Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-10-19

out into a shady garden, where grew a
linden tree, the thick leaf branches Of
which extended TO the very window sill.
81 hope, my dear Mr.. Franklin" said
she as he entered, THAT some unpleasant
news which you wish to communicate to
me, has not caused you to take this walk
at so early an hour"
"By no MEANS" replied Franklin, 81
am merely come to tell you what hap
pened to me last night"
"Then you have a story to tell me,
dear friend" remarked she.
"You shall Judge" returned he. You
remember our conversation last evening,
and how brought forward the strongest
reasons TO induce you no longer to lead a
solitary life, but to marry again"
Good heavens my friend" said the
lady, "what can put that in your head
Do let us talk about something else p
H Z" 1t is impossible" continued he, that
can express the grief which | felt at
your strange determination, to remain
constant to your deceased husband there
is no object in it and it appears to me
to be without any rational grounds"
I cater our conversation of last night,
continued Franklin, i went 10 bed on
my return home, and dreamed that was
dead. Before long found myself in
paradise, where the souls Of the departed
enjoy eternal happiness. The porter at
the gate Of this Eden, asked me whether
| wished TO see any particular persons
among the happy ones, and by way of
reply, told him that he might conduct
me to the philosophers"
/ "There are two Of them Just beside
YOU" replied the porter, "they are very
good neighbors to one another, and much
attached"
"Who may they be 2" ] enquired.
i "Socrates aud Helvetus, was the reply.
81 have very high esteem for them
/ both" said l, I" but introduce me first TO
/ IIeIvetns, because can speak French,
while don't understand one word OF
/ Creek.
/, uelvetus received me in the most
friendly manner, and made the usual in
quires about peace and war: about the
present state Of religion about freedom
and the government of France.
Good heavens = exclaimed at length
don't you make one single inquiry about
your old faithful friend and iife's compan.
ION, Madame Helvetus and yet she loves
you Just as tendery as ever. 1t is scarce.
ly an hour since was with her, and | am
convinced that the love and devotion
which she felt for you during yor life, is
still undated
'Ah,' returned he, you are speaking
Of my former happiness, but that one must
forget, if one would be happy here For
many years could think about nothing
but her, but at length | have found con
ISOLATION. have married another wife
and it would not have been possible for
me TO have found another which more
resembled my first wife than the one
have chosen. She is, i. is true, not quite
so beautiful as my former one, but she
is possessed Of as much feeling, and she
loves me inexpressibly. She only thln"s
of how she can give me pleasure, ant
make happy. fyou will stop minute
+ or two with me, you can see her
y can see, very well, sir remarked |
that your first wife is very much more
constant than you are the best and mos
advantageous offers have been made L
her, but she has refused them all. con
fess to you that even have made foo
of myself so much have loved her, bu
she remains as hard as stone, and has
refused me out of love to you
Il really am truly sorry for you replied
: he, but she was indeed AN exccllen, ant
most amiable lady As he spake thes
words, up came the new Madame Helye
, tus, and recognized IN her guess who
No other than Mrs. Franklin, my old
faithful American wife l demande
her back as belonging to me, upon whc
she replied in a rather cold manner. tina
she had been for forty years and fou
months, nearly half century, my wife
and with that must content myself, to
= that here she had knit new bon
which would endure forever Yer
much annoyed to be so cavalierly reJec
ed by my deceased wife, | determined
leave the ungrateful shade on the spot
al Il WISuCu W IClulH W ou' pi"HSt "'' wv
at the sun and you--. Let us TAX
> revenge
i But this revenge was not according t
the notion of Madame Hevetus, wh
had long since taken her resolution, otl
= erwise it would have been very dlillcu
= to reject so honorable an offer, from
, man whose name was renowned IN tw
hemispheres. Sitting at the open vii
;, dow opposite to Franklin, she could NJ
hear him thus speaking joyfully and opeI
> .ly to her, without emotion, aud she kne
how full to value the esteem and the uu
$ friendship of which, by his offer he ha
! given the most ineligible proof 1t WI
), not for one momen, to be thought o
that Franklin had made himself rldlc,
: ous he was no old enamoured'iool, b'
one OF the wisest men of the age, VIII
. was only guided 10y his sincere belle
IIthat under all circumstances uf life, I
= increase our happiness, and to sweete
" and soften those difficulties and suIle
: ings which we cannot avoid.
;. On the previous evening Franklin ha