Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1836-12-13

kissed on each check, and who formed pro-
cossion in his reag, with legion Of domestics
of all ages following him TO large, old ia
shioned French house, that domihcered over
| the village.
His black valet. de-chamble in white Jacket
and trowsers, and gold ear rings, was met on
the shore by boon, though rustic companion,
tall negro fellow, with long, good humored
horse face, which stood out in strong relief
from beneath a narrow trimmed straw hat, stuck
on the back OF his head. The explosions of
laughter of these two varlets on first meeting
with each other and exchanging compliments,
were enough 10 electrify the whole country
round.
The most hearty reception, however, was
that given TO Compere Martin. Every body,
young and old, hailed him before he got to
land Every body had a joke for Compere
Martin, and Compere Martin had a joke for
everybody. Soon his little dog appeared, to
partalIe Of his popularity, and to be carressed
| by every hand Indeed he was quite different
animal the moment he touched the land
| Here he was at home--here lie was of con-
sequence. He borkcd, he leapt, he frisked
about his cd friends, aud then would skim
round the place in circle as if mad.
traced Compero Martin and his little dog
TO their home. Ii was an old rninous Spanish
overshadowed by ancient elms. The house
had probably been the residence, in old times,
of the Spanish commandant. In one wing Of
the crazy, but arsiotratca abode was nestled
the family Of my fellow travellers for poor de-
wills are apt to be magnifcently clad and odg-
ed in the cast off clothes, and abandoned pa
laces, Of the great and wealthy.
The arrival Of Compere Martin was well
coined by legion oil women, children, and
T mongrel ours, and as poverty and gaity ge-
nersIly 60 hand in hand among the French
+ and their descendants, the crazy mansion
soon resounded with loud gossip and light
hearted laughter.
, As the steamboat paused short time at the
village, | took occasion to stroll about the
place. Most Of the houses were in the French
, taste, with easements and rickety verandahs
t but most of them in fllmsey and runous con.
t dition. All the wagons, ploughs, aud othel
utensils were Of ancient and Inconvenient Gal.
lie construction, such as had bocn broueh
from France in the primitive days of the col
ony. The very looks Of the people reminded
, me OF the villages OF France.
, As passed by one OF the houses, tho hun
Of spinning wheel came issuing forth, ac.
companod by scrap Of a song, which a cir
: sung as she sat at her labor. 1t was an OLD
: French chanson that | have heard many
time among the peasaniry of Languedoc anc
the sound Of it brought many bright anc
happy scence TO my remembrance. II wa:
) doubtless an old traditional song, brought ov
or by the French emgrants, and handed dowI
t from generation to generation.
4 Half a dozen young lasses emerged from
Q the adjacent dwellings, reminding me. BY. thei
Es.s '.sr 49," whore as,o in drees comes main
= raj to every class Of females. The trim DO
d, dice and colored petticoat, and little apron
| with its pockets 10 receive the hands when il
}, an attitude for conversation the colored 'ker
e chief wound tastofully round the head, with
5 coQuetish knot perking above one ear; an,
+: The neat slipper and tight drawn stocking wit
J., its braid of narrow rband embracing the ankl
where it peeps from its mysterious curtain. -
9 1t is from this ambush that cupid sends hi
e most melting arrows.
: While | was musing upon the recollection
: thus accidentally summoned up, | heard tn
e sound of fiddle from the mansion of Com
n pere Martin, the signal, no doubt, for a Joy
S Gus gathering. was disposed to turn m
: steps thither and witness the festivities n on
, Of the very few villages that | had met with i
n my wide tour, that was yet poor enough TO b
II merry but the bell of the steamboat summon
n cd me to re-embark.
As we swept away from the shore, cas-
d back wistiul ego npon the moss grown roof;
= and anciont elms of the village, and praye
I, that the inhabitants might long retain thei
e happy ignorance, their absence of all enter
d prise and improvement, their respect for tn
l. fiddle, and their contempt for the almght
e dollar fear, however, my prayer is doome
# to be ofno avail. In little time the steam
boat whrled me 10 an American town, ju:
&c spfinsins into prosperous and busting ext:
1t tence.
: The surrounding forest had been laid out
y town lots; frames of wooden buildings wei
is rising from among stumps and burnt trees
Ell Jail, and two banks, all built of pine board:
on the model OF Grecian temples. Thei
d were rival hotels, rival churches, and rvI
10 newspapers, together with the usual quantit
g of judges and generals, and governors not |
l. speak of doctors by the dozen, and lawyers b
y the score.
er The place | was told, was in an astonishin
T. career of Improvement, with canal and tw
le rail roads in embryo. Lots doubled in prlc
IN every week. every body was specializing
III land everybody was rich, and everybody wa
ID growing richer. The community, howeve
Id was torn 10 pieces by new doctrines in religio
re and in political economy; there were cam
OF meetings, and agrarian meetings; and an c
ecton was at hand, which il WINS expecte,
n would throw the whole community into pa
G. oxyisms.
IN Alas! with snch an cntcrprisng neighho
OF what is TO become OF the poor little Creo
re village.
ce --=.-------.----------=
es SATURDAY EVENING.