Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-08-23
a Genuine Wldower.


"June Z. It is now q month since dear
Mary left me. / begin to regain my com
posture, but I'm terribly oppressed with q
sense Of loneliness. A thousand objects Of
interest upon which she daily looked, tend
to keep her constantly in my thoughts.
There is her writing desk; the unfinished
manuscript lies upon the table; a note ad.
dressed to a friend. but owing to some Cir
cumstance never sent to her; an unfinish-
ed piece of fancy work kept for a stray
hours amusement; her books, her pictures
indeed, everywhere the mute objects
which her eyes or fingers rested upon.
And where is she now? come to me with
appalling force. Shall we meet again?
"July 9. 1t is recommended by my
ing. Mrs. Agnew is constantly troubled
with her servants, the children have grown
very restless under her management t, and
Arthur refuses to obey +her at all. It is
thought I had better send the children to
some good boarding school, and find some
home for myself, where l shall be subject
to less p%erplexity and sooner regain my
former c~heerfulness.
"July 20. The decision is made, and I
have been gathering all the relics of dear
Mary's handiwork, for her daughter Grace
to preserve as a precious legacy. The dear
children are at a well recommended school,
and I take lodgings tomorrow in a public
house. It is thought I shall be more in
society in such a place, and wear off the
effects of my great loss. But the idea of
quitting a home where I have enjoyed the
most exquisite pleasure, where a holy
charm seems to Dervade even the apart
ments through which she so often glided
and adorned, is, indeed, painful. But
then, with such a housekeeper, what is
left for me but to pursue such a course?
I cannot find one-half the nice materials
upon which Mary expended so much time.
Mrs. Agnew says the servants must have
carried them away. What was in the draw
ers is mostly extracted; but as never gave
attention to the minuti@ Of what was con-
tanned in trunks and ~receptacles, but gave
all the keys to my housekeeper, l have no
means of knowing what has been purloin-
ed. But whoever is the agressor must
suffer more by the gain than I can by the
loss.
august 8. I do not exactly enjoy this
bustling whirl in which 1 live. I some
times picture to myself a regathered family,
where we can again garner up our wasted
hopes, and sit by our cheerful fireside. If
there was another Mary in this wide
world who could but supply the place of
her who has gone-but what have I said?
1t is-it is scarcely five months since she
left me, and I have every week since
watered her grave with my tears.
"Sept. 20. Have not visited nay dear
wife's grave for three weeks. At first had
misgivings, as if she were conscious of
the neglect; but it is only the material
form which is entombed-her gentle spirit
would gladly spare me from all unnatural
grief. How much the children need a
home and a mothers care!
"Oct. II. When I was first int reduced
to Amelia Blond, she at once reminded |
nae of my dear wife. True, she is a mere
girl compared with her-some fifteen years
younger-but still all the graces of wo-
manhood are fully developed. If
heavens! l blush to enter it upon nv
Journal !! How Mrs. Agnew. my old house.
keeper, would glory in the fulflment of her
prophecy, made in my deepest bereave-
ment. MI. HERBERT said she, your feel
ings will be materially changed in a few
months, and in less than a year I predict
your marriage.-Such violent grief never
survives more than n season. [ could
have turned her from my threshold for
such an intimation; but, alas, how little
we know ourselves!-Mary, your image is
still enshrined in my heart; but must I
go weeping through the remainder of nv
journey because you we're taken from my
side? [ met DR.. Frost yesterday; he first
ventured to joke me upon being married
again. This led to a serious conversation
on the subject-the doctor has been
through the depths of affection three sue
cessive times, and now is in the full en-
~ Ao uoAi0ooio o4ino. liz argued no
objection to Miss Blond but her age, but
girls at twenty are as fit to rule a
household as others at fifty. LIDO not
thmk her age an %insuperable objections:
she will be more companionable to Grace.
But how do I know that she will marry a
so much her senior? The doctor
says: How will you know unless you ask
her?'
November 4. Since my last entry in
my journal [ have taken a great step. The
proposal to marry Amelia was accepted,
and | find myself in a new world; the old,
d~isconsolate feeling 1 have SO
long endured seems leaving me. NV
weed is horribly rusty upon my hat,
and outward marks of MOURNING
are superfiuous. I have thought
would not use any more Grape surround
lngs. l must express my feelings to my
dear friend, to whom 1 so recently COM
my deep sorrow, well assured,
however, that she will reply, Henry, I
tremble for you"
RULES FOR RIDING.--When a lady and
gentleman are riding together the gentle
man should be on the near and not on the
off side Of the lady. With the gentleman
IN the near side the lady runs the risk, if 8
ne be a bad rider, of an occasional jostle s