Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-05-29
MisG&llaneoms.
SLIDING SCALE OF a WIDOW.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.

How rapid is the progress of oblivion
with respect to those who are no more =
How many quadrille shall we sec this win.
ter, exclusively made up from the ranks Of
inconsolablo widows! Widows of this or
der can only exist in the literature of the
tombstone. In the world, and after a lapse
of q certain period, there is one sort of wild.
ows nconsolablc--those who refuse to be
comfortcd because they cannot get married
again.
Ono Of the most distinguished sculptors
was summoned, a short time since, to the
house of young lady, connected by birth
with family of the highest grade in the
aristocracy of wealth, and who had beer
united in marriage to the heir of military
title, iliustrious in the military annals of the
empire. The union, formed under the hap
piest auspices, was of short duration. Death
IMPLYING Death rupturedi it, by premsturely
carrying off the young husband. The sculp.
tor was summoned by the widow.
He travcrsed the apartment, silent and
moody, until he was introduced into bed
room, and found himself in the presence o.
n lady, young and beautiful, but habited il
the deepest mourning, and with face fur
rowed with tears. "You are aware of the
blow I've receivedi" Tho artist bowed
with an air of respectful coincidence. "Sir,'
continued tho widow, 81 am anxious to have
a funeral monument erected in honor of tho
husband | have lost" The artist bowed
again. 81 wish that the monument should
be superb, worthy of the man whose loss
weep; proportioned to the unending grie
into which his loss has plunged me, l care
not what it costs. l am rich and will will
lingly sacrifice all my fortune to honor thu
memory Of nm adored husband. l must
have temple-with columns-in marble
and in the middleton pedestal-hi
statue"
81 will do my best to fulfil your wishes
madame" replied the artist "but had no
the honor of acquaintance with tho deceas
ed, and likeness of him is indispensable
for the due execution of my work. With
out doubt you have his portrait?"
The widow raised her arm and pointed
despairingly to splendid likeness, painted
by Amaprey Duval.
ga most admirable picture p observed th
artist, "and the painters name is sufficien
guarantee for its striking resemblance to tn
original"
"These are his very features, sir; il is him
self. 1t wants but life. All, that l cou
restore it to him at the cost of my fortune
~ will have this portrait carried to m
studio, madame, and l promise that th
marble shall reproduce it, exactly"
The widow at these words sprang up, an,
at a single bound threw herself towards tn
picture, with arms stretched out as thougl
to defend it, exclaiming: ''Tako away thi
portrait carry off my only consolation! my
sole remaining comfort never neverr'
"But, madame, you will only be depriyeo
of it short time, and -"
"Not an hour--not minute could OK
ist without his beloved imagel Look you
sir, l have had it placed here in my owl
room, that my eyes might bo fastened on
without ceasing, and through my tears
His portrait shall never leave this spot on
single instant, and in contemplating tina
will pass the rest of my miserable and sol
rowful existence"
ain that case, madame, you will be com
PEELED to permit me to take a copy of it,
But do not be uneasy-I shall not have oc
casion to trouble your solitude for any lengt
of time--one sketch-one sitting, will sui
| fce."
The widow agreed to this arrangement
she only insisted that the artist should com
back the following day. She wanted t
see him to work on the instant, so grea
was her longing TO see the mausoleum ereC
ted. The sculptor, however, remarked tina
he had another work to finish first. Tn
difficulty she sought to overcome by money
"Impossible" replied the artist. ~ hsy
givon my word do not distress yourself
will apply to it so diligently that the mor
ument shall be finished in as short tim
as any other sculptor would require VIII
Icould apply himself 70 it forthwith