Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-03-10
From the wesiches,cr Spy.
TALE OF TRUTH.

a IAhb vi ~ = -
Ir,, observation that truth is strange
sqioun is finely illustrated by the fol
sior story which was related to us som,
3 sIuce BY a lady well acquainted will
ne or,ies. At her request I've suppress
,smes of those concerned and suLstitui,
(sn
/ MANY years ago two friends, Edwarc
Ioniur and George Belden, resided il
vicinity Of Cattskill in this state. They
4 been educated at the same schools, hat
6wu TO maturity in the same neighbor
M and at an early age had married anc
HE'D on adjoining farms. Here, however
mrae between them ceased. The wife
Edward was sweet. companionable wo
Bn Of great personal attractions and a
and winning address, whilst that oil
Orge was odd, ugly, unsocial, and though
sessed of many amiable qualities Of mind
1. altogether unsuited to the ardent TEN.
lament Of her husband. Indeed il may
8 Ie amiss to say, that George had proba.
married her more for a desire TO possess
psIf Of her valuable farm than for any
sr attraction which she might have pos
xd and though really a worthy woman,
had never been able to secure bis of.
Ions
Notwithstanding this difference. the world
srred with the friends, each of whom
|erienced the vicissi,udes common to mar
lie, and "ii,le cares, little pleasures.
sroubles, and little children" multiplied
each succeeding year. The eldest Of
Belden's children was boy. and the
born Of Mr. Manning was a girl. who
bg nearly Of an equal age were constant
together, associated alike in their study
in their play. The parents, also. kept
4 friendly interchange Of kind offices.
a constant intercourse every way agree
and honorable until the sixth year Of
marriage, when Mr. Manning was call
from bis home on business Of Importance
detained for some time. On his return.
found TO his utter astonishment, that his
fnlng wife, the wife of bis bosom and
love, had forsaken his home and gone
With his former friend aud companion,
'se Belden, carrying with them little
bis only living child. His grief may
aP be imagined but not described
erred by his friend, forsaken by his
and BY the same stroke deprived Of his
the agony of the moment was too
Tor bis conslitulion-he became sick
ean and sunk for a time beneath the
Of bis sorrows: recovering at lenght
Instituted diIligent search for the fuyi-
but every effort to detect them proved
lean'lme Mr. Belden had made good bis
fa' lothe far ,cest, with his stolen bride
ner claiming little daughter. whilst his
'am'ly remained, unheeded, behind
paused at one Of the new villages which
men spr'nsing up along the banks Of
P0@eI Mississippi, where he had scarcely
himself when he and his pararnour
coin attacked with the yellow fever
was raging there at the time, and
s,n'y hurried 10 their account, leaving
lucy an orphan and stranger far
ne' native home. Ii so happened,
e'eI' that DR. Elmore, the physician
a'a attended them in their last moments,
struck with her beauty aud intelli-
wal ne at once determined to take her,
svsn mousse and adopt her as his child.
.~0le had no children-we think that
pachelor-but however that NAV
Oscame very fopd of little Lucy, took
rlns TO give her the best opportunity
sIi quo which the place afforded, cui.
III her mind and her manners, and
!, = sO~ards her in all respects like a
sss aaa she grew up a beautiful, engag-
NM ,"Ona'e girl' the delight of her fos-
e; in auu 'he centre and charm of the
SlIc'e in which she moved
W Lucy was carried away from her
IN '' ~" was sufficiently old to understand
ler , "d' ao' exactly right between her
If "u MI belden, and to recoIlect the
v W. several places in the vicinity ofthe
Way 'esne had lived. AS she increas-
r. ,ss u these impressions Of her infan-
Isdsms Enlightened i by greater degree Of
easS :, anu from time to time she com.
wy 70 her foster-father ali that sba
and pse'lng her own history and the
aaIo' o' ,a Of her early home. The
EN- 'd linus mus Cleaned was sufficient to
Nj ' asslre for more. and Or Gilmore
n y" . member Of Congress from his
NJ ,.a make further inquiries Of The
lad 's,pps';essel'ing the district to which
ya ~so happened that the member from
sDe, % was acquainted with all The cir
and d y. the elopement, knew all the |
sirsd r wa was therefore possessed of ali |
ae, - ,,aa:lSormation, which he communi.
i N, dsIaagly. and at the same time
If HI HE manning informing him OF the
and d. o ,0r@er wife and Of his former
BIZ LILY y The circumstances and situa-
Isol ,ba'aIlon aroused all the tender
eIv ~ "u 'a'her, and he resolved i'm.
~ 70 lake his ;o,r... -. :. -"