Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-02-27

seau and Chesterfield, and could appreciate
those authors without becoming their disci'
Piles. 1t was not mere compliment when
Burr told Mrs. Provost that it was from
knowing her that he had fret learned to
believe in the understanding Of woman
The two sons Of Mrs. Provost, so FAR from
being regarded by Colonel Burr as On obsta-
Gle to bis marriage we're really an inducement
to it. He inherited his fathers passion for
training the young. lie was not merely fond
of children, but took the liveliest possible
interest in their education. There was no
period in all his long life when he had not a
protege under training. His system Of edu.
cation was, indeed, with all its merits and
with all the pains he bestowed in applying it.
fatally deceptive, as was his own system oi
life. But that he took real and ardent
interest and delight in the development OF
the youthful character, and spared no pains
in promoting what he thought to be the
right education of his proteges, there can be
no doubt whatever. With Saxon moral
character, Aaron Burr might have been a
schoolmaster OF unheard- of-e xcellence such as
the world waits for. Nothing indeed, was
more natural to him than the tone of tue
instructor. Some months before he was
married, he concludes one OF his letters to
Mrs. Provost in Language which illustrates
what mean. [r..
"You wrote me too much by Doni. hope
it was not from fear that ] should be dis
satisfied with less. 1t is, confess, rather
singular to find fault with the quantity, when
matter and manner are so delightful. You
must, however. deal less in sentiments, and
more in ideas Indeed, in the letter in an
swer to my last. you will need to be particu-
larly attentive to this Injunction. think
constantly of the approaching change in our
affairs, and what it demands. Do not let us,
like children, be so taken with the prospect
as to lose sight OF the means. Remember to
write me facts and ideas, aud don't torment
me with compliments, or yourself with senti-
Write but little, and very little at once"
In another letter he recommends her to
buy one of the New Franklin stoves. and
suggests the room in which it should be
placed. After enlarging 10 a style not com.
mon to love letters, upon the various good
qualities Of the stoves and telling her that, as
her little boy would be sure TO burn himself
at least once with it, it might be best to teach
him the danger by slightly burning him, he
concludes as follows:
81 confess have still some transient dis
trusts that you set too little value on your
own comfort. Remember. it is not yours
alone bat your etter1 shall convince me.
waive the subject. l am not certain shall
be regularly lunctual in writing you in this
manner every day when l get at business !;
but | shall, if possible, devote one quarter Of
an hour day to you. In return, l demand
one half an hour every day from you; more
forbid, unless on special occasions. This half
hour is to be mine, to be invariably at the
same time, and, for that purpose, fixed at an
hour least liable to interruption, and as you
shall find most convenient. Mine cannot be
so regular, as only indulge myself in it when
l am fatigued with business. The children
will each have their sheet, and, at the given
hour, write if but q single word. Burr, at
this half hour, is to be kind watchword."
While Burr was preparing for bis examina-
ton, his slave Carlos was going very frequent.
ly between Paramus and Albany, bearing
letters and gifts. His letters were mostly in
the decisive. commanding manner of the ex-
tracts just given, though sufficiently tender
and considerate. A notorious calumniator
has recently been, in work Of great preten-
sons. insnuating that Colonel Burr, during
the winter in Albany lived on terms Of scan
dalous intimacy with his land,lady. The
statement is fllse. Soon after his arrival 10
Albany, Burr was called upon by Mr.. Van
family of that name. The two young mcH
soon became intimate. Van Rensselaer, was
dissatisfied with Burr's lodgings, and in
spirit of friendliness aud hospitality offered
to find him better. Burr soon wrote to Mrs.
Provost, that Van Rensselaer, had succeeded
perfectly to his wish. 81 am with two mai
den aunts of his" he said, "obligiug and lin
credible y good.natured, the very paragons
of neatness. Not OF article OF furniture,
even to tea.kettle, that would soil muslin
handkerchief. ] have two upper rooms"
In these apartments it was that he daily
wrote such words as the following, to lady
with whom he was anticipating a speedy
marriage "Though | write very little, it is
still half my business for whenever l find
myself either at loss what to do, or anyhow
dscomposed or dull, fly TO these sheets,
and even if | do not write, | ponder upon it,
and in this war sacrifice many hours without
rejecting that time passes away"
Oh the I'd OF July, 1882 by the Rev. David
Bogart, of the Reformed Dutch Church,
Aaron Burr and Theodosia Provost were
married. They were forthwith established in
an ample residence at Albany, where Colonel
Burr relieved the monotony of business by
assisting in the education Of two boys. One
of the first uses he made Of his new dignity
OF nOuSeDOlueT WAS 10 give temporary nome
to friend who was in love, and had pro-
ject of marriage which it was necessary for
some reason to conceal. That friend was
the wel,known Major Popham, who was
married at Colonel Burr's house, and who,
ffty.four years after, held the pail which
covered Burrs remains as they were borne
to the grave.
Carlos made no more journeys to Paramus.
The charm of the Hermitage" had departed
from it. 1t may interest some readers to
learn that the traditions Of the old house,
and Of the family who inherited it, still exist
in the vicinity. Some Of the walls of the
house are standing, and serve as part of
modern structure. Some relics of its elegant
contents-a picture among other things
adorn neighboriug tavern. Stories OF the
grand company that used to assemble at the
Hermitage are vaguely told by some of the
older inhabitants, and descendants of Mrs.
Provost reside few miles from the old
estate, in an elegant abode, which contains
interesting memorials of the olden time.
At Albany, in the first year OF his mar
riage, was born Colonel Burr's only legiti-
mate child, daughter whom he named The
odesia. She had joyful welcome into the
world, the beautiful child who was to have
SO terrible an exit from it. A father, ever
fond, if not ever wise, received to his arms
the infant who was to be to him so much
more than daughter, when her indomitable