The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-09-30

IAN uncommon thing in that wilderness country
with panes of glass A small Enclosure in front Of
the humble edifce was cultivated as the flower
garden; and the nea!ness with which it was kept,
and the taste displayed in the arrangement Of buds
and in disposng to the best advantage the few varl
ties Of flowers and shrubs it contained. evinced it
was the work Of woman's decate hand. There
were no out houses, nor was there need for any;
fol the dweller in that secluded and lonely abode
had neither horses, nor oxen, nor lands, nor earth
under that head wife and two fine and promising
boys. Iflhese be treasures, he was indeed rich;
for never was husband blessed with more lovely
OF more loving wife, and never did the prayer Of
father ascend to heaven in behalf of more ful Off
spring. But besides these he had nolhing-abso-
lulely nothing. Ilew was what is denomina,ed in
the language of the territory in which he resided
Sqnalter; or in other words, one who, without per-
mission resided on and cultivated lands belonging
TO the United States.
The Squaltcr was tall, well formed man, ap-
parenty about thirty-,wo or three years Of age
His countenance indicated manliness and in,elli-
gence; and though shade Of sadness and care
dwell almost always upon it. there were times
when his dark blue eyes became lighted up with
uncommon vivaci,y. His conversation md man
ners were said by those who had had an oppor-
tunily Of observing them, to belong to rank in
society much superior to that which he now oc-
cupicd; but the numher CT such as were qualified
s'udiousy stunned society, and was seldom TO be
met beyond the limits of the retired plantation
which no cultivated. Ills wife seemed six or seven
years younger than himself, and exhibited conf
bnalcn Of charms that are rarely found united in n
single individual. In stature she was Of midng
size, and her form had been moulded with fault
less symmetry, Her eyes were black as the sloe,
ind were singoarIy adapted to the expression Of
every variety Of feeling Her complexion, though
slightly Drowned by exposure to the sun, was clear
and transparent; and the rich blood that manlled
in her cheeks impaired to them hue that oulvcd
the rose ,ha, grew in her garden.
BESIDES this lovely woman, the expression OF
whose countenance indicated great sweetness of
disposition as well as intelligence, there was anOh-
er female member Of lhi1 secluded family, oppar-
entity ahont eighteen years of agc, whom a Swan-
ger would have n, once recognized, by her tall
person, dignlicd department, auburn locks, dark
blue eyes, aud the general and strong resemblance
of her counienancc, rs the sister Of the Squater
Of the children, the elder, about seven years Of
age, pnrlook in large degree Of his fathers char
actcrs,ics: and tho Younger not quite five, was the
sofcned Image of bis mothers beauty, An aged
negro domestic, named Mungo, whom it would be
difficult, to describe, made up the number of the
little family. lie was short, square-buiIt man,
with : s,oop in his shoulders, arms of uncommon
lensth, and legs on the contrary, Of very di'pro-
por,iona,e breyily. His face Of deep black,
which con,rased oddly enough with the grizz'rd
and close cmIed covering which surmounted it,
blnnchcd by time to almos, silver whi,cness Hi
features, and indeed his whole appearance ,par,ook
very largely Of the African pccul'arilics. Ills fore
head was low and full terminating at the bottom
in two bushy projections which bore little rcscmb
lance 10 eyebrows, beneath rolled pair Of dlla-
ted ords, that might, in relation to expansion, if not
have entitled Mungo to ColIirss cphe,
Of "moon-eyed;" and these were separated by
nose, the growth Of which had been altogether la
,eml. Cor though it spread nearly half across his
face, i, pro'ruded scarcely beyond. The lips I'M
dernca,h, however, as il to compensate for the de-
iicency Of longitude in the nasal member expanded
for n good inch beyond the usual pro-
portion, I'll, the lower one, Of its own weight, curl
eg over on the chin, presenting to view Tow Of
teeth, as white as driven snow The
form Of honest Mungo was in every way deserving
Of such " human face divine" His body, from
his breast TO hips, presented the shape Of m nver~
ted cone, and it was supported on legs which
seemed 10 have been unequal to the burden, and
10 have bent beneath it, til, the knees were n, lces,
half yard asunder.
have been thus particular in describing the ap.
pcarancc olthc sable domestic; because Munso is
abou: 10 act very conspicuous part in the follow
ing narrative; and could moi rorbcar being minute
in speaking Of ono who lives 50 ivdy in my
recollection and who, under skin of E,hiopian
bnckness, possessed heart as warm and faithful
as ever beat in human bosom.
1t was IN the spring season If the year iha, my
story commences. The brief winter Of the de-.
Iightrn climate IN tina, part Of our country in which
place my scene, had passed away. and the FIST
glance Of the genel sunbeans had walked mani
mate nature from its chilly ,orpor The slyery
waters Of the little stream, which glided ut shor,
distance behind tho log cabin have par;llly de-
scrbcd, had cast of their chain Of ice, and once
more went grrglins and singing on their way
through The forest. The stately uees--,he oak,
tho sycamore, the co'ton-irce, and all the ,hous-
and varieties which mingled their many hued fol-