Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-10-06
ONE OF THE
WORLDS LITTLE WAYS.

Charlotte Meredith was Just fifteen, and
Volney Balfour just twenty-five, when they
accidentally met, and, following the exam
pie of many wiser persons, fell mos, pro-
%foundly. desperately, and iusupportably in
love. Indeed, according to their firm con-
%viction, there never before was such an in
stance as they presented of the ravages of
the tender passion. Poets might rave and
galvanize language to give force to express
sion, but they could not adequately describe
the consuming nature oflhe attachment which
Volney felt for Charlotte, and Charlotte for
Volney. 1t was nearly tremendous-at least
so thought the youthful couple, and who
could better judge of its vehemence than they!
Charlotte was an orphan, and she had a
guardian named Mr.. Queer; and this Mr..
Queer was a very odd and ridiculous old fell
low, antiquated IN his notions, and altogether
behind his age. At a time when the world
were making their fortunes in speculation,
and when money was worth at least fifty per
cent. he kept his own property and that OF
his ward snugly locked W in five per cent.
stocks, and no remonstrance could induce
him to partake of the golden harvest which
some Of his Wall stree. friends, in the most
disinterested manner, offered to share with
him if he would only allow them to plant a
few idle thousands of his dollars by way OF
seed. They even went so far in their gen.
erous intentions as to offer to give to a new
city, out West. the name of Queerviie, il
he would only take stock in the company
formed for its erection. 1t was already mag
nihciently laid out, (by the li~thographer,)
and all that it wanted now was a population.
Bah! was the only reply which the obtuse
old capitalist condescended to return to the
proposal.
Other peculiarities had Mr.. Queer, from
which it would almost seem that he had walk
cd into tho wrong century. Although he
had been entrusted with millions of the pub
lie money, he had never been proved a de-
faulter; and though, during the last war, he
had abundant opportunities of realizing an
immense fortune, by emitting to meet his
foreign obligations, no one could accuse him
of even having repudia,ed a debt. The old
fellow also went TO church regularly on Sun
days, and was simple enough to love his wife,
and be faithful 10 her, even after she had
waxed so fat as to compete with the man.
moth OK in weight. He could never be made
W unueTStdnu tndt AL u IdW III poIItiCS,
and that a man could be, politically speak
ing, a great scoundrel and humbug, but, in
every other respect, honest, v%irtuous and es-
Unable. He used to think it pleasanter Ia
stay at home and read to his wife, than to
pass the evening in a lec,ure-room or at a
club. He thought Pope a great poet, and
Walter Scott a great writer +; but exclaimed
Fudge! i over a volume of verses by Keats,
and denounced Carlyle's French Revolution
as stuff. He thought it ostenta,ious and an
i-republican to put ones coachman and
footman in livery, and always insisted on
paying his tailOrs cash down.
From all this it will be admitted that old
Queer was,entirely behind the age. and Who'll.
ly unfit to occupy a responsible position in
the present advanced stage Of civilized socie-
~. But l must not loose sight of the princi-
pal personsges Of my history.
Mr.. Queer said Charlotte. one morning,
to her guardian, as he was sipping his coffee
and reading his newspaper, Mr.. Queer, !
have u communication 10 make 10 yOu--a
communication Of Importance"
"a communication, child What do you