering how
she should look in weeds" and almost fear
ing Sir Methusalah would be unpleasant e
nough to emulate his ancient namesake
while that worthy more than one cast hi
eyes on the hatchment exhibited over tn,
portals of widowed squire, and though
such an emblem on his own mansion, beto
kening the same bereavement, would scarce
ly break his heart