Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-09-18

yith intelligence, and all those gentle and
legant accomplishments which elevate and
dorm her sex.
With these, also, sho possessed those not
ess potent charms Of persons, which--unae-
:ompanicd with sense and intelligence, mock
our sensibiitics, and vanish like the morning
,loud-lend to refinement an additional lus-
ire, and to the improved and cultivated in-
cllect, a double charm. Under her dark
ashes, glowing with youthful vivacity, her
eyes revealed tho presence Of soul capable
Of the strongest emotions, and Of the most
powerful control. Following the dictates Of
a somewhat indolcnt temperament, had not,
for sometime previous, esteemed the delights
of social intercourse sufficient compensation
for tho CONSTANTS and troubles consequent
upon their indulgence, until had satisfied
myself that they we're far from being ncces- |
sary to my happiness; until could discover
in the soft cndcarmcn,s of matrimonial felici-
~, no happier prospects Of bliss, than the
consolation Of listening to the continuous cries
of children cutting tecth,' and no visions OF
parental transport but such as revealed
wifc's severe dictation, and a redundancy OF
unpaid bills. But advanced as believed
myself to have been, by proper introduction
to the protcctorship of charge so valuable,
and imbibing from the occasion something
Of these feelings which may be supposed to
possess a fathers soul, as he gathers from the
presence Of his timid offspring tho strength.
which their reliance and confidence both rec
quirc and mpart, my spirit rose to unwontcd
ln(t: Il, tI,o of hotp0 obld IN
allay any anxietics which her loneliness might
occasion, and e0ectually to guard her fTom
all those accidents 10 which her situation OK
posed her.
Al length night came on, and our fellow
passengers, arriving at their place Of destina-
ton had given up their seats, which for the
present were destined to no further occupa-
ton. A brisk and animated conversation
dissipa,ed the gloomy darkness which pre-
vailed as the numbering wheels rolled heavily
on. My anxictcs lest the chilling winds Of
a November night might fall too piercineIy
upon her, distracted attention from my own
cold and bcnumbed situation aud the hours
which, under other circumstances, would
have dragged themselves with slow and heavy
pace, and the distance, which would have
seemed doubly heightened, were passing
rapidly away. Tho horses were at length
exchanged for the last time, and another
hour would, in all probability bring her to the
conclusion Of her Journey, and me to a resting
place for the night, when a change came
over the spirit ofthc scene, to me as incxpli.
cable as it was painful and disagreeablc
The sound of her voice, coming forth lader
with the beauties Of her exalted and cutiva.
ted mind, which had lent through, the day tt
the dismal and time worn coach the soft al
lurcments of tho saloon, suddenly gave place
to al unbroEcn and oppressive silence, as il;
deadly palsy had seized that tongue which
but now, was warbling tones of delicious
sweetness. My situation became, as may b'
supposed, extremely embarrassing. lpasset
at once from the enjoyment of that Tranquil
delight which the consciousness Of virtue
dscharging its highest duties, under such cir
cumstances, might well impar,, to the oppo
site extreme Of apprehension and doubt, ant
thousand bcwildering emotions, like darl
clouds over the face Of the heavens, chasc'
each other, in rapid succession, across m
mind. Hour after hour, during the lon
Journey, had been spent in pleasant ant
agreeable discourse, necessarily unfolding, il
some degree, the history and social respect
auiiily OF me parties, until ner face Sccmc
to mo 10 reveal the lincamcnts Of much old
or acquaintance, and tho prospect Of 500
r parting from her company had produced i
, me tie same sensations as ifa relative, who's
, unrelaxing spirits had for long time mad
, me forgcttul of the fatigues Of travel, shout
! withdraw from my company while necesst
urged me to the completion of my journe
alone. Under the influence of such impress
! sions, surrounded by darkness which left II
8 object visible, and in the midst ola silcnc
\ undis,nrbed but by the rafting wheels Of tn
E coach, had but too much time for rcflcctio
d and contemplation, and my imagination
r walking from its dreams Of reposc and conf
!, e ICE, wandered wildly the shadowy realm
. Of speculation and doubt. What, thought
D.. arc the mistaken fancics which now occup
. her mind What are abrupt revcries tn;
u. have fcttcrcd her tongue! Has the decpl
&c read and now remembered history of huma
;. life taught her that beneath the farest extt
4 rior may exist soulteeming with the black
est designs? and that the same lips which
\. one moment may breathe forth the fondc
sentiments of affection and respect, may
> the next give uttcrancc to the foulcst trcaso,
Have the budding flowers Of her intelc
;, been culled and scattered in such rich prof
e sion but to keep the wolf at bay, and no
- that the distance is nearly passed does 81
- bid defiance to his powersl Or is it that h,
;. soul Impressed by the hardening influence
!" of time is occupied by tender but enthusiast
;, tic emotions, as she approaches the sacrt
- mansion of maternal lovcl Is this the eau
y, why that voice, which before was met wi
y such ready response, now dies away, una
:, swcred and unl,cedcdl
,r The door of the coach now turned on
l. rustic hinges, when without breaking tn
r. silence which for an hour before, like the p;
Of night, hung in darkness over the seen
a, she quickly glidcd down the steps, and in
20 moment the wall of her patcrnal mansi
of hid her from my presence forever. The C
~ ehantmont and the doubt had passed ava
n And in the light Of additional knowledge
id welcomed the icy clusters to form aga
~ around my affections, guarding them forev