Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-09-21

N Nhh'A . ANHNf IN"h Ahihftt lMN llf
give a sombfe coloriuF 20 NV young Imagination which
viii last me through life, fr although in my daily
walk and conversation | am one Of tie most cheerful
beings on earth, vet the children ofmy brain are very
apt TO assume a mourning garh ere | have finished their
attire.
Notwithstanding the gloom and uncatincss which |
SO often encountered. ! never declined an invitation to
visit Miss Rachel. TIN, readiness arose partly from
the love Of visiting. so iuhcrcn, 90 children partly from
the consciousness that / was great avortc with the
old lady, and panty from the certainty Of getting good
entertainment for the body ,fDot lr the mind Miss
~Rachaels tca-iahlc would shame the scaniy board Of
many a fashionable dame IN modern times. What
transparent preserves! what rich plumbcako' what
delicate warm biscuits have seen on that LILLE round
table. And then her corIiils. ounce, and peach. and
lemon, and cinnamon, clear as amber. aud all made nv
her own bands Job there wac some pleasant thiu.s
10 be enjoyed 10 Miss Rachois gloomy room.
As grew older my visits 10 the good old lady be-.
came far moro agreeable to me. Her condiments con
Itinucd equally inviting, and her conversation became
far moro interesting. Age had COME upon her frosty
but kindly and while shs looked back upon her pa,,
life, even a. the traveller paugcs upon an omine7cr TO
review the road he has Just tr3ddrn, she cherished q
fellow feeling with those who were lust cntcfine the
rugged and dusty path. She had learned 10 udpo of
the present 10y the experience OF the past. aad while
-N 'N' ftA tAfENNf|Nt tNE tliNi0 tIt ANIIt- MliILl nee
long to the season Of youth, she could hostw instfuc-
ton and sympathy together. Many a lesson of life
have J loafut4rom her lips, and il they procted me d..
tie the lauitwas not 10 the sower, but In the soil of
the heart which allowed weeds 20 spring up and choke
the good seed. One OF her "reminiscences now occurs to
me, which, as 1t exhibits a most singular rolubution of
a fault usually considered yenial m society. will re-
cord. Twin give 1t as nearly a. | can in the old la
dy's words, but alas the tone, aud look, and manner.
which gave expression 10 every word, are lost forever.
Isabel Athclstan was a beauty and an hcircss. The
close intimacy which subsisted between our families
first led to our friendship, and though she was several
years my senior, VIC were almost iuscparable. have
since though,,-perhaps / wronged her,-that Isabel
made me her chosen companion less for nv good quail
tiles than for my defects. | certainly must have been
an admirable foil to her, for nothing could be in great
er contrast than my dumpy figure, nv deep.red checks
and my gray eyes, with her stately form. her pale rich
~cream-like tinted complexion, her perfect regularity Of
feature, and her raven black eyes and hair. Nor was
the disparity in our dispositions less striking. Edu-
Gated in retirement, ! was merely a simple-hesrted.
aiiectionaie girl, with the hoidenish spirit Of childhood
Soitened down into the bUoyant mirih Of uninterrupted
cheerfulness, and actuated by impulse rather than re-
Election or calculation. But Isabel was as calm and
cold as some exquisite piece Of s~cvietuTe. Rarely OK
cited either to pleasure or pain, her brow was always
as placid as a summer lake, aud the bland smile which
sat on her beautiful lip was as unchanging as if carv-
ed 10 stone. Think never saw her angry, but they
who deemed this placid demeauor the effect Of an
amiabIe temper were amazingly mistaken. ! have of
ten heard her express her surprise that any one should
take the trouble to get IA a passion, and yet ! have
listened to the most biting aarcssms from her bps.
while her countenance wore as gentle an expression
as ever visited the face Of a sleeping child. The chrac-
tensile Of Isabeis temper was incr'noss; she hated