Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-03-19
the blessed wather, I wish the old witch was

the blessed wathcr, wish the old witch was
ten feet under its highest wave'
1t is necessary for my readers to unders-
) tand, that St. Stephens well, or rather
THAT I may be quite corrcct) I will say, the
mater in st. Stephens well, is supposed to
possess some qualities which would render i,
exceedingly valuable in many-indeed in all
countries; it is fact upon record, that,
when pair are married, whichever of the
newly united first tastes Of this holy water be-
comes ruler over the other during the re-
mainder Of their natural lives. The fame OF
this blessed spring is, believe, as great as
ever. and hundreds Of cright eyes have been
reflected from its mirror like surface, and
thousands Of rosy lips have dipped in its cool
waters. hoping thereby to secure that autho-
rity which lords and ladies' have coveted, do
cOvet, and will covst to the end of the chap
, ter of life.
, Its fifty good miles and more to st. Ste
phcn's WE'LL unused old Bridget, while taking
down her pipe from its hole in the wall, but
what do l care for that didn't my sister nur-
sc him' and isn't he all as one as my own
blood-only better. Sure I'd as soon see
him in Ills grave as TO be ruled by that little
mink of thing-that TO my fancy has ncith-
er blood, nor beauty. It's the fate of the
O'Learys to be ruled by their wives, but by
the Holy Vargin, if drop of the blessed
well of st. Stephens can break the law-ioy
to yer heart, Robert O'German O'Leary,
esquire Ould as am, LII fetch it ye to the
church door, if it was twice as far away as it
is;-let bit of girl like that white faced
Nlilly Naylor rule the house of O'Lcary I'd
die, and lave my bones in strange country
first
| The next morning the ncighbors all said
how old Bridget Shane had taken vow, and
gone pilgrimage, and many thought it was
time she did so, for she was considered an
evil spoken and evil tempered woman
'hroughou, the ncighborhood.
Tie morning Of Miiccnt's bridal had ar
rived it was one of those delicious and
heavenly skies which slime out upon weeping
Ireland as if to make amends for the long
days of tears, and the long nights of heavy
dew, which fcrtize, and yet seem to render
the atmosphere heavy with sorrow. Miliccnt
was considered most fortunate girl by her
companions; for the young squire was rich,
handsome, and good naturcd one who, to
confess the truth, it would be easy to lead !;
but Milicent was never fond Of leading, at
least, if she had any taste that way she man.
aged efiectually to conceal it; and yet she
had no skill at conccalments; her mind was
like full blown rose, all perfume and beau
lty.-Hcr bed room, where she was dressing,
was heaped; bed, chairs, tables-all heaped
viii, various presents from her young friends
---old, indeed. as well as young, furnished
troussedu neither costly nor elegant, those
who had nothing to give waited without the
Tue door, that TO use their own expressive
language, the might lave their blessing on
her head ! but Millccnt more than once in
qulred WHO had seen Ellen Neville 2 and
more than once looked from her window, an
1ious to discover her amongs, the crowd.
"Don't BIO aftherhinlherin me from spak-
ing TO her." exclaimed we'll known voice
outside her chamber.oor as the fair bride was
drowning on her gloves. "If it was twinv
times she was married, let alone onst, she'd
spakc ~ith all the veins of her heart to her
poor Ellen"
"That l woud!" said Millicent, when
Ellen knclt before her, with pallid cheek,
aud eyes and hands uplifted in admiration
,,but. where" inquired the fair girl, shave
you been, my paor Ellen7 have missed you
nearly week."
| "l'll tell you that some other time, Miss
Milly, parlint. Och but how beautiful you
look-and what gownd--well to be sure -
and the veil well, it is ;ligan, I've been
lolg journey, sur enough, as good as a
hundred miles and don't care about il now,
I'm IN time but, Miss Mlly, what should
over take me on the road but the skake, the
dgre some calls it, and was bad entirely,
but wouldn't turn back, for it was some
thing TAR you | was goin' jist-now don't
laugh (though sure your laug is the pur-
ties music in Irelaud)- Jist drop ola charm
that's in this dawshy bottle, and all I'll ak of
you is, when the holy weddin' is over, list
10 put that weeny bottle to yer lips, so as to
wet them with what's iu't. Oh, Miss, honey
yer not going to deny me such thing as that
Sure them, you wouldn't refuse your poor
Ellen. atlher thrampin' hundred miles, that
you might hare yer right, and not be put
upon. III hcens ye into the reason Of it
some other time-only say you'll dot
ayes, Ellen, | will although do not be-
lievc in charms, I'll do it to please YOU" re-
piled the young lady, really, affected at this
proof OF the superstition aud affection Of her
humble friend.
Before you leave tho altar, persisted
Ellen.
Eyes, promise but"
What her question might have been can
not say, for her bridesmaid hurried hor TO the
carriage, and, in less than twenty minutes,
she stood before the altar of what is but too
frequently seen in lrelend-a ruined church.
peering through the window directly over The
communion table, too heads were distinctly
visible, as having risen by the aid of the
Wondering stone considerably above the
crowd of eager faces, who pressed close to
the glass; the upper sash down, and the thin
bony hand of Bridget Shane chung to the
wood work. At the opposite corner Ellen
Neville had found a footing, and her eyes
filled with tears as the ceremony proceeded.