Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-02-22
postmortcm Pceps at the Word.

died on August 14th, 1880 and it my readers
will take the trouble to go to the parish churcn Oh
Wilmer ask the sexton for the key, and having pro-
cured admission, walk up the right hand alsie' ne
will see the WALL just the very spot "here
sat regularly every Sunday handsome "hl1e mar "a
BILE monument, representing female hSure III .lie
attitude Of weeping over an urn WITH tle ioiio"Iie
inscription -.,,.
Sacred to the memory OF Htnfom prom, OF
Brownlow Hall, who departed this life on the l4th
of August 1880. The integrity OF his conduct and
the omiabilitv of his temper, endeared him to wide
circle of friends He has left an inconsolable widow:
and bv her this monument is erected"
Bv the above the reader will at once see the posi-
ton held in life, and my earnest endeavor was to
become POPULAR | succeeded in efccting this to q
great degree. but, strangely enough, | was anxious
to witness my popularity after the termination OF my
brief existence unseen, to the tears that would
be shed-unheard to mingle with the mute mourn
ers who would lament my death wanted to Watch
my own weepers, nod at my own plumes, count my
! own mourning coaches, and read with my own eyes
| the Mandatory paragraph that announced my own
demise in the county newspaper: | gained my polnt
i did all this but the means shall never be dlvul-
ged suffice it to say that attained the opect OF my
desires Two peeps was to have at those left be-
| hind income exactly month after my demise, the
second that day ten years. and no" for the result
| of peep the first.
mne) looked dolefu enough, mirth, no guests, no
music, the servants in deep mourning, and hatch
ment over the door. My own wife Cor rather my
relict) perfect picture of misery and mourn
ing, in the fashion. She heaved the sghs, she was
trimmed with the deepest Grape, and wore the deep
est hens that were seen. The depth OF her de-
spondency truly gratifying. Her cap was most
conscientiously hdeous and beneath its folds every
hair upon her head lay hid She was a moving mass
of Grape and bombazine. In her right hand was a
nocket handkerchief, in her left smelling bottle,
and in her eve tear. She closctcd with gen
tleman but it was no rival-nothing to arouse one
Jealous pang of her departed husband. 1t was, IN
fact, marble masonic meeting. She was giving a.
rections about my monument, and putting herSelI
into the attitude of amentation in which she wished
to be (and isl represented she burst INTO torrent
of tears and in scarce arculate accents called tor
! her sainted William" When she came to herself
q little she grumbled somewhat at the extravaganza
of the estimate knocking Off here and there some lit
tie ornamental monumental decoration, bargaining
about my inscription, and cheapening my urn!
walked into the village on the green, the idle
boys were playing cricket they mOurned me not
but what Of that? On dead wall | read "BroWn
for ever" For ever" thought I, :" is long time
to talk about Close to it, saw Mits for ever ~
printed in letters equally large, and much more
fresh. He was my parliamentary successor, and his
politics the my This was cheer
ing my constituents had not deserted my principles
more than that could not expect. The ''Brown"
who. they said was to be their representative for
ever now just dead the wall on which his
namc was stuck. Again | returned to my resting
place under the family pew in the church Of Wilmer.
quite satisfied that at the expiration Of ten years,
should take my second peep at equally gratifying,
though rather softened evidences Of my popularity.
Ten years! What brief period to look back up
on What age in perspective! How little do
dread that which is certain not to befall for ten
years Yet how swiftly to all Of us will ten years
seem to fly What changes, too, will ten years bring
to all Yon schooboy often, with his toys and noise
will be the lover Of twenty The man now in the
prime of life WILL in ten years, Times snow ming
ling with his dark and glossy curls! And they who
are old--the kind the cheerful-looking, as we
say so much Younger than they really are-what
will ten years bring to them X
The ten years of my sepulcheral slumber passed
away and the day sArived for my second and last
peep at my disconsolate widow and wide circle Of
afectionate friends.
The monument already mentioned opened its pom
derous and marble jaws, for the last time and in.
visible glided to the gates of my old domain. The
Doric lodge had been pulled down, and a new Gothic
one all thatch and rough poles, little windows and
creepers Ca sort of cottage gone mad) had been cree
ted in it's stead | entered, and could not find my
way to my own house: the road had been turned
old trees had been felled and plantations made
ponds had been filled up and lakes had been dug
my little " Temple of Friendship not to be
found but one dedicated to the blind cod had beer
erected in conspicuous situation.
"Ah y thought |, her love is buried love- but
not the less dear. To me-to her departed--to he1
santed William-this temple has been dedicated. ;
| So entirely was the park changed that | did not
There was hustle at the hall door servants were
assembled in gay liveries carriages were driving w
and setting down and lights cleaned from the int
rior. A dinner party! No harm in that-on thu
contrary deem it fortunate. Doubtless my widow
still in the sober grey of amelorated mourning haC
summoned around her the best and the dearest 0
my friends and though their griefs were somcwha
| melowed by time they remembered me in thei
calm and cheerful circle and fondly breathed m,
name. Unseen | passed into the dining room al
that behold was new to me--the house had beer
new built on grander scale and the furniture wa
magnificent. | cast my eyes round the table wher
the guests were now assembled. Oh what bliss wa
mine AT the head sat my widowed wife all smiles
!, all loneliness all pink silk and fowers-not so youn
i as when last beheld her, but very handsome an
considerably stouer, At the foot Ooh, what touch
ing compliment to me y sat of my oldest, dear
: est best of friends Mr. NIitts, theson of barone
who resided in my neighborhood; his father too
there, with his Anticipated lady and the entire circl
e was formed by persons with whom, when living,
had been on terms of friendship The only occur
i renee which DISTURBED my equanimity during tn
: course of the dinner was the unaccountable fact
}, my relct, once or twice addressing Mr. Mitts, VIII
d did the honors, as "my dear N The dinner and m
excitement, had scarcely passed away, when | re
: ceived severe shock. " M l0re,' said the lat
=, Mrs. Brown, addressing Mr.. Mitts, "shall Thomr
son bring in the children p
Children! what children-whose children? ha
no children! My unpleasant cogitations on thi
point were put stop to by the introduction of tn
young people and the Simultaneous rising of MI
Nlitts, senior who put finishing stroke upon all m
felicity by the proposition of the following toast
/" May John and Mary, long live happily together
Come. my friends the health of Mr. and Mrs Mtts
So then, after ALL I had come out on an exceedin
cold day, to see my widow doing the honors as Mr.
Mitts.
,1o,, Ill,