The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-12-21

SNOW lay tnree 1eet deep III TIC vdIu, Dear
ing no perceptible trace of having been dis,
turbed by single footstep; and Madeline
was in state of lugubrious indecision
whether to attempt passage through these
Alps, or to search out some more circuitous
route, when to her great relief she heard the
bar of the front door slowly Withdrawn, and
saw through cautious opening the inquis-
tive and wondering face of Uncle lothian.
Scarce moment elapsed, however, be-
fore the door was flung wide open by the
eager hand of Aunt Lydia; and joyous in
step as young girl, out she sprang upon
the surface of the snow, which bore her up
as though she were but a spirit of the air
and in the next moment, Madeline was
clasped to heart as warm and affectionate
as her own, and tears and kisses were show
cred upon her rosy cheeks till they blushed
roster than ever with very gladness at being
so heartily received.
Aunt Lydia-we have not described her
yet--was one of those warm-hearted, affec-
tomato beings whose presence seems like
sunbeam wherever felt. 1t was singular
thatshe should have married Uncle lothian,
who was twenty years her senior, and alto
gether unlike in character and conduct /;
nevertheless she did marry him out of pure
affection, though possibly that affection was
neither so deep nor ardent as she was capa-
Bile of experiencing had she kept herself
free until few more years had matured
her Judgment, and thrown in her way
heart more nearly attuned to her own. AS
it was, she lived very peaceable and de-
mure life, thankful for what blessings she
possessed, and resolutely shutting out from
her thoughts all visions of a brighter and
more Congenial state of existence,in world
so universally incongruous as this. Though
she did not love Uncle lothian to the ex-
tent which it was possible for her to love,
and though she had no children on whom
to pour the waste.tides of her affection,
Aunt Lydia contrived, nevertheless, to at
tach herself very strongly to the little world
that surrounded her, and to find thousand
outlets to her heart in a circle where less
genial spirits would have been frozen up in
their own selfshness.
What put it into your heart, Madeline
she said to her fair niece on the evening of
her arrival, when they were sitting alone
by blazing wood fire in the snug old-fash-
Toned parlor, what put it into your heart,
desire to know. to leave your CAV and
pleasant home at this most unpleasant sea.
son of the year, and NOPE yourself up with
such an old home-spun couple as Uncle Jo-
than and L? Come now, Madeline dear,
there is some secret motive for all this,
IL h< &c haf,<
can feel at all at peace; so be good girl,
and explain the mystery at once. If it be
any secret, promise to keep close lips with
others and no one but myself shall be any
the wiser for the revelation
Madeline laughed. 'Why Aunt LYDIA
she replied affectionately, can you suppose
any other motive than a desire for your So
ciety was necessary to induce me to come?
| was happy at home, it is true; and ex'
pect to be happy here, also. As to moping
myself up, l assure you l shall do no such
thing. Intend to laugh, and sing, and
dance, and skip, and make as much confu
sion about the house as please. Unless
you give me scolding every morning be-
fore breakfast, you may expect to find the
whole house topsy- turvey in the course of a
fortnight. Dear Aunt Lydia, the only mo
tive in the world had for coming here now,
was to give you the pleasure of my very
sweet companv for without intendipg the
sI;obtest d;sresnect either 70 TIncle Jo,bam
ME- pbcehe CprnorsI Ahdor;ab 400 Pom
-'iis' l ho1oe' ri pu' al HDuu1Jan, uos om
Pey' or PusS aDl,ha' could nj neiP MINK
ing you must ind 1t very lonely and unso
cial here
You are dear good GIRL answered Aunt
Lydia, wiping the tears from her eyes; and
| shall be happy, very, very happy to have
you here with your sweet, merry voice to
scare the silence out of the walls-for it is
like a Fast Day here all the year round. |
sit from morning till night sometimes, hear
ing only the buzzing ofthe flies, the purring
of the cat, and the loud, dull, montonous tick
of the clock; but to tell the truth, Madeline,
| seldom find the time pass heavily. always
have enough to do to keep my hands employ
ed-and no one, am sure, need have an I'M
occupied mind when there are so many things
that are good and pleasant to think about
$50 then, dear Aunt, my sympathy was
= d. -, Il