Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-06-16

anu Hoin tnat place 10 the river could be
traced a continuous stream Of blood. The
people at PiersoPs house were forced TO adj
init that he had behaved very strangely du-
ring the last few days: and that this bed was
not slept in on the night in question, or
the one previous. His situation prevent
ed his making any reply, and he was com
mitted to prison to await the sitting Of the
court, which was at hand.
In his gloomy cell, where the heavy door
was doubly locked, although he was unable
to rise from his couch, where excepting the
jailor, none approached him but the ply
slcians, and the nurse who seemed to shrink
from touching the hand which had shed
blood he had 'eisure for reflection.
Where are ill his friends that none came
to comfort himl Where were they all that
none came forward at his examination to
speak in his favor or to prefer the bail that
would have given him liberty to lie in lis
illness at his own house, and to die there if
his time was come. Where, he cried, are
ye all, flatterers, sychophants, dependents
Where are We all nowl Oh ! if | had one
friend, mother, sister who would believe
me innocent, aud speak to me words ofloye
and hope But am an orphan and alone /;
now feel what it is to be so. Sweet or
phans Of Willow Dell Oh if ye but knew
to what | am reduced, your tender hearts
would pity and forgive, for ye are more
than angels, We are pure and noble momcn.
Not hyenas like that unfemenine prosecu-
tor, whose disappointed passion will pursue
me to death. Cursed pride it has utter
~ indiana / la,raI tho aud
taunts of those heartless companions who
have all forsaken me in my hour Of adver-
sity | broke the sweetest bonds of love, the
hottest promises, the purest hearts and this
is my Just reward. Oh God have mercy
can look TO none but thee. Thus he la
mented, but none listened or ptied.
The news Of his crime and committal
spread over the gSe21.city, as the undula-
tons, when stone is cast into a pond,
spread and widen toward the shore Great
was the excitement the universal voice
was pity for the poor stranger, aud indigna-
ton against the assassin. Although some
few declared that they believed Piersol in
nocent, they feared to hazard their reputa-
ton by going TO console him with their
countenance or counsel, and his illness
prevented his taking any measures in al
deviation of his condition, only his known
wealth secured for him every comfort which
his condition suffered him to possess. But
he needed not in what manner he was at
tended, for his soul was busy within itself
He saw that he had lived all his life in vain
He had sought only the honor and envy Of
his fellow men, and now he reaped as hi:
vi tl,n.r A
ly dread Of the worlds ridicule, and a child
lsh emulation to win the toy Tor which SC
many were striving, had brought upon hin
all his calamities. Every train Of thought
conducted him to one halowcd spot, every
vision of his 6tfu slumbers came in the one
! fair form Hannah and her fair abode wer,
ever before him. Oh! how he longed fol
liberty to fly TO her, and on his knees im
plore her pardon and die.
! He had lain mmured thus several days
when he received letters from his most init
mate friends, offering to assist him in en-
deavoring TO get bail. To these epistles
he made no replies, although he actually
shed tears for the cold-hearted hypocrs,
of their authors The time of his trial drew
on. He had been engaged with his counse
until late at night, and weary and agitated
threw himself on his bed. He slept ant
dreamed. The whole drama of his life wa
acted over, and now he was acquitted o
the horrid charge of murder and flew Il
Willow Dell The blue birds were ever,
where greeting the pure snow drops, an'
every object wore a smile until he arrlvet
at the valley. There all was desolaton.-
He approached the spot where he last saw
the gentle sisters; under the elm was a bee
all white as snow-drilt, and on it lay form
so yelled that he could not discern its iea
lures, but the contour, the hand, and on
bright curl that had escaped the muller dc
clared it to be Hannah. He gaZed long
and then touched the hand. 1t was as coll
as marble, but on the finger was his mother
wedding ring, which he had given her, an
over her yelled brow lay bridal wreath
The keenness ofhis agony was diverted b
the sudden approach of the young Italian
Di Trona, who said to him, Piersol, yo
are dead 10 the world, there is your bride
take her and be happy and immediatel
the scene changed; he was in paradls
of bloom and beauty; Hannah was belor
him, full of life and beauty, and Francisc
advancing joyously, babe him lead his brid
TO the altar. The excess of his rapiur
awoke him, st needs no Daniel, he SAID
to interpret my dream, she is dead, an
, Di Trona will send me to her. woul
freely die, but oh the gallows, the terribl
word murderer p
The trial commenced. The evidenc
, on which he had been committed was re
peated, and corroborated by many additions
circumstances, and his domestics were {
bliged to admit that on the night in que
: ton that he went out about eleven, an
came in between one and two. Such stron
: circumstantal testimony almost amounte