Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-04-28

person in the vicinity of Podwick who
had hankering after conjugal felicity.
| opened the letters and devoted two
whole days to their pernsal. The one
that suited me best was enclosed in an en-.
/ velope surrounded with black lines, an
indication that the writer had recently
attended funeral, which, considering the
nature of the correspondence, was evi-
dence enough that she didn't allow grief
to interfere with anything which prom
ised consolation. Her answer was as fol-
lows:
| MIR. ANXIOUS SPAT Il notice that you desire
to correspond with young lady; but perhaps
you may not wish to hear from who though
young, is widow. 1 am twenty-three years Of
age, have an amiable disposition believe, and as
| for personal appearance, leave you to judge
| from the enclosed carte de visite. Should you
desire to know me further, please address Julia,
East Haddam.
Her carte was beauty. She struck
my fancy exactly. But she was widow.
Here was an objection yet considered
the matter Thoroughly, and instead of al
lowing my prejudice to run loose, took
what conceived to be sensible view of
it. | reasoned thus
| LAW . q "iao", oCihS ehuos hCI nPPAiSo-
| tion is an argument in support of my re-
solution to marry. Why5 Because she
| has been married again. Matrimony
therefore must be the true state of happi-
ness.
wrote her letter and in due time re-
ceived reply. Other epistles followed,
myself in East Haddam, in the presence
of Mrs. Julia Wilsonburg.
1t is sufficient to say that the interview
was mutually agreeable. The young lady
was attired in mourning which was so be-
coming to her complexion that [ never
once thought of Wilsonburg deceased.
"Her voice was even, soft,
Gentle and low F; an excellent thing in woman :"
her figure natural, not being made to or
der, by supplies of whalebone and, alto
gether your humble servant was COM
pletely alive to her virtues, and if she had
any faults was blind to them.
| | was ready to be married, being so en-
Enthusiastically smitten, right on that line
if it took all summer; but prudence die
tated that we hadn't better be in hurry
folks wonld talk about it, etc-and our
decision was to wait few months and
then settle down in Podwick together.
| Now l desire to ask the masculine
reader who has wife and babies, if his
feelings were anything like mine during
the day preceding his investment of five
or ten dollars in ministerial hands for SER
vices rendered. 1t was the most nervous
day ever experienced, and it being the
last of my single blessedness, did not fur
nish as much serenity as many which had
passed. Yet my convictions on the sub
| ject of marriage were not to be shaken
And l may remark here that it is my be-
| lief that the man who has been on a mat
| rimonial anxious seat for several months
when brought to within few hours of
| the consumation SO devoutly wished, has
| as perfect and clear an idea of his situa-
ton as possible to human nature
's So clear, shining, and so evident,
That 1t will glimmer through blind mans eyes,"
The important day and important hour
arrived at last, and Mrs. Julia Wilson
burg aud Mark Marks, Esq, Of Podwick,
were tied together, so to speak, and set
adrift in this wide world.
At last we found ourselves engaged in
housekeeping, opposite the village green
in Podw
We had occupied the premises two days
and on the evening following received
number of calls.
Mark" said Julia, before any of our
Tonight L guess. Mr.. Wilsonburg thought
green was very becoming to me-"
"Anything," said /, that you please;
but 1 omitted to add, chang Wilson
burg p though 1 had not, by any means,
just that moment forgotten the deceased.
Mrs. Snuffers, aged forty nine, was our
first caller.
greeted her cordially, and introduced
her to my wife-"Mrs, Shutters, Mrs.
Marks"
A sign of mutual recognition followed,
attended by looks of surprise.
"WhatW exclaimed Mrs. S, sis this
you Julia | though you married John
Wilsonburg, of East Haddam
$50 l did, but he has been dead some
time" responded Mrs. Marks.
HAS he ?" mournfully queried Mrs. s.,
and she Immediately turned round and
surveyed my person.
Great minds run in the same channel,
and for that reason, perhaps, l was think
ing of the deceased just at this particular
period of my existence.
The conversation on the topic intro
duced, terminated abruptly by inquiring
cf Mrs. s. if she had heard from her son
John in the army.
Seventeen callers came and departed
during the evening, without developing
anything particularly new or interesting.
l obserAed one thing, that they said
good deal without saying much.
When the house was quiet, Mrs. Marks
suggested to me that she was afraid some
of our visitors would think I was not po-
lite enough, and she was sorry, because
on such occasions people were apt to in
dulge in severe criticism. Then she
added
when Mr.. Wilsonburg and | received
calls after we were married, every body
complimented me upon his being so per-
feet gentleman"
This remark didn't remove from my
mind any impressions l had previously
received relative to the memory of the
departed, but | maintained a respectful
silence.
After breakfast the next day, Mrs. NJ
asked me if had ever eaten a "Chulle-
wug pudding ?"
"No p
"Well, well have one to-day: 1 think
they are the incest dessert ever put upon
table Mr.. Wilsonburg used to say he
never saw any ything to equal them in all
his travelling in France"
We had one.
On the Sunday following we attended
church for the first time in Podwick. A
smart young man preached.
Mrs. Marks appeared much interested
and as she walked home said it was the
best discourse she had listened to for a
long time.
"Isn't he a fine looking man? What a
good voice he has. He reminded me of
Mr.. Wilsonburg. You never saw him,
did you ?"
"No, never saw him; but I've heard
of him." [ replied.
So it was wherever we went, in the
house or out of it. the natural simplicity
of Mrs. Marks-who, of course, intended
no offence-kept the virtues of the de-
ceased Wilsonburg continually fresh in
nv thoughts.