The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-11-21
MISCELLANY.
UNCLE DICKS. SECOND LOVE
OR
THE BALM FOR BEREAVED
HEARTS.
All mankind love a lover" EMERSON.

Mr.. Richard Peekman, the subject of thi:
brief notice, was a widower, whose wife had
not been buried more than sixty DAYS. He re-
sided in a remote town in New Hampshire
where he had a snug farm but no children
After the death of his wife, Mr.. Peekman felt
uneasy, and his heart kept putting out its feel
erS for new object to supply the place of the
old one. Uncle Dick as he was usually call
ed at home, was rather a concientious man,
and it often seemed to him to be wrong to
think about a second wife so soon after the
death of the first ono for he loved his wife,
and courted nearly seven years before he mar
ried her. But in spite of all his conscientious
scruples on the subject, he could not keep his
thoughts from dwelling on a second marriage.
1t came into his mind every morning, the mo-
ment he awoke from his slumbers, and surely
he could not help thinking of it every night
when he went to bed. His wife was remark
ably neat and industrious woman, having a
place for every thing, and keeping every
thing in its place. His housekeeper was not
quite so particular. The teakettle would some
times be in one place and then in another
The towel was not always found on the same
nail where his wife was wont to hang it, and
the broom was sometimes on the floor. These
trifes disquieted Uncle Dick, and made him
sigh for another partner who would keep
things in their proper places. His heart was
not easily moved by the taliSman OF love when
he was a young man, for he was nearly forty
before he took a wife but now it seemed to
him that he could fall in love amazingly quick
There was good deal of human nature in all
this; for it is generally easier to fall in love
the second time than it is the first. The
heart somehow gets used to it, and goes into
feet in this, as well as in other matters. I'm
Gle Dick was not so much in fault, after ALL
About two months after the decrase OF
his good wife, Uncle Dick CAME to Boston.
Having finished his harvesting. and done up
his falls work, he thought he would take a
journey TO the city, for he felt very lonely at
home during the long evenings. lie put up
at tavern where his expenses were by no
means extravagant, for he was an economical
man well as a conscientious one. His dress
was very far from being fashionable. although
it was tidy and strong. The cloth of his coat
pants and vest was all of one color, and spun
and wOve at home, from wool that he had
SHARED from the backs of his own sheep The
color was gray. and he fabric not very fine
| lie wore bright buttons on the coat and vest.
| and his hat was bell crowned, and the brm
rather broad. His neck was covered by a rcd
bandanna handkerchief, above which appear
c high shirt collar of decently white cotton
! He WAS now fifty-nne wears of age, but he
was a hale man, and felt not the nfirmitics of
advanced life. The nose was the most promi-
ncnt feature of his face his eyes were rather
small but sharp and sparkling. especially
when he saw a handsome woman His fore
was not high, and his temples were somewhat
sunkcn. Ills eyebrows were much arched and
distinctly pcncilled upon his wrinklcd brow.
The hairs were long and somewhat gray, civ
inc him a venerable appearance, and exhibit
ING, as some might think. good share of intel
lectuai power Long eyebrows however, more
frequently Indicate ace than talent. In addi-
ton TO the physical qualities above enumerat-
ed, Mr.. E.chard Peekman was six feet two
inches tall, and as straight as a candle Hard
work nor age had bent him over lie was not
in danger of apoplexy, for his head was set
upon high neck. out of the reach of such
disease. Such was the outer man of Uncle
| Dick, when he visited the metropolis of the
Bay Stale and such were his internal long
ings.
Every DAY, for more than a week, he might
have been seen, and in fact he was seen.
promenading Washington Street, and close
ly examining the faces of every lady whom
he met. and gazing on their peculiar forms
and motions. He saw more than thousand
women during his promenade whom he could
love, if they would only stop long enough to
be loved. But they passed on, and only cast
glance at his gray suit, and tall straight
form. Sometimes he saw young ladies smile.
ard not unireQuently heard some loud gig
Cling. Their care certain females continual
" in the street. and Uncle Dick formed quite
a street acquaintance with several during his
weeks peregrinarions that is 10 say. he saw
many countenances that looked quite famil-
lar 10 him. He was absolutely asionished
that he saw so many who appeared like old
acquainiances. One afternoon two young
ladies' met him. and ust as they were pass
ing hun, one said to the other, There's long
gray again believe he lives on the side
walk
Uncle Dick distinctly heard what was said
and Immediately turned round with the precise
motion of a grenadier. The girls saw they
had arrested his course and hurried their steps
He stood moment like a statue among living
groups, gazing upon the retreating females
and but fo- moment; for he immediately fol-
lowed IN pursuit. His long legs enabled him
soon TO oyertake the fair offenders, and before
they knew it, he was trcading close upon their
heels. They had not Travelled in this way but
4 few PAGES, before one OF them looked round
and saw the towering form of Uncle Dick d.
rcctly behind her.
"Girls, don't be saucy!' exclaimed uncle
Dick. pointing his long bony finger directly in
TO the eye of the Young lady whose head was
turned round. 1--WE seen girls before came
to Boston, but not such saucy ones as you
are :"
The girls suddenly started from the side
walk upon crossing, and were soon upon the
other side Of the street, leaving the old widow
er wondering at their agility as well as at their
mpertinence. He did not follow them fur
Their, but stood and gazed after them until
they turned eorner and passed from his
sight.
Little saucy jades!" he muttened to him.
self. and resumed his walk. He had not pro-
ceeded far before lie met woman dressed in
black As they passed, they looked at each
other, and went on; but both seemed to have
a common impulse, and turned round to take
10 l. o4Lar The Id,