Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-09-21
voLs XIV. NO.

I OF uuWuuNy uuu SyieCt not u lew StfikIDm
illustrations from such Of the sources in
Dictated above. Fog the present, however,
l shall cenfine mysef to single relation.
In the spring Of 1921, there came to
the village of NJ, in the State Of Mass,
a man whom shall designate as William
Carleton. He was just at his majority,
and had fixed on NJ. as an eligible place
for prosecuting the business Of his calling
thai. of house carpenter.
He was noble looking man, and some
thing above the medium height, stout
built, and possessing countenance, such
as a sculptor would not disdain TO lool,
upon. His education was much above
the common standard, and his manners
those of weIl-bred man. In his inter
course with others there was an open,
hearty frankness, which made him no
less accessible - all with whom he came
in contact. Carleton was besides, an ex-
cellent mechanic: thoroughly versed in
all the mysteries of his calling, and en-
dowed with a power of despatch never
before witnessed among the people of his
adopted village. If he laid by less of his
earnings than others in similar walk of
! life; if the fruits of his labors were nor
always cared for, it was because he was
more generous, or less penurious than
others-it was because he sought money
rather as a means than as an end. Still,
Carleton was a thriving man, and the re-
sources of future usefulness and support
gradually Accumulated OH his hands.
Three years later than the date here
given, attended Cartoons wedding. He
had engaged the affections of Caroline S..
the daughter, and only child of respect
able widowed lady of NJ. A finer look.
ing. happy pair, never saw before the
hvmenial altar. The bride scarcely l9,
tastefully, yet not gaudily dressed, modest
yet not bashful, entered witha light. yet
imposing step, gracefully hanging upon
the arm OF the stately young carpenter.
There was health in her finely developed
form, and .here was gladness in her rich
blue eyes. The happiness of the present,
the pleasing anticipations of the future.
beamed brightly in her countenance, and
revealed the workings of heart full of
hope and devotion.
Carleton was not less an object of ad-
miration. His open, manly brow, loaded
with rich curls Of dark hair; his full,
mellow eyes and elegantly turned mouth,
stamped him at once as faullless speci-
men of humanity, created in the image of
his Maker.
Two years later, and was a guest at
the house Of Carleton. Caroline had be-
come mother-the mother of a beautiful
boy. She was the picture Of contentment.
Her maiden smile still sat on her lips
her bright blue eyes had grown yet bright
er still, and her step was light and buoy
ant as on the day of her wedding. CaTle-
ton was all life health and activity. Hap
ply in the bosom of his little family, re-
spected by all, and full of hope, he gave
new impulse to ali around him. His
clear head made him safe counsellor,
and Lis ready wit, brilliant companion.
In word, he had become the master
spirit of NJ.
Five years rolled away, and | had NOT
seen Carleton. In 1880, accident once
more threw NE into the village of Nj.
there met Carleton, aud warm and
hearty meeting it was : yet he was not
precisely the man l had parted with five
years before. He was, | thought, less
self-possessed, less energetic. and less
guarded in his conversation. His humor
seemed coarser, and 10 his manner there
was sort of dashing lightness, not ex-
aclly in keeping with his former charac-
ter. His eyes, too, | thought, had lost
something of their wonted brilIiancy, and
the color in his face appeared deeper than
at our last Interview. Yet SO many wears
had elapsed since our meeting, changes
were to be expected, and besides, there
was SO much of the frank William Garlic
ton still left, that my observations at the
moment, resulted in no unwelcome suspi-
clons. In the course of our short inter-
view, old recolecllons were revived, old
scenes rehearsed, and new subjects intro
duced. Carleton was SO brilliant, so hap.
py, and so much like his former self, that
at the end of an hour had quite forgotten
the embryo expressions excited at the mo-
ment of greeting.
La the evening | was at his house. If
my attention had been arrested, on meet
ing Carleton, by some undefnable altera-
ton in his appearance, it was doubly so
when Caroline or Mrs. Carleton made her
appearance in the sitting room. She was
cheerful. bat her cheerfulness seemed
rather forced than spontaneous. Her brow
was slightly clouded. and her beautiful
blue eyes appeared more liked and cast
down than formerly. She affected to be
gay, but evidently it required an effort to
be SO. There was, too. an appearance of
marked submission, mingled With fear in
her manner altogether unlike her wonted.
hearty ebulitions of feeling thought
could perceive, also that when her eyes
met those of Carleton there was an appear
ance of something like shrinking, or re-