Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-12-08

| oDtaln And when nj their tables and their
iiresides, he mednated upon their condition :
took cognizance Of their comforts and their
wants; suggested to them improvements in
domestic economy enlightened their inno-
rance Of the world by Instructive CONVERSE
ton gs'ild at the samc time that lie increas-
ed their store of mental food, he was adding
solid nutrlment to the somewhat too i'm
aginative elements of his own soul.
All this while there was not absent from
his heart picture of sweetness and nno.
ceace which seemed the work of some mon
tai daguerrcotype, so suddenly and vet so
wildly had it been impressed there. IL was
the picture OF a fair Young face, the most
beautiful he had ever seem which he had
seen only once, and then only for brief
season In little memorandum BELONGING
to his pocket-houk were neatly pressed and
safely treasured four little blue forrct-mc-
nots - themselves memorandum of the
dearest hour in his life. With these was
associated bright aud dimpled face that
blended itself with every vision of his future
days. Daily had he offered iervent PRAYER
to God TO bless his absent mother and his
/ beloved little Juliet but first and last i'm
those prayers was lnnrmured the name Of
Flora CrtchfOR. And when he thought of
her high and favored lot, and compared it
with his own, so lowly. so despised, his
heart was kept from sinking by the memo
~ of her childish words-"That was fool
ish Romeo to kill himself so quick liz
should hare maited aaciIic, and all ,couM
hare been rcH" ~.
This long cherished fancy of his, was
neither so ridiculous nor so unnatural as il
may first appear. AT the age of seventeen,
endowed with all the susceptibility of youth,
and glowing with all the enthusiasm of
an ardent temperament rich, too in the inn
agInation and sentiment of poetic nature,
he was thrown for a brief season, into the
presence of beautiful, pure hearted and
intelligent young girl whose tastes cores
pended fully with his own, whose simplicity
charmed him, and whose elegance of thot
and loneliness of expression seemed to him
an earnest Of everything that is divine and
glorious in womanhood. The circumsian-
ces of their short acquaintance, too were
of a nature to impress themselves deeply
upon his poetic imagination. Since that
hour no brighter vision had interposed to
shut out the memory of this; aud he dwell,
on II till it became part of his being, and
seemed TO him irrevocably interviewer with
his future destiny. slt
"But after ALL he would say TO himself.
dis it not probable that am in love with an
ideal, rather than a real being! The Flo
ra Crichton of to-day NAV be very differ
ent person from the beautiful and arIess
child who once crossed my pathway. Nav,
hnty .lO | Enotu tbaf El,1ra q.
at all How do | know that she is not the
wife of another? At all events, il is the
height of absurdity for Yankee pedar to
cherish dreams of one so far above him -
and with this very sensible verdict fully re-
solved upon, he would 90 on again. dream
ing as wildly and as absurdy as before--for
when was lover ever rational, even though
persuaded of his folly
| About sunset of beautiful September
day, our hero entered the romantic village
called "Crichton Factories" and directed
his steps to the residence of the wealthy
owner of all those sleeped buildings that
we're peerlng up to the sunlight from the
midst of group of majestic forest trees
The residence alluded TO was rather beauii-
iul than imposing in its appearance, being
neat little cottage, porticoed and ivy
wreathed, as cottages always should be,
and half hidden in front by two large
dropping elms.
Under these trees, smoking his pipe, and
reading his weekly newspaper, sat Gen.
| Crlchton-a gentleman of the old school
while at his side stood a very beautiful
young lady, tying up boquet of flowers.-'
Leigh Merton's heart throbbed ms it had
never throbbed before, when, approaching
the Generals seat, he deposited his trunks
upon the grass, and waited for him to speak.
The old gentleman lifted his eyes, and nod
ding courteously TO the peddlar, declined
making any purchases; but Flora sprang
forward step or two, and inquired in the
same sweet thrilling voice as Of old, 'IIave
you any Jewels, sir?"
"Ah how now, my dear this is the
first time | ever heard you ask for Jewels"
said her father, looking at her with smile.
"Pray, what conquest are YOU planning that
you need to call in the aid of jewelsr'
"Oh no conquest, papa; but as it is my
birthday, was about to beg of you some
little trihing gift that might wear as a
keepsake. A plain gold ring will do, faith
err"
With a trembling hand Leigh Merton
opened bis case Of jewels, aud pointed out
their beauties and named their value, with
out daring tolit his eyes to the face that daz-
zled him more than the glowing sunset
There was ruby bracelet which attracted
the Generals admiration and which he
wished to select for Flora; but she object
ed that II was too snowy and added that she
should value nothing so much as plain
ring that she could alays wear without sub
jecting it to inquiry.
II have a seal-ring that may perhaps