Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-02-08

church-yard mould, or quite moulded
to their wish"
On the morrow, which happened to be
the danes birth day, the farmer was the
first to wake, and knowing what he knew
and having, besides, but just reused him
self out of dream strictly confrmatory
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 wish
ed him the same, having in truth, but
just rubbed out Of her eyes the pattern
of widows bonnet that had been sub
mitted to her in her sleep. She took
care, however, to give the fowls liver at
dinner to the doomed man, considering
that when he was dead and gene, she
could have them seven days in the week,
if she pleased and the farmer, on his
part, took care to help her to many tit
bits. Their feeling toward each other
was that of an impatient host with re-
gard to an unwelcome guest, showing
scarcely bare civility while in expecta-
ton of his stay, but overlooking him with
hospitality when made certain of his de-
parture.
In this manner they went on for six
months, and though without any addition
Of love between them, and as much self
ishuess as ever, yet living in subaeryi-
encs to the comforts and inclnations Of
each other, sometimes to be found even
amongst couples Of sincerer affections.
There were as many causes for quarrel
rs ever, bat every day it became les
worth while to quarrel; so letting by
cones be by-gones, they were Indifferent
to the present, and thought only Of the
future, considering each other Go adopt
a common phrase Gas good as dead"
Zen months wore away, and the farm
er's birthday arrived in its turn. The
dame who had passed an uncomfortable |
uight, having dreamed, in truth, tha, she |
did not much ike herself in mourning
sa'lted him as soon as The day dawned !
and with sigh wished him many years .
to come. The farmer repaid her in kind, /
the sigh included his own visions hav- /
ins been Of painful sort, for he had .
dreamed of having a headache from .
wearing black hat-band, and the mala-
dy still clung to him when awake. The .
whole morning was spent in silent medi- I
tation and melancholy, on both sides, and
when dinner came, although the most
tavorite dishes were upon the table, they
could not eat. The farmer, resting his
elbows upon the board, with his face be-
tween his hands, gazed wistfully on his
wite-scoopng her eyes, as it were, out
Of their sockets, stripping the flesh off
her cheeks, and in fancy converting her
whole head into a mere capm mortuuHa.
The dame leaning back in her high arm
chair, regarded the yeoman quite as rue
tue same process Of imagina-
ion picking his sturdy bones, and
bleaching bis rudy yisage to the COM
DleXion of plaster cast. Their minds,
travelling in the same direction, and at
m equal rate, arrived together at the
same reflection but the farmer was the
irSt to give it utterance,
"Thee'd be missd, dame if thee were
o die"
The dame started. Although she had ,
nothing but death at that moment before
ler eyes, she was far from dreaming of
ler own exit, and at this rebound of her
thoughts against herself, she felt as if an
Extra cold colin-plate had been suddenly !
lailed on her chest recovering, however
rom the FIRST shock, her thoughts flowed S
nto their old channel, and she retorted
n the same spirit; ID
q wish, master, thee may live as ,
ong as l." l.
The farmer, in his own mind, wished (
o live rather longer; for, at the utmost, {
le considered that his wife's bill of MGR
atty had but two months to run. The [
alculation made him sorrowful; during q
he last few months she had consulted i
lis appetite, bent to his bumor, and y
ovetailed her own inclinations into his, !
n manner that could never be supplied 7
nd he thought OF her, If not in the Ian O
uage, at least in the spirit of the lady n
q " Lalla Rookh:" i
81 never taught bright gazelle
To watch me with its bright black eye.
But when it came to know me well, d
And love me, it was sure to diel" !!
His wife, from being at first useful to
i'm, had become agreeable, and at last t
ear TO him and as he contemplated t,
er approaching fate he could not help y
linking out audibly, THAT he should be "
lonesome man when she was gone" C
he dame, this time heard the survivor K