The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-02-23
5:lect 5torp.
From tho Corahill Ma;aEiNe
A Tale OF the OIden Time.

table. 6 do say, the devil choke thee
wi un"
The dame made no reply; she was
choking with passion and il fowls liver
the original cause Of the dispute. a
great deal has been said and sung of the
advantage of congenial tastes among
married people, but true it is, the vari-
ances of our Kentish couple arose from
this very coincidence in gusto. They
were both fond of the little delicacy in
question, but the dame had managed to
secure the morsel for herself, and this
was sufficient to cause storm Of very
high words-which, properly understood,
signifies very low language. Their meal
times seldom passed over without some
contention of the sort; as sure as the
knives and forks FLASHED, 50 did they
being, in fact, equally greedy and disa-
greedy; and when they did pick quar-
rel, they picked it to the bone.
1t was reported that, on some occa-
sions, they had not even contented them
selves with hard speeches, but that they
had come to scuflling-hc taking to box
ing, and she to piuching-thougL in
far less aluicablc manner than is prac-
,iced by the taker of snuff. On the
present difference, however, they were
satisfied with "wishing each other dead,
with all their hearts - and there seemed
little doubt of the sincerity of the aspi-
ration, on looking at their malignant
faces-for they made Il horrible picture
i'll this frame of mind.
Now it happened that this quarrel
took place on the morning of St. Mark
"a saint who was supposed on that fcs-
tival to favor his votaries with peep
into the book of fate. For it was the
popular belief in those days, that if
1erson should keep watch toward mid
night, beside the church, the apparitions
of all those of the parish who were to be
taken by death before the next anniycr-
sary, would be seen entering the porch
The yeou,an, like his neighbors, believed
most dcvoutly in this superstition and
i'll the very moment that lie brcathed the
unsecmly aspiration aforesaid, it occur
red to him that the event was at hand,
when, by observing the rite Of st. Mark,
lie might know 70 u certainty whether
this unchristian wish was to one of
those hat bear fruit. Accordingly,
little before midnight, he stole quietly
out of the house, and in something Of
sexton-like spirit set forth Oh his way
to the church.
In the meantime, the dame called to
cl al nd how
the like motive for curiosity with her
husband, she also put on her cloak and
calash; and set out, though ~ differ
ent path, on the same crrand.
The night of the Saint was as dark
and chill as the mysteries he was sup
posed to reveal, the moon throwing but
a short occasional glance, as the sluggish
masses of cloud we're driven slowly
across her face. Thts it fell out that
our two adventures were quite uncon-
scious Of being in company; till a sudden
glimpse of moonlight showed them to
each other, only few yards apart both,
through natural panic, as pale as
ghosts, and both making eagerly toward
the church porch. Much as they had
just wished for this vision, they could
not help quaking and stopping on the
spot, as if turned to pair Of tomb
stones; and in this position the dark
again threw sudden curtain OVER them,
and they disappeared from each other:
1t will be supposed the two came only
to one conclusion, each tonceiving that
St. Mark had marked the other to HIM
self. With this comfortable knowledge;
the widow and widower elect hied home
again by tue roads they came; aud as
their custom was TO sit apart after il
quarrel, they repai ed, each ignorant of
the others excursion, to separate cham
bers.
By-and-by, being called to supper, in
stead of sulking as aforctime, they came
down together, each being secretly iii
the best humor, though mutually sus.
pcctcd IF the worst; and among other
things OIL the table, there was calf $
swcctbrcad; being one of those very
dainties that had often set them together
by the ears. The dame looked and
longed, but she refrained from its APP
preparation, thinking within herself that
she could give up swcetbreads for Que
year and the farmer made similar re-
Election. After pushing the dish to and
fro several times, by common impulse
they divided the treat; and then, having
suppcd, they retired amicably to rest,
whereas until then they had never gouc
to bed without falling out. The truth
was, each looked upon the other as be-
ing already in the church-yard mould, or
quite g. moulded to their wish"
On the morrow, which happened to be
the DANES birthday, the farmer was the
first to wake, and knowing what he knew,
and having, besides, but just reused him
self out Of a dream strictly con6rma.
tory of the late vigil, he did not scruple
to salute his wife, and wish her many
happy returns of the day. The wife.
who knew as much as he, very readily
wished him the same, having, in truth.
but just rubbed out Of her eyes the pat
tern Of widows bonnet that had been
submitted to her in her sleep, She took
caic, however, to give the fowls liver
at dinner to the doomed man, consider
ing that when he was dead aud gone, she
could have them, if she pleased, seven
days in the week and the farmer, on
Ii. ,..t t.ok o,ro 20 baln her IN n,auv