Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-02-24
11a notion that, 6y wearing ii a. -
! snaedllv cured

| speedly cured.
The countess thought her sons request rather
odd; but being 10th to refuse anything that
would give him even visionary satisfaction, she
instantly set about her inquiry after the happest
lady in Naples, with the view of requesting her
kind offices after the manner described.
Her inquiry was tedious and difficult; every
body she could think of, or who was pointed out
to her, was found on searching nearer, to have
her own share of troubles. For some time, she
almost despared; but having nevertheless per-
severed, she was at length introduced 10 one-a
mlddle'aged married lady-who not only ap-
peared to have all the imaginable materials of
worldly bliss, but bore every eternal mark Of
being contented IN her situation, TO this fortu-
nate dame, the Countess preferred her request
making the circumstances of the case her only
excuse for so strange an application.7
MY dear countess" said the lady, "spare all
apology; for, if | had really been qualified for
the task, | would most gladly have undertaken
it. But if you will just follow me to another
room, will prove to you that am the mos mis-
erable woman in Naples"
50 saying, she led the mother to a remote
chamber where there was nothing but curtain,
which hung from The ceiling to the floor This
being drawn aside, she disclosed to the horror of
her visitor, skeleton hanging from BEAM
"Oh, dreadful" exclaimed the countess,
"what means this ?"
The lady looked nournfully at her, and after
a minutes silence, gave the following expIana-
lion:
This" she said, 60 was youth who loved me
before my marriage, and whom was obliged to
part with when my relations. compelled me to
marry my present husbands We aterwardEe-
newed our acquaintance, ,sthangh with % eyil IN
tent, and my husband waa so much nhsiatcd at
Sginu hins one day "a ny g Y 'sss dsaas
his sword and run him through t,i1. Meats. Not
satisfied with this he caused him loba hung up
here. and every night and morning since then
has compelled me to come and surrey his re-
mains. To the world, may bear cheerful as.
pect, and seem to be possessed of all the comforts
of lite; but you Judge If can be really entitled
to the reputation which you have attributed TO
me, or be qu lifted to execute your sons COM
mission"
The Countess Corsini readily acknowledged
that her situation was most miserable, and retired
to her own house, in despair of obtaining what
she was inquest of, seeing that if any apparent
ly happy woman had such secret sorrow as this.
what were those likely to be who bore no such
appearance?
ALAS !" said she to herself "uo one is ex-
empt from the disasters aud sorrows Of lfe-there
is skeleton IN euery house 20
When she reached home she found letter
conveying intelligence of her sons death, which
IN other circumstances, would have overturned
her reason, or broken her heart, but prepared as
she was by the foresight Of her son, produced
only rational degree of grief When the first
acute sensations We're past, she said resignedly
| w H'tstl tnht great dis tlle Cdldutly was, IL was
probably no greater than what her feow-ozea-
lures were enduring every day and she should
therefore submit with tranquility.
We never, for our part, enter upon any gilt
terng and magnificent scene, or hear of any per-
son who is rHpuled to be sngulary prosperous
but we Immediately think of the probability whcl,
exists, that our own humble home aud condition,
disposed as we sometimes may be to repine about
them, comprise jest as much of what is to be de-
sired by a rational man as the other Even ia
those great capitals, where affiuence and luxury
are so wonderfully concentrated, and all the high
er orders appeared singuarly well lodged, and
fed and attended to, we cannot hsl looking at
the other side and imagining every de has his
own peculiar misery. The houses appear like
palaces but the idlest spectator may be assured
of II, as one OF the ncontrovertible decress of
Providence, that thee is skeleton IN every one
Of them.