The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-01-27
STAUNTON, VIRGINIA. THURSDAY. JANUARY g. 1870 ~



4 l observed one thing thatjthey all said
good deal without saying much. hin ~.
= When the house was quiet Mrs, Marx
suggested to me that she was afraid some :
our visitors would think I was not polit
1 enough, and she was sorry, because on sue
occasions people were apt to indulge in ST
we're criticisms. Then she added
"When Mr.. Wilsonburg ard l reseiv,
calls after we were married, everybody com
plimented me upon his being 50 perfect gen
tlemen" 1re .H:
This remark didn't remove from my min,
any impressions I had previously re
ceiyed relative to the memory of the depart
ed, but maintained respectful silence.
I After breakfast the next day Mrs, NJ. ask
ed me if had ever eaten q Chullewug pud
ding p
'sNo." f'oa 81 -..-i e+.f;s.' i-a-7-
swell, we'll have one to-day; 1 think
they are the incest desert ever put upon 8
table. Mr. W;lsoaburg used to say he nev-
er saw anything to equal them i'll all his tray
| cling in France"
/ We had one. s5a = iF77 ai s7s 2a
On the Sunday following we attended
church for the first time in Podwick. A
smart young man preached the sermon
Mrs. Marks appeared much interested, and
as she walked home, said it was the best dis
course she had listened to for long time.
"Isn't he fine looking man? What a
good voice has He reminded me very
much of Mr.. Wilsonburg. You never saw
him, did you?'' 's
9 emo 1 never saw him but I've heard of
him" I replied. a.,rat
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 deceased Wilson
burg continually fresh in my thoughts.
[ stood it bravely, giving no sign of un-
easiness, until an accident occurred which ap-
peared to call for some decision on my part.
I had been a parent for three weeks.
The newcomer was boy. .--s t.
'Mark," said my wife, one day, what shall
we call the little fellow ~ a X aJ
81 don't know; l haven't thought any
thing about it. Most any respectable name
will do, suppose"
''What do you think of John Wilsonburg
This was too much.
Strengthened myself up in digni6ed
manner and proceeded to remark.
MADAM Wilsonburg may have been
respectable man for all [ know IF he had
lived, and had become parent, he would
have had perfect right to name his own in
FAINT"
This wasn't very strong language, but it
was strong enough to bring tears from the
eyes of Mrs Marks, and cause her to say
You are cruel! Wilsonburg never talked
so to me-" .,-sy -..
"Wilsonburg be-be-be-hangcd !! he never
was a parent
And then there was a scene-the first OF
our married life-which had its continuance
at regular intervals, until Mrs. Marks through
irritability and exhaustion, faded like a flow
er and withered like a leaf. Her last words
were-"Bury me by the side of Wilsonburg."
The request was granted.
+ This occurred two years ago. There sto
be another wedding shortly, after which the
hopeful youth who calls me daddy, will have
an opportunity to divide his affections.
She who is to be the bride this time, per-
haps it is well to remark, hasn't had any ex-
perience in the husband business
[ may be permitted to add that [ have no
prejudice whatever against young widows
I like them but I wouldn't advise any one to
to marry unless she furnishes good evidence
that she does not carry with her the ghost of
her deceased comrade @ ..-.-. .-.
Then again (and it is only fair to say it,)
fastidious men, if they marry widows, should
do SO with the full understanding that there
is difference between widows and maids,
and make up their minds to be always chart
table when necessity requires.
The best course to pursue in order to have
harmony, is this: Let widowers marry wild
ows /; then if the latter shall refer. to the vir-
tues of the departed, the former may dwell
upon the same theme, ard between both, the
dead will receive praise they never dreamed
Of before shaking off this mortal coil"