The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-10-09

ing off half dozen dickeys before [ could
get one of becoming height. | ordered a
new coat from my tailor, and for the first
time in my life actually stood upon stool
in my chamber, against looking-glass, to
ascertain whether it was a complete fit
1 bought perfumery, carried real lawn
handkerchiefs instead of bandannas, and all
for what? Why, the widow Dunn, to be
sure and who would believe a man eight
and forty could have been such fool' 1,
toe, who had condemned all the striplings
for such folly, who was SO Indifferent all
my previous life to women, how could | be
so altered man 1, who used to 90 to
bed to dream Of advances or falls in cotton,
who used to write long articles on free
trade and the tariff, who studied the state
of mercantile affairs far more than my Bible
Il, Richard Guy, entrapped by a green
widow 1 could scarcely believe in my
identity, for all my thoughts were turned
upon this subject,-Will she marry me
How can l best insinuate myself in her
good graces'
Il made my call with Squib, all forearm
ed to admire but when the tall, graceful
woman entered the room, and put on such
sweet smile, and added, l am happy to
see you, gentlemen,' l was what Squib
called smashed'-all doHr for--gone
Il never had any peace after or since
for before obtained her consent, l wor-
ried myself to death about her reply; and
after 1 got the affirmative, golden dreams
of bliss made new world for me. And
then my married friends were forever con-
graduating me, for there is no truer saying
than misery loves company There was
but one incorrigible old widower and when.
ever spoke to him of marrying again, he
would tartly reply, a burnt child breads
the fire." I thought he was pest to hi.
race. I think better of him now.
But Mrs Dunn, after short courtship
became Mrs. Guy. She was not a woman
of truth, for did she not declare again anc
again she never should marry? Now, if g
person deceives one way, they are very apt
to another. And then again, there were
some embarrassing circumstances attendant
upon our union. The children were for
ever calling me pa before my old comrades
and felt kind of sensitive to such word,
especially when 1 saw an unmistakeable
smile playing about the corners of their
mouths.
but it always appeared to me Mrs Guy
was a singular woman. She did not ap-
pear half as captivating after her marriage
as before. She had so many wants, there
was never any satisfying them. And then
the worst part of all was her allusions.-
Mr.. Guy, you know my thirds would
have made me Independent without YOU
and this was a terrible cross, since knew
nothing of her thirds certain the other
two thirds were quite enough for to be ac-
quainted with.
sAnd now, as | began [ repeat it, there
was no season l so much dreaded as the
spring. About the middle of April she
always commenced tllking about going out
of town. I inveighed against it, but she
would forever add, Do you not wish to
avoid taxation, Mr. Guy? My poor hus-
band used to say he saved all his summers
rent at Oakland, and more besides by these
early removals. So to keep peace the
first year, 1 did so, and had the pleasure of
being publicly recorded as one who escap-
ed taxation-never charging it upon my
wife, where it belonged The second year
we let our house and furniture standing, to
my wife's cousin, newl y-married couple,
because they could do no harm without
chick or child to wear and tear. l wish
you could have seen the house in autumn
the yard-the back passage-the drains
you would write an essay upon filthy,
dirty housckeepers, l am confident. Suf-
flee it to say, we paid one hundred dollars
for repairs leyond what we received, be-
sides reckoning the cost of the new carpets
for our drawing rooms. Jupiter how L
wanted to vent myself If it had been only
in boarding house, or deception any
body else had practiscd, l could have
found some relief in words. But who ever
thought well of man who blazoned against
his wiic's movements ; /. remember how