Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-07-06

which she would carry 10 her grave, she with
equal honesty declared that SIC could allow no at.
10 another to como between her and her
ievotcdness 10 her blind father And why should
H. dear Banchef was the young mans reioin.
der surely two Of us can do more for his happi.
ness than one lost my own father when child.
and 1t will be quite pleasure 10 me to have some
one | can call So 10 marryisg me, you will on.
ly give the old man the mos dutifui OF sons
'Ah, but should give myself 10 master, who
would claim and cngross the greatest part OF my
love, for know should 50 inyc you, Victor -
And il we had a family, tho poor dear old man
would come TO have but the third place in my
heart, after having il al to 1uansef 50 long He
would ind i Out, klipt 49, - ~hsaeh he woala
ntss roshpiash; bit would rake him misera
bic. No, no-don't talk TO me ofmarrying as long
as he lives. or tempt me with thoughts OF hap.
piness which have quite enough TO do to forego
Let poor Blanche fulfil the task God has given
her TO perform, and don't lure her by your honey
ed words to forget her mos, sacred duty =
Poor Blanche nigh, well say she had enough
to do 10 maintain her duhful resolution, between
the gentle lmportunities of her betrohed, and the
general chorus Of pleadings in her favor among
her ssterhood in the boat whom Vc,ors good
looks and good behavior had converted into
s,aunch allies, and who could not conceive it DOS
sible 10 resist so handsome and so constant lover
Borne down by their homely circumstances,
which agreed but too well with her own internal
feelings Blanche came at length 10 confess that il
she had wherewithal to set up finishing estab-
lIshment Of her own, where she could preside over
her business without losing sight of her father,
she would at once marry Victor. Blu, the capital
required for It's fitting up was at least 5000 or
G000 francs, and where was such a sum TO be got
h~,,, md r. L..
however, caught eagerly at the promise and new.
er lost sight of the hope ii held out of attaining his
darling object
He IS able to earn five francs day, and had
laid by something and the master whom he had
served for ten years, and who had expressed a
great regard for him, would perhaps advance part
ofthe sum. Then, again, the good women ofthe
boat, whose united Yearly deposites amounted to
upwards of 5000 francs, kindly expressed their
willingness to advance out OF their savings the
needful for the marriage OF the two lovers But
Blanche, while running over with gratitude for
the generous Offer persisted in her resolution not
to marry till their own Joint earnings should ena-
BILE her to set up laundry
That she worked the harder TO bring this about
is easily believed. But the race is not always to
the swift and the desired event was thrown back
by new calamity, which well nigh dashed her
hopes to the ground Her old father who had
been subjected for fifty years of laborous life to
the damps Of the river, was seized with an attack
of rheumatic govt, which rendered him complete.
ly helpless, by depriving him OF the use of one his
limbs
Here was an end at once to all his remaining
sources OF amusement and occupation, it might be
said, to his very animated exstcnce for he was
reduced 10 an automaton, movable only at the
will and by the help Of others He had now not
only to be dressed and fed like a new born infant,
but to be kept from brooding over his state of an.
ticipated death by cheerful conversation, by news
from the armies, by words of consolation and read.
ing, more precious still in all which Blanche was
fortunately an adept The old man now remain.
ed in bed till nine, when Blanche regularly left
the boat, took him up, set him in his old arm chair
gave him his breakfast and snatching a crust OF
bread for herself, run back to her work till two
o'clock; then might be seen climbing up them
long steps, and running breathless with haste to
cheer and comfort the old man with the meal Of
warm soup, so dear to Frenchman's heart I'm
willing as she was 10 leave him his necessities kept
her al work till the late hour when with her hard
won earning in her hand, she would seek her in
firm charge, and fall on thousand devices 10
amuse and console him till sleep stole at length on
lids long strangers 10 the light of day.
One morning, on coming home as usual
Blanche found her dear invalid already up anc
dressed, and seated in an elbow chair: and on in
curing to whom she was indebted for SO pleasing
a surprise, the old man, with mysterious smile
sad he was sworn TO secrecy. But his daughter
was not long in learning that it was her betrothed
who, happy thus to anticipate her wishes anc
cares had prevailed on his master so to alter hi
own breakfast hour as to enable him 10 devote tn,
greater part of il to his pious office. Straight e
her heart as this considerable kindness went il Eel
short OF what she experienced when, on coming
home some days after she found her dear fathel
not only up, but in indicated bath, administers
by Victor, under the directions of skilfui docto
he had brought to visit the patient, At sight o
this, Blanche's tears flowed fast and freely; AM
Selling on her be,rohed's hands, which she helt
TO her heart she exelaimed-'Neyer can repa,
what YOU have done Tor mel NAY, Blanche
was the gentle answer you have but one word L
say, and the debt is oyef-paid'
7 That word few but would have spoken il
backed, as the modes; appeal was by the pleading
Of the ally within, ard the openly ayowed concur
renee Of old Raymond in the wish 50 dear in both
lie, none despise the struggles Of the poor worl;
/ ing girl 70 Withstand al once a father and lover
TO set at naugh,, for the first time, an authorii-
never before disputed, and despise the power o
Ia love 50 deeply founded on gratitude In spit
ofihem ali, iial duty still came of conqueror -
Blanche summoned all The energies Of truly be
role mind 10 declare that not even the happiness o
belonging to the very besi Of men she had heard 0
m her life wolld induce Der 10 sacrifice The ten