The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-05-07

prl OF the snowy breast,
Bird Oi tho uluInp,
Ilest thou thy distant nest
Where the sweet spices bloom
Art thou from distant shore
Borne on the blast !
Over the oceans roar
Safe hast thou past
But the bird swept b,-it might not stay,
For ii bore a soul On its wings away
Bird of tile raven wing,
Why art thou come :
Is II that Oyuns spring
Wakes the bees hum
Is ii that win,ry SHES
FfOwn DER thy distant home
Fen rs the swallow flies,
Thus hast thou come
But the bird swept by-ior he came on the breath
OF the churnel vault TO the bed al death. ="
Such is the fragment Of song, still remembered
by many in Oakhampon, as having been composed
by the last lady Of Oxcnham, and II Is with her ihle
is connected the desoalion of the old Hall. Mary
Oxenham was the last Of her family, and the en-
tinclon of the name Of Oxenham was now certain.
The carse had lost none OF its force AS it descend
ed through the several generations-cach had fall
en- an early victim TO death-each had been sue
ceeded by an infant heir, until at length, the birth
of female seemed to betoken the speedy downfall
of the fam, honors. Bred up in loneliness and
secusion, Mary had learned TO ponder TOO deeply
on the misiorunes Of her house, unl her excited
ina nalicn led her to the dizzy verge Of tina, fear
ul precipice where reason trcmblcs. and Is often
oyerllrown Allowed to follow the bent OF her
own will, with no near rela,lNesto watch over her
infancy and youth, she was indebted to an aged
priest, who had long been an inmate OF OAehlan
| hail, for the knowledge she possessed. Firmly
attached TO the Catholic religion. she delighted 10
rore oAer the legends Of saints aud mariys, TO yled
her fancy 10 the dreamsof mystic faith, and to rev.
] ,r hi. nrnIi M q.
of oIdrn time. The good Father jerome, who
might have directed the energies of her active mind
10 more useful pursuits, allowed lht.hUs to waste
her early wears. in the hope thalM should thereb!
confirm her in the Gath Of her fathers. not doubling
bu, that he should be able, at some future time, ID
control the ,ugarcs Of her eccentric temper IL,
died. however, ere she attained the age OF woman
hood, and Mary, in an agony Of grief, vowed I,
herself AS she stood beside his grave That her ILL.,
should hereafter be dedicated to the quiet cloi'ler
It was the vow Of nm imprisoned and sorro"lni
child, seeking to fulfil whit she believed 10 have
hecn the wish of her kind guardian, but Mary re
men,bcred i, in bitterness and anguish at later pc
Rod. There was something in her isolated condI
ton peculiarly calculated TO excite the Imagination
The mistress Of noble mansion, filed with record
of mast rlories and Astounding in traditions OF o'de
times. The last of race Ia whom a'curse was sup
posed TO cling and destined, according TO the lie
rend. y in her own person to fulfil the penalty o
her ancestors guilt, it is not strange that the lone
" heress of Oxenham should have found that med
iiation was but another name for inciplent madness
The STYLE of her beauty was as remarkable as be
character Her figure was one OF perfect synme
uy, but Of the smallest proportions-hcr feature
were exceedingly delicate and regular but her com
pleSion was Of the darkest, tint, while her thick "a
ven hair, which she wore loose in curls ia ling al
most to her feet, together with her large, usirou
black eyes, gave a singular wdness to her appear
ance. Her very countenance bore testimony
, her dreamy temper, and no one could look upo
/ her without feeling that she was visionary en'hu
siast but little fitted for world of dull realities
The few who were admitted within the precinct
, Of OSenham Hall, could not fail TO observe III
I wonderful resemblance between the portrait oil IN
: 81 Dark Ladye of Oxenham," and the living face
, her latest descendant.
. Blu, the time came when her self imposed vo'
Of sccusion was 10 be forgotten, and stronger pas
sion, to he awakened in the heart of the imas'n'
, tive girl. The Lsrd DsHsins. prompted hr"