Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-07-14

walk on the quay, and keep him merry by
recounting all the gossip of the boat; not
forgetting the attempts at Irritation carried
on with herself, by certain workmen in q
merino mandatory, whose pressing ma
chine Immediately adjoining the lanndress's
bark, and who never failed, in going to
and fro twenty times day to fling passing
compliments at the belle bLanchisscuse (pretty
laundress) The cheerful old man would
re-echo the light-hearted laugh with which
those tales were told but following them
up with the soberer counsels of experience
over the closing meal of the day, then fell
gently asleep amid the cares and caresses of
the most dutiul Of daughters.
Three years had rolled away since her
mothers death, and Blanche happily en-
crossed between her occupation abroad and
her hlial duties at home, had found no leis-
ure TO listen to tales of love- There was,
however, among the young merno dressers,
tall, fine, handsome fellow, named Victor,
on whose open countenance were written
dispositions corresponding to those Of his
fair neighbor, whom, instead of annoying
with iamiliarities, he gradually won upon,
by respectable civility towards herself, and
still more kind inquiries after her good old
father
BY degrees he took upon himself to watch
the time when she might be toiling, heav-
lily laden, up the steep slippery steps, and by
coming just behind her, would slyly ease her
of more than half her burden. Onpartinq at
the door of the great public laundry estab-
llshments (where the work begun on the riy-
er is afterwards completed he would leave
her with the hopeful salntation, in which
more was meant than met her ear, Good
bye, Blanche, till we meet again
Such persevering attentions could hardly
be repaid with indifference and Blanche
was oil too kindly nature 10 remain unmo-
we'd by them But while she kindly ack-
nowIedged the impression they had made ON
her heart, and that it was one which she
would carry TO her grave, she with equal
honesty declared that she could allow no at
tachment to another to come between her
and her devotedness TO her blind father
And why should it, dear Blanche 2 was the
young mans rejoinder; surely two of us
can do more for his happiness than one /
lost my own father when child and il will
be quite pleasure TO me TO have some one
can call SO. In marrying me, you will on
ly give the old man the most dutiful of sons
'Ah, but should give myself to a master.
who would claim and engross the greatest
part of my love, for know | should so love
you, Victor And if we had family. the
poor dear old man would come to have but
the third place in my heart, after having il
all 10 himself so long. He would find il out.
blind as he is, though he would never COM
plain but il would make him miserable
No, no-dont talk to me of marrying as
long as he lives, or tempt me with thoughts
of a happiness 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 honied words to for
get her most sacred dutyP
Poor Blanche might well say she had e.
nough to do to maintain her dutifuI resolu-
ton, between the gentle opportunities of her
betrothed, and the general chorus of plead
lngs in her favor among her sisterhood in
the boat, whom Vctor's good looks and
good behavior had converted into staunch
allies, and who could not conceive il posi-
Bile TO resist so handsome aud so constant a
lover. Borne down by their hnmely remon-
strances, which agreed but too well with her
own internal feelings, Blanche came at
length to confess that if she had wherewithal
TO set up finishing establishment of her
own, where she could preside over her bu-
siness without losing sight Of her father, she
would at once marry Victor But the CAPT
tai required for its fitting up was at least
5000 or 5000 francs, and where was such
sum to be got, or how saved out of her scan
ty wages? Victor. however, caught eagerly
at the promise, aud never lost sight Of The
hope it held out of attaining his darling OBJ
ject
He is able TO earn five francs day, and
had laid by something; and the master whom
he had served ten years, and who had ex-
pressed a great regard for him, would per-
haps advance part ofthe sum. Then, again.
the good women of the boat, whose united
yearly depostes amounted TO upwards of
5000 francs, kindly expressed their wiling
ness to advance out of their savings the
needful for the marriage of the two lovers.
But Blanche, while running over with graf
itude for the generous offer, persisted in her
resolution not TO marry till their own Joint
earnings should enable her to set up laun
dry
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 a laborious life to the damps of
the river, was seized with an attack of rheu-
matte govt, which rendered him completely
helpless, by depriving him of the use of one
of his limbs.
Here was an end at once TO all his re-
naming sources Of amusement and occupa-