Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-05-11
THE THREE BRIDES.


THE THREE BRIDES.
DO you see," said the sexton :" those three hill
locks yonder, side by side ? There sleep the three
brides whose history am about to relate. Look
there, sir on yonder bill, you may observe little
isolated house, with a struggling fence in front,
lew stullted apple trees on the ascent behind it, Ii
is sadly out of repair now, and the garden is all
overgrown with weeds and brambles, and the
whole place has desolae appearance. Ii the
wind were high now, you m ight hear the old era.
ny shutters Tapping against the sides, aud the wind
tearing the gray shingles of the roof Many years
ago, there lived in that house old man and his
son, who cultivated the few acres of land which
belong TO it.
"'The father was n self-taught man, deeply vers
ed in the mysteries of science and, as 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 books, or reading the mys
tic story of the heavens, men thought he WINS era
zed or bewtched, and avoided him, and even ha-
ted him, as the ignorant shun the gifted and
enlightened. few there were, and among 9th
ers the minister and lawyer and physician of the
place, who showed some unwlllingness TO afford
him countenance but they soon dropped his ac-
quanauce, for they found the old man some W hat
reserved and morose, aud moreover, their vanity
was wounded by discovering the extent OF his
knowledge.
TO the minister he would quote the Fathers and
the Scriptures in the original tongue, and showed
himself well armed with the weapons OF polemic
controversy. He astonshed the lawyer with his
profound acquaintance with jurisprudence; and
the physician was surprised at the extent of his
medical knowledge. So they all deserted him,
and the minister from whom the old man differed
in some trifing points of doctrine, spoke very
slightly of him I; and by and by all looked upon
the self educated farmer with eyes of aversion
But he little cared for that, for he derived his con-
IuG. 4 IL
ed paths of science found a pleasure as in the
painless woods! He instructed his son in all his
lore-the languages literature, history, philoso-
ply, science, were unfoded one by one to the en-
thusiastc son ofthe solitary. Years rolled away,
the old man died. He died when storm con-
vulsed the face OF nature, when the wind howled
around his shattered dwelling and the lightning
played above the roof; and though he went to
heaven in faith and purity, the vulgar thought and
said the Evil One had claimed his own in the
thunder and commoton Of the elements. can
not paint to you the grief Of the son at his be-
reavelnent; with proud and lofty look the son
stood above the dust and tile dead, IN the midst OF
the small band of mourners, with pang at his
heart, but a serenity on his brow. He thanked his
friends for their Kindness, acknowledged their
courtesy, and then strobe away from the grave to
bury his grief in the privacy ofhis deserted dwell
ling.
He found, at first, the solitude Of the mansion
almost insupportabe, and he paced the echoing
floors from morning till night, in all the agony of
wo and desolation, vanly imploring heaven for
relief. 1t came 20 him at first in the guise of po
etic inspiration. He wrote with wonderful ease
and power. Page after page came from his pro-
life pen, almost without an effort; and there WAS
time when he dreamed (vain fool Of immor-
tality. Some of his productions came before the
world. They were praised and circulated, and in
quiries were set on foot in the hope of discover
tn.,n
penetrabe obscurity, listened to the voice OF ap-
plause more delicious because it was Obtained by
stealth. From the obscurity of yonder lone man
sion, and from this remote region, TO send forth
lays which astonished The world, was indeed tri-
umph TO the visionary bard,
His thirst for fame was gratified, and he now
began 10 yearn for the conpanonship of some
sweet being of the other SEX TO share the laurels
he had won, TO whisper consolation in his ear in
moments OF dependency and to supply the void
which the death Of his old father had occasioned.
lie would picture to himself the felicity of re-"
fined intercourse with highly intellectual and
beautiful woman and us he had chosen for his
motto -" what has been done may still be done"
he did not despair Of success. In this village
lived three sisters all beautiful and accomplished.
Their names were Mary, Adelaide, and Madeline.
am lar enough past The age OF enthusiasm, but
never can forget the benuty of those young girls.
Mary was the youngest, u haired, more laugh"
ing dalnae never danced upon green. Adelaide,
who was few years older, was dark haired and
pensve but OF The three, Madeline, the eldest,
possessed The most fire, spirit cultivation and in
intellectual ability. Their father was a man of
taste and education, and being somewhat above
vulgar prejudces, permitted The visits OF the hero
OF my story. Still he did not altogether encour.
age the affection which he found Swinging up be.
Tween Mary and the poet. When. however he
found that her affections were engaged he did not
withhold his consent from her marriage, and the
recuse bore TO his solitary mansion The Young
bride of his affections. Oh sir, the house assum.
ed II new Appearance, within and without. Roses
bloomed in the garden, jassemnes peeped thro'
its laltces, and The fields about il smiled with the
effects Of careful cultivation. Lights were seen
in the lille parlor in the evening, and many time
would the passenger pause by the garden gate TO
listen to strains Of the sweetest music, breated by
coral voices from the cottage. If the mysterious
student and his wife were neglected by their
neighbors, VIVA, cared they? Their enduring m,l-
,ual affection made their home little paradse.-
but death came 10 Eden. Mary fell suddenly
sex, and, after a few hours illness, died in the
arm, arms oil hcr husband and her sister Madeleine
ms was The students second heavy affection.
Days, months, rolled on, and the only solace
oil The bereaved was 10 sit with the sisters of the
deceased and talk Of the lost one. To Adelaide,
at length he offered his widowed heart. She
came to his lone house the dove, bearing the olive
branch Of peace and consolation. Their bridal