The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-12-09
A Bit of Romance.

some ten years ago, our reader will re-
member, there was what was termed "re-
hellion," in Canada, aud after the 'patriois"
were suhdued, some were sunImarily eXecu-
ted, and n portion bauished for long term
of wears 10 Australia. With one of these OK
paIrinted men, our tale has Chiefly 10 do.
For seven or eight weary yenrs lac had
borne the hardships of lonely captivity,
hopeless of ever seeing home or friends again
when general amnesty was proclaimed 10y
the BRUSH Government in regard TO all-wiih
one or TWO exceptions---of those who had
been concerned in the rebellion, Our hero
was ut liberty, and his first thought was 10
seek his houIe. But he had no money TO pny
his passage there, and accordingly shipped
on bonrd II whaeing vessel, which nj the end
of two years more, landed him upon his Ina
tive shores. ..
Wife, children, friends, filed his thoughts,
and he hnstened OIL TO lis old residence III
Canada. Every thing remained us 1t hnd
been-iien and neighhors greeted him as
they passed along, but now his heart sank
within him TO fnd his homestead deserted,
and to leurn that his wife Ind been married
to another, supposing the husband of her
youth to liz dead. She and her new found
nIaIe had left that part of the country, aud
settled somewhere in Illinois,
The poor man was left desolute indeed
and he determined to see y il possible TO re-
claim llis wife and children. After weary
travel, aud many inquiries, he traced them to
Knox County, Illinois, where they were
comfortably settled in their new home
There he presented himselfa few days since.
The wife could not have been more surpris-
ed or puined at an nppnrtion from the grave
for she had so long considered him dead
The new husband, too, was rather dlsasrecn-
lily surprised to see him II claimant for his
vile. Whit should 10 done? The first
husband was anxious TO obtain the lady The
SECOND was not inclined TO give her up, look
ing upon his claim rs gooIlr
They were reasonable people all around.
Tie originat claimant resIained in the neigh
borhood couple of weeks, during which
time the matter was frankly talked over. Al
last the rivals came to n very just and ration
al conclusion, that the lady was the proper
person to make final DECISION OF the gues-
tim, and TO her il was mutually agreed 10 re-
fer il, giving time 10 consider il and all its
hearings. .... ..-..
VIVA, more perpleXing position could n
woman be placed ilif Here were two men
with almost equal clnims upon her affection.
One was the father of all her children but one
tho companion of her youth; the other
bound to her heart by the near aud sacred ties
and 10y the mutual love they bore an infant
lately born to them. She could not for n
time decide, whit true hearted woman gould?
A tumult ofthoughls aud emotions filed her
heart, alternately sWaying her from side TO
side. Thus The conflict lasted for several
DAYS, during WHICH time she was enabled 10
look clearly into her heart and at last was
ready for decision.
Which could she choose. hut the man ag
round whom the tendrils of n first and strong
affec,ion-to whom she had given the first
offering of her heart. The needle may VI
brate for a lime. hut it points ut last, with I'M
failing copsinucy, 10 The never setting star OF
the north; and in like manner, the heart OF u
true woman, having in the wide universe but
one fitting mate, will ailer alt vicissilus!es,
turn lovingly the warmth Of "tirsi only love. y
A disposition Of the youngest child must
! now lie made, and it was mutually agreed by
the two men. that it could not he del rived OF
mothers care the first SHOULD take II with
the other children, to he restored Mt SONG NJ
ture time. The re-united family now pre-
prepared TO go to new home: and so greu.
was the excitement in the neigiIhorhoot, that
ms many as one hundred and fifty persons
were present to witnes their departure. On
Saturday last they came up in the steamer
Louisiana. on their way 70 Michigan, where
thew will take up their residence. ...,..
I We naturally sympathize with the hrs'
husband, to whom vile and children we're
restored hut who will not feel for the he
reovement ofihe second ?-Chicdgo Tribune.