Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-12-08

uOn you Sluuy, ana go 10 CoHege, aHu
learn to read the old poets as well as the
new %
Because, Flora, am poor. My father
was tradesman and when he died, his
property was sold to pay his debts A few
of his goods, however, did not find a ready
salc--so ! thought as I must make living
somehow, aud had no other capital TO begin
upon, and as have great desire to see the
world and study its manners, ] could not
do better, perhaps, than to commence life
as pedlar. SO | tied up the goods in this
great pack, and have Just started out to sell
them. My first trade has been with you =
but not in ribbons and caicocs. No, Flora,
our commerce has been in flowers | sold
you honey suckle-do you know its Ian
guage 1T means the bond Of lore and
you paid me in forgct-me-ROtS :" All, Flo
ra may all our future dealings be as I'M
mercenary as this"
eyes Ours, but not yours, for if every
body paid you in lorget-me-nots, am afraid
you would find the bread and butter scarce
This she said with bright, playful smile
that told how little of the stRtiment of his
words her childish heart had comprehended
Leigh felt that they stood on opposite sides
of the Rubicon of the heart--that with
him love had its sentiment and its passion,
while with her, all was freedom, and inno-
cence, and Joy.
''Do you think, Flora" he continued
THAT because am pedlar, cannot love
poetry Poetry doesn't live in books. my
dear Why, shall read ii every day--in
the flowers, in the sunbeams, in the songs
of the birds, in the beautiful streams, and
when ! can find them, in hearts as sweet
and innocent as yours, shall read il at night
in the stars, in the voice of the insects
Oh yes, Flora, in my own soul These lit
tie forget-me-nots will be whole volume to
me, of the sweetest poetry, better than any
that Shakespeare has written. think they
will tell me many Romeo and Juliet tale
as ! 60 travelling on my lonely way"
"But don't let the tales end so dismaIly.
That was foolish Romeo to kill himself
so quick. lie should have waited for
while, and all would have been WE'LL" ,-,
"Ah, sweet Flora, the heart that is hope
less grows soon weary of waiting, and | fear
that these forget-me-nots will tell me some
tales as melancholy as ever Romeo's.
"Throw them away then"
81 cannot for you gave them TO me. And
will you do me the great favor, Flora, never
to part with that azala never, at least, for
long yearsl Lay it away, let it be forgot
ten, or ! shall be, perhaps, before the day
is over, but still, do not destroy lido not
part with it, Keep it till we meet again.
Will you Flora ~
ooh yes, if You wish it. But good bye,
for here is my home, and mother will won
der why am gone so long away" So
with gay step and low, gentle laugh, she
sprang through the yard, and disappeared
from his sight.
The world went on, and with it, Leigh
Merton But what new passages have been
written in his soul during the four years
that have elapsed since he commenced his
wandering life Oh many and beautiful
are they, for they are of Hope, and Truth.
and Faith, the three blessed angels that
keep the records Of pure hearts, and write
upon them cheering prophecies, and holy
memories.
Leigh Merton, like many other men, had
two characters one was for the world
shrewd, calculating, and ambitious the
other was wthin-warm, glowing, imaein-
alive, full of rich fances and most I'M
worldly aspirations. Within was the true
character such as was family revealed i'm
his brief acquaintance with Flora Crichton; ;
but with the world he was artificial, and
conformed himself to the customs of the So
ciety that surrounded him
In his outward circumstances there had
been little change. In lieu of the large
pack with which he started he bore two
small tin trunks, swung by strap over his
shoulders, and containing jewels, and other
small fancy articles that are not easily OBJ
tanned in the country stores In person he
was somewhat altered-had grown taller
and darker but not so dark as to destroy
the fine contrast of his raven hair and rich
black eyes. lie wore whiskers, and (par-
don him, dear reader, very neat mOustachcs !;
and having peculiar accent, partly artif-
cial, and partly natural, he passed among his
customers for an Italian His aflectation
arose from love which he had for disguise
Not that he was ashamed of his occupation,
and thought that the day might come in
which he should wish to disown it, but he
loved to veil his own character that he
might better study the character of others {;
and he loved also, that isolation of being
which his foreign appearance procured him.
His taste for literature had had ample IA
clities for increase, if not for Improvement.
In his pocket were always few choice vol
umes which he studied while sitting under
a green tree for rest, or by some village fire.
side where he found shelter for the night
Early in the morning, many hours too ear
y for his business, he was out in Gods great
Temple, communing with Him through all
His glorious works. and to the religion
that early instruction had taught him, was
added the better reigiOn that pushed ND