Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-09-20

scanStfCss. IuuOr l1aViland, VINO always
gladly avaed himself of the privilege of
bringing home, in the evening, book from
Mr.. Knox's store, had taken some pains to
cultivate her natural fondness for reading
though the literature Of that period offered
but little that would be considered interest.
ing or amusing by most young girls of the
present lime.
On the evening with which we propose
TO commence our story, Aunt Rhoda was
seated in her usual corner, in her tall,
straight. high backed arm chair, its cushion
stuffed with feathers, and covered with
broad striped red and yellow calico. A
large fire of maple logs bIozcd on the TRAN
gular hearth, and a substantial mould cam
die, of domestic manufacture, in n brass
stick, was burning on circular walnu,
table, whose only fault was that II whirled
around rather oftencr than was desired,
The pivot being generally out Of order.
Her feet rested on little wooden stool or
cricket, that was tophcavy, and fell over
whenever she rose and she was engaged in
knitting a pair of blue yarn stockings for
Chase. hnns sat at the table. and was
patiently dividing, with long rows Of stitch.
| ing, the compartments of an extensive silk
thread case. Tudor Ilaviand, who Ike
most reading young men, had d passion for
poetry, and had not yet been long enough
with MIR. Knox to have gone through the
British classics, had placed himself opposite
to Annis, and was deeply engrossed with
| The poems of Gray.
DO read out loud, Tudor said Aunt
Rhoda, III seems SO sociabIei'o keep your
book to yourself. You know always Ike
TO hear good reading. What have you go,
| here?'
'Gray's Poems-but l fear you would
not find them very interesting
May be you think I'm not quite cute
enough to understand verse.
For my part remarked Annis, i al
ways like poetry; and if ! cannot compre
bend every word Of it, still it seems pretty
Il have, resumed Aunt Rhoda, I've lived
long enough in the world TO understand
| verse as well as most people, and I'm al.
| ways pleased 10 hear il, that is, if it's rale
good verse;
But Aunt, observed Tudor, You fell
asleep, last night, in the midst oflhc Deser
ted Village
WELL replied Aunt Rhoda, Sin tie first
place, it is considerable of poem. And
| hen, what is worse than all, it. 10 quite 100
self, if were only to try. 1t was full Of
all sorts of common things. Any body
nj h' make rhymes about the sandcd floor
see nothing particular in that. And lhrn
| 1t seemed so foolish to range the broken lea
cups on the mantle. shelf aud to keen them
tor show. Did the same man make the
poetry you are reading to night 2
| . , a.
ems Of the celebrated Gray
ANY relation TO Jonathan Gray, that
keeps the Red Lion in Milk street 2
| Not that know Of said Tudor. sm-
ling.
We'll now, read up, pursued Aunt
Rboda, and you'll see how well ! can
make il OUT
Tudor, somewhat mischevously, perhaps,
Iurned TO the sublime ode Of The Bard,'
and began with great energy,
Ruin seize thee, ruthless king,
| Confusion on thy banners watt
'Ah! that sounds grand!' exclaimed the
old lady, that does seem like rale poetry =
And when he finished the stanza with,
'Stoud Goser stood aghast. in speechIess trance
'FO arms ! cried Mortimer, and couchd his quiv-
ering lance
she said, with much complacency, that's
fine! that's worth listening ,o:-I doubt if
| could make any thing like that
Tudor, as he proceeded. was much graf.
fled at perceiving, by The intelligent looks
of Annls, that she perfectly comprehcnded
the historical atasions in this beautiful ode,
She had lately been reading Goldsmtbs's
admirable Letters on Eng first pub
llshed as addressed by nobeman to his
son. and enormously attributed TO Lord
Lylllelon. Aunt Rhoda, however, occa
sionulIy reused herself, to make comments,
at which Tudor did not dare to cast his eyes
towards Anns. At the words,
'And weave with bloody hands the tissue ofhy line'
WELL remarked the good old lady,
some of our weavers are dirty. handed
enough; but to weave with bloody hands
seems awful
Tudor went on till he arrived at,
'Ye towers of Julius Lonion's lasting shame
With many foul and midnight murder fed
We'll, to be sure, fowls are good things
TO feed upon. but il does seem shame TO
murder them at midnight, taking them from
their perches, poor creatures, when they
are fast asleep
Tudor proceeded, and came to the lines,
Blu, oh what solemn scenes on Snowand's height
Descending slow their glitlering skirts unroll.'
That's elegant !-their gliltering skirts
unrolling as they come down stairs. Like
Squire Hancock's new coat, ] dare say
all done off with gold ace''
Tudor concluded the poem, and as he
paused after the last line, Aunt Rhoda SAID
with such earnestness as TO suspend her
knitting. Now you've done, Tudor,
wonder what's the cause OF so much tramp.
tramp, tramping in the street. over The
snow tonight. All Boston seems 10 be
passing by, I've been listening 10 it the
whole time you were a.rending, and
could not puzzle out what il was for