Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-04-07
"a Skeleton in Every House. u

"A Skeleton in Every House" :"
Some time since an inquiry was made for
the story on which was founded the saying,
There is skeleton in every honse." 1t is
long since it has been in print, and it will
be new to many who are familiar with The
lru h.uI and suggestive proverb. 1t is found
in Walde's Circulating Library for Aug
&c, 1894, where it was copied from Cham
bers's Journal
A widow of Naples, the Countess Cor
s;ni. bad but one remaining son 10 give her
so interest ip life. He was remarkable for
the elegance of his person, as well as TOR
every smiabe and graceful quality. When
grown. this young gentleman was sent to
pursue his studies at the University of b.
| iogna, where he became one OF the most
distinguished scholars, and gained The sfec-
lion of al who knew him by his siDgnlarly.
noble character. Just as he was camplei-
ing bis Guides, and was about TO return to-
| Naples, be m6s seized with dangerous i'll.
ness, which, notwithstanding the efforts oil
| the best physicians in Bologna, brought
him in three days 10 the brink of The grave.
Seeing he could not survive, his only care,
so far as the world was concerned, was for
his mother, and il was his most huxic..s
! ish that some means should be taken TO
| prevent her beng entirely overcome. He,
finally resorted to this expedieni; lie wrote
Ito his mother informing her Of his illness,
/ but not Of its threatening character, aud re.
guessing that she would send him a shirt
made by the happiest lady in ali Naples. or
/ she who appeared most free from the cares
and sc-rows of this world, tor he had tukrn
a fancy that by wearing such an article he
! should be speedily cured. The Countess
thought her sons request rather singular,
but being loiA to refuse him, Immediately
Z Sc. abont- her inquiry for the hapPiest lady
1 in Naples. Her efforts were tedious and
fiicult; every body she could think OF. or
who vas pointed out 10 her, was found, On
searching nearer: to have her own snare OF
troubles. She was al length introduced 10
one, who not only appeared to have all the
materials of worldly bliss. but bore every
external mark of being cheerful, anu con-
tented in her situation. To this fortunate
LADY the Countess preferred her request.
making the circumstances Of the case an
excuse for so strange an application. "My
dear Countess" sail the lady, "spare ali
apology, for if were really qualified tor the
task, | would gladly undertake it. But ii
you will follow NE to another room, | will
prove 10 you that am the most miserable
woman in Naples" So saving she led the
Countess to remote chamber, where there
was nothing apparently but a curtain hung
from tie ceiling to the floor. This being
drawn as de, she disclosed, To. the horror OF
her visitor, skeleton suspended from d
beam 90, dreadful" exclaimed the Count
ess, "wh1t means ihisr' The lady regard
cd her mCurnfully, and said, Gfter a mo-
mcni's silence, "Tbis was youth who lored
me before my marriage, ard with whom
was obliged TO part when my relations iii
peiied me to marry my present husaand.-
: Aiterward we renewed our acquaintance,
ard my husband, in his impatiencc st ind-
4 ing h. N in my presence one day, drew his
/, sword, ana run him through the heart. He
4 nfterYart caused his skeleton 10 be suspend
/ ed here, and every night and morning, since
then, has compelled me TO come and view
. these remains. To the world | may bear Il
= cheerful. aspect, and en- possessed Of al
the comforts oi life, but you may Judge if
: can really bs entitled to the reputation YOU
/ have gwen me, or an qualified to execute
: your sons commission" The Countess
Q Corsin readily aeknosledged that her sit
e uatIon was most miserable, and retired 1t
u her own huse. "Alas," she said to herself
e mo ene is exemp. from the distresses ant
: sorrows of life; there is a skeleton in every
= house."
d When she reached home, she found
letter informing her Of the death of her son
: This terrible news would have overturned
! her reoson, or broken her heart. had not tn.
l. foresight Of her son prepared her to Zee
e that others had sorross as great as her owl
: and in aileviatng them her own were gh.
;, cned.