The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-12-20
A Strange but True Story.

A circumstance which fully illustrates the
saving that truth is stranger than fiction"
recently came before Judge SI.arswood in
the district court. Some time since there
was couple residing in this city who We're
surrounded with many blessings. The hus-
band possessed a comfortable share of world
" goods, his wife and himself were fondly
attached to each other, and together they
doated upon an only child. The first blow
to their happiness was in the loss of their
little one, who sickened and died, leaving
its parents heart broken. The death Of the
child fell like shadow upon the household :;
the parents became unhappy, moodiness
came in the train OF their melancholy, and
absolute aversion for the society Of each 9TH
er soon followed. The soured and discon-
tented pair finally determined upon Il sepa-
ration, and a divorce was procured.
After Il time both married again, and they
became utter strangers to each other SO far
as social intercourse was concerned. 1t SO
happened that it became necessary to remove
the remains of the dead child from the grave
where it had been Inferred, and the father
was notified OF the fact \ handsome lot
was procured BY the latter in one of the Gem
eteries north Of the city, and day was fixed
for the reinterment. The father notified the
former wife, and the mother Of the child OF
the circumstance, and informed her by note
that if she thought proper she could attend
the burial OF the remains. The mother &C
cepted the invitation, and with her second
husband repaired 10 the cemetery. The faith
Ter with his second wife, was already there
The little coffin was placed near the open
grave, and the parents of its occupant ad-
vanced to it while the second wife and hus-
band stood in the background. The couple
who had been so long estranged and who
had again met so strangely over their dead
hopes, gazed earnestly at each other; the So
lemnty of the hour revived their old tender
ness. and falling into each others arms both
burst into tears. The Refinement took
place, and the parents returned to their prop
er homes.
With the consent of all who were interest
ed the father of the dead child visited, OF
terms Of friendship, his former wife and the.
were in the habit Of riding out together.
Not long after this singular reconciliation
the father of tie child took sick and died.
Before his death he placed in the hands of {
friend two city bonds, of a thousand dollars
each to be handed over to his first wife, il.
the event OF his death. In his will lie ap
pointed as his executors, the friend who wa,
the custodian of the bonds, and his first and
second wives. The friend, in his capacity o.
trustee. was uncertain as to the Legality Of
the gift under the circumstances, and he
made application to the court for decision
in the matter, so as to secure himself from
loss. The legal heirs of the deceased Offered
no opposition to the ante-mortem bequeSt
and the court decided in favor of its legal
y.
The famous scene of the reconciliation o.
Mrs Halter to her husband, in the play o.
"Stranser, which generally NETS tender
hearted spectators to tears, is inferior in re.
spect to genuine effect, to this drama in real
life. which eliminated beside the coffin of the
dead child PLHudelDhia Bulletin.