Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-07-13
mIscKLLANY.
THE rmRkE RRIDEs.

there sleep the three brides whose his.
tory am about 20 relate. Look there.
sir. on yonder hill. you may observe I
little isolated house, with the Struggling
fence in front. and few s,unied apple
trees on the ascent behind it.~Itis sad-
" out OF repair now, and the garden Is
all overgrown with weeds and bTambles,
and the whole place has desolate ap-
pearance.s IL the wind we're high now,
you might hear the old crazy shutters
Tapping against the sides, and the wind
tearing the gray shingles of the roof.
Many years ago. there lived IN that
house an old man and BIS son, who Gull
tivated the few acres Of arabic land be-
longing to it.
The father was . self-iaught man.
deeply veFsed in the mysteries Of SCI
ence aAd, Is he could tell the name
Of every flower that blossomed in the
wood and grew in the garden. and used
to SIT up late Of nights at his book,
reading the mystic story Of the starry
heavens, men thought be was crazy or
bevildered. and avoided him, and even
hated him, as the ignorant ever shuu
the gifted and enlightened. A few
there were, and among others the ma.
MISTER and lawyer and physician Of the
place, who showed some willingness 10
Afford ham coantenance; but they soon
dropped his acquaintance, Zoe they
found the old mSn somewhat reserved
and morose, and moreover, their vanity
Was wounded by discovering The extent
OF his knowledge. To the minister, he
would quote the Fathers and the Scrip
ture in the original tongue, and show.
ed himself we'll armed with the wea-
Pons Of polemical controversy. He as.
tonishsd the lawyer with his profound
acquaintance with Jurisprudence. and
the physician was al the extent 81 his
medical knowledge. So they N dc
serted him, add the minister. from
whom the old man differed 10 some tri.
, Ting point, ol doctrine. spoke very
slghtiagly Of him and by aud hy oil
looked upon the seif-eiucaied farmer
Nth eyes OF aversion Rua be litlle
cared Tor that tor be derived bis con
soiation from lottier resources. in the
untraced path, OF science, and found a
pleasure IN the painless woods. He in.
sifGcied his son Ia al his lore-ihe Ian
guagss. literature. history. philosophy
and science were unfolded one by one
Ia the enthusiastio sou Of the solitary
Years rolled awrs. and the old man
died. He died when storm convulsed
the face Of nature, when the wind
howled around his shattered dwelling.
snd the lightning played above the
roof; and though be went to heaven in
faith aud purity, the vulgar thought and
said the Evil 0ne had claimed bis own
in the thunder and eommolion Of the
elements. l cannon paint to you the
grief Of the son at his bereavement
he was. for a lime, as one distracted.
The minister came and multered few
cold and hollow phrases in his ear, aud
few neighborS, impsIled by curiosity
70 see the interior Of the old mans
dwelling, came TO his funeral. With
q proud and lofty lsok the son stood
above the dust and the dead ia the
midsi Of the band Of hypocritical
mourners, with pong At his heart, bat
serenity on his brow. He thanked
his frien5s for their kindness. acknow-
lodged their courtesy, aud then strobe
away from the grave to bury his grief
in the privacy Of his deserted dwelling.
He found, at first, the solitude Of the
mansion almost insuppOrtable, and he
paced the echoiBg floors from morning
tall night. IN all the agony Of We and
desolalion, vainly imploring heaven for
relief. II came 10 him fret ia the
guise Of inspiration. He wrote with
wonderful ease and power. Page after
page came from his prolific pen, almost
without an effort. and there was = time
when he dreamed (vaia foolil Of i'm
mortality. Some Of his productions
came before the world; they were
praised and circulated, and inquiries
were set on foot, in the hope Of disco
veFing the author. He, wrapped in the
veil Of impeneiabie obscurity, listened
TO The voice Of applause. more delicious
because u was obtained by stsalth.--i
Prem The cloudy obscurity Of yoader
lone mansion. and from the remois re-
gi0n, 10 send forth lays which asionish-
ed the world, vas indeed . triumph 20
the visionary bard.
His desire for fare was entitled I
and nov he began TO yearn for the com
partnership Of some sweet being of The
other sex, 10 share The laurels he had 4
won, 10 whisper consolation IN his ear
IN moments Of dependency. and To-
supply The void which TIE death oil
BIS Old father had oceasioned. Hel
would picture 10 himself The felicity oil
q refined intercourse wiib highly intel. I
leCtual and beautiful woman; AZ be
had chosen Cor his moHo--what has
been done may sull be done-he did
not despair OF success. In ibis village
lived thfeo sisters all beauiifui and ac-l
comPlished. Their namss were Mary
end Madeline I a,n ErI
enough past &c eye o. enthusiasm. butt
never can forget tie beauty Of those
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