Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-06-19

uW chhiiOet, no way OlmlnlSneu ioTtunnle-
ly for us, they had lost much of their force
on our WORKOUT feelings, and fell asleep
on my chair in the very act Of forcing out a
brief reply to an equally laconic question
oil my good natured companion.
| slept soundIy-may be a couple Of hours
when, from the hum Of domeslic arrange.
ments, the glare of broad daylight. the oc
casionuf tramping over the uncarpeed
floor ofthe faithful house-dog. OF the easily
recognised sounds from the adjustment of
the breakfast furniture. on table set out
short distance from mel awoke. AT
that instant, the landlord gently decended
the steps into the room. and whispered 10
me, Friend, lis all over with the youth; he
has departed 10 his long homel"
"Oh, it cannot be-" Involuntary ex-
caimcd-the big tear springing into my
eyes, lis he then relieved for ever from
his agony; or, oh God is death but the
beginning OF never-ending lie,--and. if.
so, is il but a proongaton, with superaded
horrors Of this life ? AS the tree falls so il
lies but yet to spring up an eternal tree
OF the same nature, bearing none but its
peculiar fruits; there, then, can be no till
ing, no melioration, no change for the better;
dreadful, overwhelming thought But
landlord, we must now indulge no farther
in such matters"
We FASTENED TO the sad chamber; and
never did eye rest upon sight more heart.
rending. more loathing We behelJ 1t
youth of fine proportions, and once Of man.
ly beauty, now an emaciatcd corpse, a mis-
cradle wreck OF what he had been, stretched
upon the Aoor with an empty bottle in one
hand, and the fragment OF chair in the
other, both held with apparently the same
muscular force with wbic b they had been
seized, perhaps but few moments before
the vital spark had fed. His fine hazel
eyes were protrnded from their livid sockets
his thin blue lips and distorted features
showed how his vexed spiIit had struggled
with the grim monaIch-his glossy brown
hair hung in short rnglets, and was beau.
lfully contrasied with the fair complexion
Of his exposed neck an shoulders. over which
also hung the hair locke of Mary Summersl
found that everything within his reach
had been broken and his bruised and lacera-
ted body also showed that the unhappy youth
had waged war against thousand imagn
airy enemies, among which were his own
tender lilbs. We promptly removed him
10 another chamber, and bestowed on his
remains every attention that might, as fan
as possible. remove from the eye Of affection,
soon TO visit him, the tokens of his misera-
BILE end 1t was sad scene in few hours
afer to see aged parents kissing his fore.
head and lips; his lovely sisters, with deep
affection and involuntary horror blended.
embracing his lifeless corpse. Some Of the
sad tale OF the preceding night had been
related 10 them by the host. and | was ur-
gently invited by the afflicted parents 10
their house, and that | should extend my
kindness still farther by Witnessing the in
terment. The heart in such case needs
moi The ties of blood, nor YET Of acquaintance
to feel for the dead. or warmly to sympathize
with the living and, in n short time alter,
found myself domesicated in the comfort
able mansion of Virginan gentleman o.
the old school. Here. all that met my eye
at once told me, that it had long been tn,
home Of an intelligent and worthy family
one of an extended hospitality. but whose
progenitors had probably seen brighter and
,, more prosperous days than had shown OF
its present owners for sometime past, a
least
| retired TO my chamber and slept sound
" for some hours, Till the dinner-bel sound
ed and pretty ittle colored boy softly tap
ping AT my door, summoned me forth.
retired to the dining-room much refresh
E ed, but with itlle appetite; a deatl-like 81
/ lence reigned there, interrupted only b!
S those occasional subdued but heartfelt kind
nesses which sprung from the newlykindlet
, affection towards me.
{ AS we approached the table, covered will
4 the savory products Of the surrounding man
or, the old gentleman placed his hands il
/. mine, II fear, my friend. we must dine 10
\ day without the ladies; but George ant
!, James will accompany US, and we shall q
4 better, hope in few days" Then pans
/ ing for a moment, he edded, my wlle an
n daughters were nearly prevailed on to joi
| US; but, poor Mary Summers has just arr
v we'd, and their wounded hearts are now blee
V ding afresh"
) at is bette, So" ] gently replied |hei
Y tender souls need the solace OF weeping
and am happy they can weep"
II "Dear Mary does not weep" rejoine
4 the afflicted father: "ice have been in som
. measure prepared for the sad event-ne
y /, SO with Mary Summers. TO whom we ne'
- er ventured 10 communicate all that too
n place with our afflicted SON."
n We dined in sadness the day and nigf
/, passed off. and the hour Of four in the ate
h noon of the following day, was appointed 70
a the interment
Il