Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-09-23

lie read with exquisite mOdulatlOn ana ms
powers in recitation we're often compared to
the best Of modern tragedians. In short he
had the most brilliant qualities that ever COM
mandcd success in the circles of fashion.
while he was utterly deficient in their perse-
vcrance and steadness of purpose which
could alone have ensured to him excellence
in any department of taste or science.
Byron has said that "mnidens like moths
are ever caught with glare" and the sarcasm
of the poet is too often verified by the expe-
rience of every day life. Sophia had been
utterly blind to the fine qualities Of her dali
y companion, Charles Haywood, and she
was now completely dazzed by the brilliant
halo which encirclcd the young iavorte of a
coterie. Edward Iiston became her sutton,
and but few months after her first acquain-
lance with him, he asked and received her
hand. She married him with full belief
of his nobeness of character, as well as his
superior intellect, and to the younger part
of her friends she seemed to have drawn
high prize in the lottery of life. Indignant
ly rejecting her guardians proposition to Sc
cure her fortune by marriage settlement,
Sophia felt that where she WIS willing TO en-
trust her happiness she would not hesitate to
bestow the paItry gift of property, and she
came lowered as well as loving bride to
the arms Of her gifted husband.
Ignorant of the want, and therefore of the
value of money, she felt no surprise when
she found herself established III a style Of
splendor, which would have better suited a
larger income Indeed she felt girlish
pride in thus exchanging the small and plain
apartments of her guardians house, for the
spacious and richly furnished ones in which
she now appeared us mistress They lived
in gay and fashionable manner, receiving
company very frequently, and INDUCING in
all the expensive pleasures of the time, until
a sudden check was given to their thought
less course of life, by the severe illness OF
Sophia.
In the midst of her unrelcnting career So
phia was struck down by the hand Of dis
ease, aud for many weeks she lay on the
couch Of suffering, with death watching be-
side her pillow. Her eldest child was born
and died; yet the mother was unconscious
of everything-physical suffering had des-
troyed all perception. Slowly and painfully
the disease was driven back, and step By step
NCuhH itAiGdttN ltOill DiSiuC que IT,
covered, but the feebleuess consequent up
Oh her protracted illness, long confined her
to the solitude Of her apartment, and while
there, she first learned to reflect in sober
sadness. Her previous life had passed like
a happy but bewiderng dream, and her
first awakiug was on the very brink of the
grave. She shuddered when she remember
ed her thoughtless existence aud her utter un-
fitness for another world Whether this com
mune with herself ayaiIed to prepare her for
the dreaded change whenever II should come
rests between her soul aud Maker but it is
certain that her giddy, reckless gayety OF
( feeling was replaced by an earnest and hum
bic reliance upon the God who had watched
chamber of sickness light-hearted votary
of earthly pleasure, and she emerged from it
a christian.
! But Mr., Liston had employed the period
of her illness in different manner He was
at first kind, attentive and anxious, but by
! degrees, he became careless and inconsider-
ate. As soon as all danger Of immediate
death had passed he left his wife to the care
of her attendants, and once more shone in
the scenes Of gaity. lie had lived upon ex-
citement until the quiet duties and pleasures
Of life were utterly tasteless and insipid.-
He could not be spared from the gay scenes
of which he was the life and ornament,
and therefore his wife was left in loneliness,
deprived the companonship and solace OF
| him, who had sworn to cherish her Sin
sickness and in health" When she al
length returned to society, he was vexed
and mortified at the change in her appearance
and manners.
He could not bear to hear remarks about
her faded looks, and still less could he en-.
dure her scruplcs of conscience respecting
certain amusements in which she had form.
erly INDUCED. Indeed, he had learned tc
1 feel her presence restraint upon his pleas.
ures, and in his heart he secretly wished that
she would withdraw from the scenes which
she could no longer adorn. Sophia percev.
ed his desires, and she obeyed. The brtl
of son afforded her solace for the growing
disquictude which her husbands neglect oc
casioned, and in the retirement of home
she hoped to find purer pleasure than she
had yet enjoyed.
But she was destined to disappointment
in all her anticipatons Mr.. Listens ex
travagant habits had squandered her prop
erty, and poverty, came upon them witt
giant strides. The generous goOd hearted
ness for which he was celebrated, had beer
eXerted in behalf Of every one except hi.
own family, and while he was freely lending
and giving money to his associates, his aget
mother and helpless sister were often reduced
to actual want before they could obtain o
him the pittance due them from their hum
bic patrimony. This, however, his wife die
not know she learned it, together with this
and worse tdings, at somewhat later peri