Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-05-16
MISCELLANY.
DAVID SWAN.
pY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.

the events which actually influence our course
through life and final destiny. There are
innulnerable other events if such they may DO
called, which come close upon us, yet pass
away without actual results, or even betraying
their near approach, by the reflection shadow
across our minds. Could we know nil the vcis
itudes Of our fortunes, life would be too full of
hope and fenr, exuta,ion or disappointment, to
afford u single hour of true serenity. This
idea may be illustrated by Iuge from the secret
history of David Swan.
We have nothing TO do with David until we
find him. at the age Of twenty, on the high road
from his native place to the city of Boston, where
his uncle, u smu dealer in The grocery line, was
to take him behind the counter. BE it enough to
say, That he was II naIive vi New Hampshire, born
of respectable parents, aud had received AN ordi-
nary school education, with n classic finish by
year at cinnamon academy After journeyng Oh
foot from sunrise ill nearly noon OF summers
day, his WEAKNESS and the increasing hea, deter
mined him to set down III The first convenient
shade, and nwuit the coming up oil the stage coach.
As if planted on purpose for him, there soon ap.
peared little TUT OF naples with delightful re-
cess in The mi lsi and such ires bubbllng spring,
that il seemed never TO have sparkled for any
waytarer but David Swan. Virgin or not, he ks-
sed with his thirsty lips, aud then flung himself
along the brink, pilIowing his head upon some
shirts and pair of pantaioons, tied up ia strip
ed cotton handkerchief The sunbeains could nor
reach him; the dust did not yet rise from the
road, after the heavy rain Of yesterday and his
grassy lair suited the young man better Than bed
of down. The spring murniured drowsly beside
him and the branches waved dreamily across
the blue sky overhead; and n deep sleep, per-
chance hiding dreams within II Depths Tell upon
David Swan. But we are to relate the events
which he did not dream Of
While he lay sound sleep in the shade other
people were wide awake, and passed 10 and fro,
a-foot, horseback and in all sorts of vehicles,
along the sunny road by his bedchamber Some
looked neither 10 The right hand or the left, and
knew not that he wus there; some merely glanced
that way without admitting the sunberer among
their thoughts; some laughed TO see how suundly
he slept and several, whose heurts were brinihing
full of scorn elected their venomous superfIny
upon David Swan. A middle-aged widow, when
nobody else was near, thrust her bend little why
into tho recess, and vowed that the young fellow
looked charming in his sleep. AtemperaucS lee
turer saw him, and wrought poor David into The
| texture OF his evenings discourse, az an awful
instance Of dead drunkenness by the road side
! But, censurs praise, merrnent, scorn, and ndii-
ference were all one, or rather al nothing TO Du-
| vid Swan.
He had slept only few moments when tt brown
carriage, drawn by n handsome pair of horses,
| bowled easily along, and brought to stand still,
nearly in front OF Davds resting place. A Inch
pin had fallen out, aud permitted one OF the wheels
| to slide of. The damage was slight, and occa-
merchant and his wife, who were returning to Bos-
tor in the carriage While the coachman and SER
| want replacing the wheel, the lady aud gen =
tlenun sheltered themselves bent ah the maple
trees, and there espied the bubbing fountain, and
David Swan asleep beside it. Impressed with the
awe which the humbIest sleeper usually sheds u
round him, the merchant trod as lightly as the
govt would allow and his spouse took good heed
not to ruse her silk gown, lesl David should start
UP all Of a sudden.
'How soundly he sleepsp whispered the old
gentleman. From what derth he draws that
easy breath Such sleep that, brought on
without an opinte, would be worth more 10 me
than half my income for il would suppose health
and an untroubled mind
And youth besides said the lady. Healthy
and quiet, age does not sleep thus. Our slumbel
! is no more like his, than our wnkelulness'
The longer they looked the more did this elder
ly couple feel interested in the unknown youth, to
whom the way side aud the maple shude were a.
| secret chamber, without the rich gloom Of
damask curtains brooding over him. Perceivine
that a stray sunbeam gmnered down his lace
the lady contrived 10 twist branch aside, SO MS Il
intercept it. And having done his little act o.
kindness, she began to feel like mother TO him.
/ Providence seems to have laid him here, wills
pered she 10 her husband, 'nn,! To have brought
us hither to find him, after our disappointment IN
our cousins son. MeIhinks | cun See n ikenes,
in our departed Henry. Shall we awaken him !:
10 WHht purposes! Shlu tne theTcnhnt netUu
ting. we know nothing Of The youths charac
ter
i THAT open countenance . replied his wife il
the same hushed voice, YET carlessy. This i'll
nocenl sleep!'
While these whispers were passing, The sleep
er's heart did not throb, his breath become az
itated, his features betray the least token OF
interest. Yet fortune wus bending him, JUS
ready to let fail burtlen Of gold. The old mer
chant had lost his only son, and had no heir tt
his wealth, except distant relative, with Whose
conduct he was dissatisfied. In such cases, PEG
pie somsIimes do stranger things lban 10 act The
magician, and awaken young man TO splendor
who fell asleep in poverty
Shall we not awaken him {" repeated the OLE
lady persuasiveiy.
The coach is ready, sir said the seryan, be
hind.
The old couple started, reddeneJ, and hurre,
away, mutually wondering, that thsy should eve
have dreamed of dong any thing 81 very ridicu
= lous The merchant threw himself back ia ,h
+ carriage, and occupied his mind with the plan q
magnificent asylum for unfortunate men OF bu
siness Meanwhile David Swan Ell Dyed his nap
The carriage could not have gone more than
| mile or twor when pretty young girl come along
WIN a tripping pace which showed precisely hov
her little heart was dahcng in her bosom. Per
haps il was This merry kind OF motion which calis
i eds there any harm in spying it-her garter 4
slip its knot. Conscious that the silken grlh,
silk j, were, was relaxing its hold, she turned asld
4 into the shelter Of maple trees, and there found
: young man sleeping by the spring Blushing a
e red any rose, thar she should have inlruded in
n TO a genteman's bed chamber, and for such pur
pose too, she was about TO make her escape Of
]. liptoe. But there was peril near the sleeper.
y monster of bee had been wandering over-hea
: buzz, buzz, buzz-now among the leaves, no,
z flashing though the strips OF sunshine, and no'
n lost in the dark shade, ill finally he appeared
b be settling on the eyeid Of David Swan. Tn
Q ring Of bee is sometimes deadly. AZ free hear
C ted as che Was innocent, the girl attacked the in
? truder with her handkerchief brushed him sound
:. ly, and drove him from beneath the maple shade
d How sweeta picture This good deed accom-
}. pshed with quickened breath, and deeper blush
9 she stole a glance ut the youthful stranger, 70
whom she had been battling with dragon in Il,
j. air.
II He is handsome thought she, and blushe
II rad1Iar al