Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-08-16
THE BROKEN PROMISE.


But physical ailments, Mr.. Thompkins, ad-
monlshes me that ! am not long for this world
and do wish, husband you would make me
one promise. know shall not be here long.
my dear;'-her voice grew very plaintivc, and
Mr.. Tompkns was forced to hear her.
'Wel, what is it that | must promise. to
make yon happy, wie-any thing reasonable Z
Now, that is the way you always answer
me so cavaIierIy. so uneeling, and in a coarse
way-l tell you again, shall not be here long :;
you arc a rugged man, Mr. Wompkins, aud
know but little Of my physical ails tell You.
| 'Pho, nonsense, you are nervous, wife. Go
ont, take the air, brace up a little, and the va
pors will quit thei. hold
I Bnt that promise, husband ?
We'll, now for it,
'Wlll you promise me sincerely, as God
spares your lie, if ! should die that You never
will marry again. You know how many cr!,
would be glad to step in my shoes how manv
widows would like the privilege of setting il
my drawing rooms-lh l,c beautiful rooms all
hung in tapestry, and those bright chandeliers
suspended, looking just as good as new. if thcv
were bought at auction. My wor,tcd work,
too oh, could not bear to know that any.
body should ever own it after me. But am
going to a better place, trust. Heaven. they
say, IS paved with gold-but it will be hard to
leave you, husband, but know you will soon
follow Now, promise me faithfully that vou
wiI never marry again, but keep cVefythirg
just as leave il, which shall be in good order
will you?'
On condition, wife, that If | should die, y:u
w!Il observe the same Injunction. You know
now many young men are dancing attendance
on rich widows how many who have lost their
wives would like to wear my coats, and pants
and satin vests. Now, you viii keep them
always hanging in the closets, just as left
them, and never let my wrought slippers he put
upon another mans foot
Certainly, Mr.. Tompkins but that event
viii never happen in my day. You will live
long after me-
The promises being thus mutually exchanged
Mrs. Tompkns seemed to revive. She pro-
cured bottle or two Of " bitters' for hypochon-
dracs, and really grew so much better as to
propose a journey. The autumn following, she
broke out in European fever, and Mr.. and Mrs !
Tompkns were registered as having taken pas
sage TO Liverpool.
New sights so engrJssed her attention, new
faces so won her heart, new cookery so i'm
proved her appetite, that Mrs. Tompkins |
emerged from pale, thin, sharp-ieaturcd wo-
man, to a heallhfu, plump English lady; ard !
d.
how her neighbors stared, as they accosted her
with, I" can this be you, Mrs. Tompkins p
But Providence and man are not alike in |
their desires. MIR. Tompkins had grown thin, |
had cough, pain through the shoulders, lit |
tie appetite, and great debility. lie was con-
sumplvely inclined, but remarkably resigned to |
h!s situation. And now gossips abounded : |
some affirmed he had lived wearis1mc life |
WI his wife: some said they could tell things
but would not others, who were in her conf !
dence, shook their heads, and said they never
eliminated church members; for Mrs. Tomp-
Rms was very pious woman. But at length
the man died. and the bereaved widow lamented |
loudly, and begged the sexton to see that all |
lhlngs we're done in good style, and insisted to
Know II he really believed the body could be
Kept two days. She sent for an artist, had his
picture taken, bought the finest bombazne
dress, had mantllla trimmed with the deepest
iods OF Grape, wore a binding veil, and cred
as If her heart would break She went to Pro-
bate, administered herself on the estate, lived
In her own drawing-rooms, kept her servants,
but complained bitterly of loneliness she
was always at church meetings, always wept
or held up her handkerchief, when the rood
man prayed that aillictions might be sancli-
he'd" and in Short the widow Tompkins, with
her fortune of two hundred thousand without
y chick or child" to share ii, was quite a pro-
mlnent character in the mouths of sundry
wldowers and forlorn stricken bachelors For
two full months she wore the veil down. Il
was said she was observed to draw il inside
very slightly; then little farther, ill finally
she threw ii over the crown Of her bonnet. lust
as parson Boneset repeated the text, for our
light Affections, which are but for "a moment
&c.
That night Deacon Sears called. But how
txcusable was his visit His wife died sud
denly, but full Of hope !" and how natural that
his sympathies should be drawn towards the
widow, full of hope likewise Mrs. Tompkins
was always al The PRAYER meetings and Deacon