Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-07-03
BRATTLEBoRo, vt. July 8. is
T.HE VISIT.


|maie, a young physician, bu, recently mar
.ried, inviled-h's wife 10 accompany him on
b visa TO one Of bis patients
4 You are romancing, James; what visit
n family without an introduction or an in
Walton, OF exchange of cards2'
In this family, my dear Amanda, there
is no ceremony Of cards said James. but
they will not be less pleased TO see YOU
i never used to 60 TO see poor people.
said Amanda ughtfully; but conlinn-
cd she utter short deIiberation, III 90
with you any where
They passed from the handsome street
Of their residence 10 a public square, and
crossing over entered small alley, in
which Amanda saw row of houses built
IN manner that showed they were for the
uboring class. Crossing the whole range
they entered the last house, and II: the first
door DR. Ledson gave a gentle rap. A
plain woman opened il, and welcomed
them. Two chairs were Immediately set
out, one with the back broken of, the other
rickety and unstable Before the fire were
two little children seated on the hearth, ma.
king noise which tie attendant female
vanly attempted 10 quell. A girl about ten
years oil age came out Of a small pantry
bedroom. and smiled as she spoke In a
large rude chair sat thin female, rocking
herself necessarily. She looked up when
Dr. Ledson addressed her. but neither
smiled nor spoke. Her complexion was
sallow by illness, her lower jaw had fallen
from its socket. and her teeth chartered with
the vain endeavor to close her mouth.
On receiving some nourishmeni at the hand
OF her companion, she seemed revived and
said, i am glad TO see you. doctor. though
had hoped TO have been released from nv
wretchedness before now do not com.
plain, but my bones have started through
the skin. aud sufler'--she shivered and
stopped an nstant--'I thought il very hard
when | lost my baby last summer; see
It was kind; what would have become of
il now ? must leave these young as they
ale. 10 take care Of themselves, and my hus.
band is none OF The steades,'
She did not weep; she was past tina,
human feeling. Amanda looked on in ST.
lence. She had learned more OF life's state
from this scene thar she could have acqnir-
ed from volumes. She felt now a wiser
woman at eigteen than she would otherwise
have been al thirty five 1t brings down
all our vanities and little repinings-a spec
tacle Of such wo. Even The almost insen.
sibiily Of the sick, was more touching than
ordinary -sorrow. IL gave feeling of. so
much that must have been endured before.
Is this yoar sis,er2' said the woman
No said James. and Amanda smiled
as he replied, 1t is my wife
is j, your wife said she. showing some
vivaci,y. How sweet she looks. Can she
sing. o. can she sing. 4 would not live al.
waysr
How often had Amanda sung that care.
lessly before. She felt awed and humbled
now by every syllable that Hoated on her
sob itch tones around her narrow apartment.
The dying looked pretty. A light hectic
relieved her vivid counlenance She said
audibly. 4 hear The angels singing around
me-, and then relapsed into a monotonous
groan OF WEAKNESS. The little girl shook
hands beseechingly as the young couple
left, and in subdued voice, Amanda wills.
pered. We vii! take care ofyou'
Who like the physician, save indeed the
minister. is called upon TO see human nature
in every shadow OF iint2 The rich and
the poor. the delicate and the coarse the
learned and the ignorant come before him
without disguise. Amanda thought before,
that she loved her husband; but luxury is
a dead sea atmosphere in which the noble
passions sicken and lie motionless. She
chung TO James's arm MS he returned home
with feeling Of devotion 10 him that she
had never immagined before; and in the
pleasure she experienced in sohening the
horrors Of her fellow creatures poverty, she
found every day new causes 10 rejoice in
having shared her fortune with one who,
if he brought heI no addition OF the ear,h's
weal;h had Taught her that there is a way
Of employing il that will awaken delight