The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-08-31


how natural TO stay, dislik,ng to leave
good company. Depend on it. then mat
tiers were talked over by some sly MEM
bers, and some differences were drawn;
but then, curious enough, the Deacon
had promised Mrs. Sears, in the event Of
her death he would never marry again.
This promise was extorted before sundry
witnesses, and they were all living, and
ready to testify to The fact. The Deacon
was truthy man, and the parish gener-
ally thought him to be relied on. One
person went SO far as to say to the wld-
ow Tompkins, aside from this promise,
she did believe he had serious Intentions;
whereupon the widow tainted, and was
revived only by Sal volatile. Here were
two pledges made to dead people; could
they violate them? Grave questions
were mooted in the public meetings,
whether certain promises were obligato-
ry! whether the dead took cognizance
OF the acts Of the living! and whether
the spirits OF our departed friends were
lowering over US mortals.
These topics led TO much metaphysical
discussion; but the Deacon always oppo-
sed the doctrine Of personal recognition
hereaiter.--We sha II all be blessed in the
mass, was his favorlte theory Still it
wore upon him. The widow grew more
and more attractive. Just so far as repe-
ling forces diverged from one centre, the
power Of gravi,aton increased, and Mr.
Boneset was requested to deliver lecture
upon moral Obligations. 1t was search
ing one-the divine took the ground that
all promises made IN good faith were
strictly binding; that death rather sealed
than annnlled them; that the accusing
spirit might so torment man who will
fully broke such an engagement, as to be
MS perpetual misery in future state, be-
side the disquiet incident to existence
h ere. This was a poser; matters grew
worse and worse; and finally, taking UNI.
bragg under that old maxim, that ga bad
promise is better broken than kept
Deacon Sears and the widow Tompkin.
took advantage ofour new law, and Were
married.
"And fa'th,' says Biddy the chamber
maid "what is all this disk,ver in thu
chimney! A horseshoe to keep of tn,
witches! And whose slippers may b.
these, so strangely torn at the side Anc
: why is my mistress so worrysome like O.
Alas, the Deacon's foot was too big fo
Mr.. Tompkin's slippers; the Deacon.
back was too broad for MIR. Tompkln' :.
; coat, and they burst. Some things, su.
perstltious people will have it, give a
pressntimen! OF others. The church al.
ways looked rather suspic,ously upor
their officer ailerward; and it was hintec
that the Deacon's new wife was not ius
what she ought to be, Mrs. Tonpkin'.
: nervous state returned upon her; strange
tancies seized her, and the broken promis,
always haunted her. She tried ever,
expedient that money could devise to BIZ
happy. Change Of place, change OF so
c'e'y, change OF diet; but all TO no eifec
the trouble lay deeper, she ought te
have changed herself
: The Deacon prayed and wept, ane
mournrd, for his first wife; he had pro-
we'd treachrrous, and his children iorsook
him; his vast estate did him no good, ane
: they lived a monument to others of tn,
little efficacy Of money to reach the dis
> quetude which reigns in ones OWE
) breast.
They paid the debt Of nature, some
; weeks ago, and their property was divi
ded singularly enough. Mrs Sears gave
the most Of hers TO a stranger in Enslanc
and the Deacon remembered quiet ole
, widow lady IN the wllds Of Vermont, who
never divulged what she heard his frs
wifi. say, affirming she was the first roma,
who ever kept secret; and this Was hel
; reward - Yankee Blade.