Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-12-30

bastard timidity with their uttcrance, aud
acquired insolcncc and buster Secure of
life, he had no motive to withhold his abuse,
aud II spirited ont as usual. upon the head
Of tho powcrless aud innocent lie aimed
his shafts at the coffin Of my scarcely buried
mother. Alas he knew not the holiness
with which that mothers memory was en-
shrlned, even in the heart Of the irrcligious
aud much offended Frederick
"Nou have had good instructress I"
was the ready sarcasm. "Your mother'--
Name her not" shriekcd Frederick the
blood rushing from his check at the same
moment, leaving it pale, ghasily, aud fearful
to behold. "Name her not" | dare not
name her. dare not trust myself to listen
to the sound"
"She was punished FOR the usage recciy-
ed from her, aud so will you be, aud so will
she, )" continued he, pointing spnelully at
me. "You will be smilied both, as she was
smtten, when cursed her for crueIty-vil-
es, of wrctches, as she was"
"Be warned % cried Frederick, SWELL
ing with anger, and struggling for compos-
IRE, which he could not find BE warned,
say Speak to him, Emma-save US
both u
Warned warned !" said the reused lu-
matte, presuming on the assurance he had
received. "Who threatens me Do YOU
remind me of the pastl-I have not forgot
ten it. The curse will withcr the hand tina:
was upliied against your father, as il has
visited and destroyed her who bore the mis-
creant, and taught him lessons that will
avail him when he pines in hell. She was
born 10 be my plague and glory in my
deliyerance. Were she here again, again
would be quit of her. hated and des-
/ pissed her. have lived to trample on her
grave"
! lie said more than this-more than de-
sire 10 remember or record. lie persisted
IN The same strain assoclatlng the most dis
gushing epithets with my mothers name,
and outrunning sense in his eagcrness 10
Willy her. Drunken, unmeaning gibberisli
! supplied him with terms that would have ex-
cited ridlcule and compassion within the
breast of any one but him who listened to
the speaker, enraged and irritated until rea-
son was immersed, and corld no longer
serve him. One horrible expression, too in
famous to be repeated, was fatal to then,
both. II was but half uttered before Fred
erick leapcd from his seat, and seized his
fellow drunkard and his father by the throat.
! The latter fell and his assailant with him
One shrieked with terror, and struggling lu-
riously; the other foamed and held the
pOstrate man down with hand of iron.
saw no more, but ran from the apartment,
screaming aloud for help, and about to fall
with fright and agitation
The servants had asked permission 10
leave home at the close of dinner, in order
/ TO visit the grave of their mistress, before il
should be finally and forever shut 1t was a
request that had lis origin in affection, and |
complied with it at once. They had been
/ faithful, and true friends; for wears had
shared the affection Of my mother, and on
her account had borne anger and submitted
to reproach We were about TO loose them
Row. Ingets of gold would not have pur-
chased their services for my widowed father.
They bad already set out on their errand OF
love and the house was deserted. Within
a hundred yards of the parsonage encoun-
tered old Adam. He was the family conf
dant, and in few words made the misera-
bic business known to him.
We reached the house in time TO meet
Frederick rushing from it yehementy lie
had wild and vacant look, and he was
paer than ever. Old Adam retreated a
step or two as the wretched youth approached
him. Frederick took no notice of him, bur
seized my hand, which was steader than
his own, and spoke to me, painting for
breath
"You are a witness, Emma" he cxcaim-
cd. 81 implorcd him to be quiet. You
heard me- He would not lie has himself
10 thank for it. Oh, the accursed drink !
II is the ruin of us ALL vowed that !
would use no violence-that | would not
be angry, promised you faithully-for your
sake it was right. The wine BETRAYED me
set me in flames. Oh, Emma, Emma" he
cried out, bursting into tears, "what is TO be-
come of you! What is to be done All
gone-all gone !" endeavored to pacify
him. "No, no, he cried, putting me gen
tly from him "lou mustn't kiss me now
Enter there-there-in that room, don't
curse your brother, Emma. | will spare
you one trial-you shall not see me on the
gallows Good-bye-poor girl did not
mean it, Emma. 1t was the drink-the
drink w
We did not permit him to proceed Hor-
riied by his words, started from him.
Adam had already preceded me, and we en-
tered the dning-room at one aud the same
moment. He WAS CORPSE There on
the floor where | had left him, he lay mo-
tionless clod.
|