Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-12-08
MISCELLANY.
THE POTTER'S DAUGHTER OF
CORINIH r,


1t was nm evenng--au evening in one Of the
faiTest cities of all Greece. With the blue sky
shining down upon the temples and towers whose
very ruins breathe forth the poetry Of archec
ture, and spoke dimly to after ages of the simple
and classic grandeur Of that ancient and time. hal
lowed spot, the stately Corinih But it is with
the history Of the human hearts which beat and
struggled and broke within its marble walls, that
we have alone to dO,--and, what is much the
same in all countries and ages, a sad and sacred
volume, scarcely to be read without tears.
In mean house in the suburbs of the city, sat
young girl apparently lost in thought--but how
beautiful! No wonder those Greeks. with such
living models before them should excel, as they
have done, every nation in the world. But for,
the flashing eyes and quverng lip, she might
have passed, with her lofty brow and delicate
profile, fer some highly finished stalue-she was
so cold and passonless TO look upon, and SO fault
lessly classical in the unsudeG arrangement of
dark hair and flowing garments, which one forgo,
TO notice were somewhat OF the coarses and de-
noted the low catt of the wearer. But woman,
IN her youthful beauty and pride, has an innate
nobility which rises superior TO the petty disnc-
tons OF rank and station. Shc was q splendid
creaure-that girl and Young, too. Why then
that sad and thoughtful look The beautiful are
not always happy. She might have many wor-
shippers, and yet the one be not among them-
Alas for her, if it was So!
We have heard and read how, by strange
process, the masterpieces of Lysippus and Praxi-
teIes actually wore upon their cheeks the warm
ana glowing tlnts OF life; and, in like manner a
bright flush passed the face of the like
girl at the sound of approaching footsteps, and its
cold and rigid appearance disappeared,
Father, said she rising 10 meet him, and her
voice was very sweet and gentle, 'you are tired
mot more so than usual,' replied the old man,
goomily.
Nor yet ill.,?
n m hu IT, ,t,o N
tons, Corintha 2"
Because | know by your countenance that
something must have happened to vex YOU at
least, if it is no worse. Why you have not
smiled upon me yer, nor called me your child =
Father, it is not who lave grieved you, hope p
THAT were impossible! replied the old potter.
II ask only 10 see you happy, Corniha ? are you
happy Wt p .,on,s 40, ;. 49,, ,.,,.,
Il know moi, indeed, but you are
Yes, always with you, And now will you tell
me what you were angry about, just nowP
Nay, it matters not you have heard the news,
! SUPPOSE
IL have been within doors all day.
Then it has not reached you. l thought not,
by your manner; and ngan the old man was ST.
lent.
! wonder Myron has not been here tonight
said the girl at length
He is better engaged, doubtless, with his be-
tolneuj repNed the potter, bitterly.
'Ah, how beautiful she is exclaimed Corintlla
The old man cast long, eager, and searching
look upon her as she said this: and SO earnest
and prolraced was his scrutiny that she smiled
al length and asked pl0yluy OF what he could be
thinking.
81 have been UNJUST said Dibutades 'but it is
all past now, end you must he very kind to Myron
II he should come, to make up for my harshness
Alter all there was no harm done
'And why were you harsh to poor Myron, IA
iher ? asked the girl, coaxingy.
'Because-because thought that you, and not
this young lone, should have been his berothe ;
or why, for years, has he been like your very
shadow? And feared pardon mo my child
that you might have felt this too
What, love unasked REPLIED The maiden with
proud smile upon her duivering lips. 'Melhinks
il it were so, had deserved TO suffer # is true,
Myron is very dear 10 me, as it is only natural he
should be, when we have known each other go
long, even from our very childhood but our af-
1ecllon was ever that Of brother and sisier-no,b-
ing more. Father, should he sorry if you and
he were not friends
Fear not--i is sufficient lhat huve wronged
HIM without cause
'And so you really thought said Cornha,
hanging playiully over him, that girls hearts
were as brittle and as easily broken as your pot.
terry and her merry laugh rang pleasantly in The
old mans ears as she Withdrew to her household
duties.
That night MS he lay between sleeping and
waking the potter iancied he heard strange
walllng sound, as of one weeping and lnmenting
IN bitterness of anguish. But after all, it might
have been dream-we do dream strange things,
sometimes.
Perhaps Myron partly guessed from the man
ner OF Dibuades what he thought, and resented il
deeply, for some days passed away without his
appearance at the house which had, for years,
been second home to him; it may be, however,
mat his betrolhed took up much Of his time.-
when he did come, at length, he was strangely
embarrassed and unlike himself Corinlha looked
up on ms entrance with her usual calm smile. and
held out her hand.
,,rou have been absent from us long time,
you have doubtless been much n,ore pleasantly