The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-09-24
Vol. 6. No. 9---VVhORe NO. S6O.

ger, &turncd away from him even while she supper
ted him with unconquerablo loathing, was Mem
Der Of Congress, distinguished lawyor-eloqnent
at the bar, and sHgaGous in councl-a CITIZEN res
speced and beloved a friend generous and sin
| cere--a husband once idolzed-a father ado,
ed The young man who had walked by his side
had been for more than year a student at his Of
fee, and sat under his instructions, Paul sat
the feet of Gamnliel. Now, in the expressive Ian
gunge Of scripture, he could have exclaimed 80,
Lucier. thou son Of the morning, how art thou fal
len but he moved on in silence, interrupted DC
casional!y by the i'll suppressed sobs Of Kare. He
had been TINT day to adjoining townto transact
some business for Mr.. Franklin and being detained
to an unusually late hour, overtak en- by the
storm, when the agonized voice Of Kate met his
ear. ,
| Harry fingered moment at Mr. Franlklin's door
before he departed. II wanted to say something
expressive Of comfort and sympathy to Kate, but
lie knew not what to say.
"You will never mention tho circumstances of
this night, Harry, said Kate, in low, hesitating
tones. g! cannot ask You to respect my father, as
you have done, but him, if il may be from the
| contempt Of the world"
! "Ii he were my own father Kate" cried Harry,
81 would not guard his reputation with more jea-
Gus Look upon me henceGorth a brother,
and call upon me such ,when you want counsel,
sympathy or aid God bless you, KITE
| "Alas - there is no blessing for dru nkard' 5
daugh,ei," sighed Kate, as she turned from tho
door and listened to her fathers deep, sonorous
breathing, from the sofa which he had stagger,
ed, and where lie lay stretched at full length, till
long after the dawning of the morn notwithstand
ing her efforts to induce him to change his drench
ed garments.
Mrs. Franklin en- invalid, and consequently
aie riser. Kate usually presided at the breakfast
table, and attended to her fathers wants. 'fhis
morning he took his accustomed seat bet his coffee
and toast remained untasted lie sat with his head
leaning upon his hand, his eyes fixed vacantly on
tho wall, and his hair matted and hanging in ne
elected masses over his temples. Kate looked up.
on his face, and remembered when she thought
her father one of the hansomest men she had ever
seeu-when dignity was onthrowned upon his
brow, and the purity well as the majesty Of &c.
MUS beamed from his eye. He lifted his head and
encountered her fixed gaze-probsbly followed the
current of her thoughts, for his countenance dark
erred, and pushing his cup far from him, he asked
her in srrly tone why she stared SO rudciy upon
him
Kate tried to answer, but there suhocation
in her throat, and she could not speak
Mr. Franklin looked upon her for moment with
Il stern, yet wave,ing glance, then rising and
tLtustng back his chair against the wall, he left
the house, muterng as he went, "curses not loud
bur deep"
Kate had become gradually accustomed to the
lowering cloud of suenness, which tho ethargy of
nebriation leaves behind it. She had heard by al
most i'm erceptapIe degrees, the of manly
tenderness assume the accents of qaerulousness q
discomfort; but she had never met such glance
OF defiance, or witnessed such ehuliiion OF pas
sion before. Her heart rose in rebellion against
him, and she lfembled as the thought that she
might learn 10 hate him. as he thus went on,plung
ing deeper and deeper in The gulph OF sensuallty.
'No, no, no. repeated she to herself, diet
never be such monster. Let me pity, pray for
him, love him if caIl-but let me forget
that he is my father STILL"
Young as Kate was, she had learned that endur
ance, not happiness, was her allotted porliop.--
Naturally high spirited and impetuous, with i'm pas
stoned feelings and headlong impulses. in prospect
ty she might have become naughty and ungoverna
bile; but subjected in early youth 10 discipline
of all others the calling to her pride, her spir
il became subdued, and her passions restrained by
tie same process by which her principles we've
streng;hed and the powers of her mind prococious
ly developed. Her brothers and sisters had all died
in infancy except one, now an infant in the cradle
a feeble, delicate child, for whom every proph
esled early grave was appointed.
Mrs. Franklin herself was consttutioualy fee
bieand yielding to the depression of spirits caused
by her domestic misfoltunes, INDUCED in constant
and Intellectual companings, which added to the
gloom o! the household without producing amend
reformation in its degraded master, She
was very proud, and had been q very beautiful
woman, no had felt for her husband an attach
ment romantcly strong, for it fed by the two
strongest passions of her heart-pride, which exul
ted in the homage paid to his talents and his era
ces, and vanity, which delighted in the influence
her beauty exercised over his commanding mind. !
Now his talents and graces obscured by the |
murky cloud Of Intenpcrance, and her languishing
beauty no longer received lis accustomed incense
the corrsons OF modification and peevish discon
tent became deeper and deeper and life one scene
OF gloom and disquietude.
Kate grew up amidst these opposing influences