Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-11-08
Fro~ ns Ladies' companion.
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My mother said she. 'was the youngest
daughter oil Dean Of $1,000, and the
only oue'ofa large family who remained
unmarried at the death OF her father My
gmnu.uthrr, who had taken second wife
quite late in life left bis daughter entirely
dependent on the will OF her step mother,
with The exception Of small sum which she
inherited in right Of her mother The wild.
ow was a woman Of harsh and ambitious
temper, who souo hi 10 extend her influence
by the marriage Of the Deans daughter, so
as TO command success for her only SON.
My mother, who possessed gentle and
quie, temper, together with good talents and
extreme personal beauty. was By no means
disposed 10 enter into her ambitious schemes
The dssimilariiy OF their views constantly
gave rise TO unpleasant scenes. until. al
length. as punishment, and in the hope
that tie monoiony OF her new home would
give her a new zest for the gay world. my
mother was sent TO spend the summer with
an old aunt, who resided in remote village
in the west Of England To my mother.
The transition from the gaietirs Of London
life 10 the quiet offs country village. was in
deed delightful. Wearied with perpetual
round OF dissipation. disguised with the
frivolous pleasures Of fashionable life. she
had never been so happy since she leG the
nursery and school room. as she was when
occupying one corner OF the little parlor in
the old parsonage OF Harrfield. Her aunt.
an old fashioned body, who read her Bible.
darned her stockings, and made carpet-work
inierlered but little in her pursuits; and her
uncle, an old world clergyman. who divided
his time between sermon-wrilng and back
CANNON. troubled himself still less about
her. Her uncle's library afforded many re-
sources to mind as contemplative as hers,
and her skill in drawing. enabled her 10 oc-
cupy many hours in sketching the pictures
que beauties of the little village. Perhaps
the visits Of the young eura,e had some ef-
feet in making her con,ented with her seclu-
sion. for ii is very certain thai the summons
10 return TO the gay world was most un-
welcome one. She. however. obeyed il,
and found her home rendered more unconl-
Portable than ever BY project which her
step mother now entertained. Of marrying
her 10 rich and equity old lord. A series
of prosecutions followed her refusal 10 MD
in the scheme. and she was finally sent
back to Fairfield. where she no longer hesi
ated to obey the dictates Of her own heart
The poor curate. who had long loved her in
secret was soon her accepted lover, and in
spite OF the threats Of ouilawry from her
family and friends, they were married.
Totally ignorant OF the value oil money,
because she had never known It's want un-
used to any kind Of household occupations.
my mother was little suited TO the life she
had chosen. But, with willing heart and
great energy ofchamc,er. she set herself to
the task she had undertaken. ana though
several years elapsed before she had fully
learned her duties. and though her health
was broken down in the painful study. she
persevered nobly. to the end. and my father
never had cause 10 repent his impruden,
marriage Her family, exasperated ut what
they deemed low connection, refused TO
hold any intercourse with her; they paid
over to Der mothers legacy OF Eve hun
bred pounds, and then cast her off forever.
During the first year OF her married lite.
she was too happy to think of the future.
Her uncle's house was a secure asylum
from the evils OF poverty. and notwiihsland,
ing her husbands paliry stipend Of forty
pounds year. she felt no anxiety about.
pecuniary matters But the death Of her
uncle soon deprived her OF her chiefrrlianee.
The living passed into other hands; the
new incumbent had bis own friends to serve,
a new curale was appointed, and my father
was thrown upon the world pennyless IL
was under these circumstances that was
born. have heard my mother narrate the
story oftheir suffrrings at that Time and the
recital almost broke my heart Imagine, II
you can. the situation oftwo persons. brought
up amid the re6nements OF taste and luxury,
with talents cultivated to the highest degree,
and feelings rendered doubly sensitive by
lutte want--destitute Of the means 10 procure
a morsel of bread. cannot bear to dwell
upon the particulars Of their misery; suffice
ii to say. that my father was compelled to
labor with his hands in the meanest OF all
occupations. IN order 10 provide food for his
perishing wife and child.
In the midst Of their distress, however,
they were most unexpectedly relieved. An
eccentric relative who had quarrelled with
all his immediate connexions. died leaving
a small but independent fortune to my father.
whom he bad not seen since he was a boy.
or coursea new mode Of life was Immediate
ly adopted. Ny parents. who never could
learn the value Of money, soon established
in a handsome house. richly fur
nished. and filled with obsequious servants.
Their equipage and plate were unexcepiiona-
ble--their dinners exquisil---their balls
splendid, and they consequently soon found
the centre Of circle OF summer