Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-01-06
From the New Yorker.
) LUCY CARROL--A sketch.
Take back the bowl-iake back the bowl
IL =. 4 II

Reserve il for polluted lips;
would not bow stainless soul
Beneath It's dark and foul eclipse"
Lucy, my child" said Mrs Carol, dc
you know ii is whispered that George Dur
wood is forming habits Of dissipation
would not grieve you, Lucy--yet it is well
to warn you Of danger; and when even
Durwood's friends are forced 10 acknowledge
that he is altered, We have reason to fear
that our ingenious and high-minded friend
is indeed listening with a charmed ear to
the voice Of that syren, the end of whose
song is destruction. You have heard these
reports, my child ?"
A slight qaivcr came over the lip Of the
young girl,-wbo stood silent before her
mother, as pale, and certainly as beautiful
as the most exquisite statue. Lifting her
mois,ened blue eye to her mother, while an
nnwonied energy kindled il, she answered,
yes, mother, Durwood's enemies have
not been slow in coming such reports for
my ear. know have heard them all
but do not believe them"
Lucy,-the innocent, the lovely, the con.
fiding Lucy, spoke but as she thought In
her heart OF hearts she could not believe
that he whose nature was so noble, so gen
erous-who evinced SO many correct feel
ings and principles, and possessed in an en-
ineni degree all manly qualificatons---she
could not believe that he, by any possible
temptation could yield TO the balelul insinu-
atoms Of the destroyer, aud degrade the dig
nifty of manhood below The beasts that per.
ish.
And why was It, that amid the censures
and harsh judgment OF the world, the Sc
cret regret Of friends, and open attacks OF
foes, Lucy shrined deeper in her heart the
image OF her lover2 She iored him-and
her heart. ensbrouded in the mantle of de.
vo,ion, chung with increased tenaciiy to its
object: and the light of affection shone
warmer and brighter as the shadows Of evil
closed darker around her beloved.
Constancy is striking and peculiarly
beautiful trait in the character Of woman
and in love like Lucy's, there is supassing
strength. II has nothing gross nor earthly
in its yearnings, for its source is in the pur.
rs, fountains Of the heart Alas for the
sunless riches laid on the altar Of love II
is seldom worthy OF its offerings.
But was present at that bridal fol
Lucy did become the wife Of George Dur
wood marked the smile of conscious
triumph and exulling love, as before Gods
altar he pighted that deep vow to be heI
husband, comforter and protector forever
And she--the gentle being at his side
saw her look Of trust and entire confidence
when she gave her hand TO him with whom
she had chosen to tread Liie's crowded path
| watched that widowed mother, too, when
she gave up her only darling 10 an uniriet
guardianship There was sorrow in tn,
tones of her fond and fearful blessing or
that fair young bride, who was thus in heI
tenderest years leaving the shelter anc
guidance Of a mothers love forever. And
heard too. the solemn injunction she CAV,
as she committed her precious charge intt
other hands-thal he should deal truly ant
kindly with her as he hoped Gods blessing
heard all, and turned aside to conceal III,
teaIs which were unconsciously creeping
into my eyes An il-omened melancholy
came over me, but l strove to Danish it, fo
why should dim that fairy picture of hap
piness with my tears.
have said that Lucy Carol became thu
wife of Durwood--and alas she becam,
his victim also. The blight fell early or
the rose, and the worm revelled amid III
leaves. We need not trace George Dur
wood on his eIring path of folly and dissi
patton; enough that he did bow down hi'
high spirit a, the unholy shrine of lntem
perance.
But Lucy-she who in the trusting ear
nestness of her pure heart had thrown al
on the "venture of his vow"-she was mad,
to feel the perishing of all that was bright
noble and elevated-it was hers to feel in it.
most refined bitterness the keen and wither
ing blight of disappointment when she look
ed on him she called her husband
For long time, Lucy's believing spiri
sustained her under her heavy trial for on'
hope chung even as an anchor TO her soul