The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-10-25

Then nature whose gifts are far more to b,
desired than those of fashion and fortune
had been prodIgal to Mary. She was tn,
fairest girl in the country, and many an a
ged woman, when gazing on her sweet face
I would shake their heads and prophecy tina
she was not long to remain in this DARK
world.
Mary's beauty was not that kind that i.
'unchangingly bright: > it was her lowell
ness of sentiment, the dignity and purity oil
the soul within, which gave TO her coun.
tenance its irresistible charm. Her chest.
. nut hair just touched with a golden tint
curled around her lovely. meek and fail
forehead with grace and luxuriance which
art cannot initiate. The lilly might per.
haps have been thought to have predomlna.
|. ted too much in her complexion. had not
the least emotion called the blood so
quickly and SO eloquently to her cheek; and
the pensiveness of her soft, blue eyes al
ways changed TO the lustre of joy when she
welcomed friend.
Still Mary's disposition was rather incli-
ned to pensiveness. The recollection of
her parents, whose deaths she still remem-
bered. or that feeling of desolaiion and lone
illness, which will at times press on the
hearts of those who clrim no kindred, had
given to her face an impression of sadness,
and 10 her character a cast of pensive seri-
business, which, probably, under happier au-
spices, she would not have exhibited. Hers
was Just that kind of melancholy thought.
fulness, which in the aged, we call icisdorH
! httf hIfh ,ha 81 H..
and fair is often said to forbode brevity of
life or misfortunes in the world. And such
has often been predicted the fate of Mary.
But while she had been invested Of all those
feminine charms which have such an IRE.
slstIble influence over the hearts of men, it
is not strange that she should have been
sought by many, nor that when young Rob.
ert Wilson had once seen and loved her
that he should be determined TO obtain her.
Robert Wilson was native of Boston.
His father, the Rev. Nr. Wilson, was one
Of the first settlers of that country; true
Puritan he was steady and sturdy in his op.
position TO and abhorance of every tenet
leaning towards preface or popery. He
was an ardent, enthusiastic and pious man;
but very proud one. He was proud of
the sacrifices he had made, and the perse.
cutions he had endured for conscience sake;
and proud 10 be accounted a shining light
in the colony. And it is probable that the
sway he acquired over the stern and strong
minds among whom he mingled in the new
world was more gratifying to his pride, than
the homage of his vassals and dependents
would have been, had he not, by bis own
incorrigible non conformity, forfeited the
lair Inheritance in England to which he
might have succeeded. He was proud too,
If his son, and in that he was excusable -
Robert was such son.as might Justly make
| parents heart glad. if not proud
Robert had accompanied his father on n
journey through all the settlements of the
colony, whittier Mr.. Wilson went to exam
Inc the state of tho churches and endeavor
20 kindle their love. At Dover they tarried
several weeks passing the time mostly ut
the dwelling of Capt. "aldron and if the
fathers eloquence failed TO warm or gain
hearts, the sons persuasions were more sue.
cessful. But Robert gave his own heart in
exchange for Mary's which no doubt added
much force TO his eloquence.
1 Mr.. Wilson b .hcl their mutual attach
ment with mo e complacency than those who
knew his pride would have expeclei. Sew
eral reasons contributed 10 this. The mai
den's manners pleased him exceedingly he
saw her always industrious and attentive 10
ob,ige hir,. and then he very much wished
to have Robert married. II was his favor.
tie maxim, that early marriges made men
better citizens and moreover. there was
i fine piece of land on The green banks of the
Cocheco which Robert might easily obtain
for farm. Some occurrence in Boston
had highly changed and disguised the elder
Mr. Wison-ihe inhabitants of Dover treat.
ed him with vast respect and he secretly in.
dulged the intention Of removing thither,
should his son be prospered. So matters
were soon arranged to The mutual salisfac>
zion of ali parties. Roberts farm was se>
cured, and after he had accompanied his
/ father TO Boston, and procured necessaries
for beginning in The word.he was TO return
10 Dover. prepare house, and the means of
house keeping, and then he was TO be bless
ed with Mary's hand.
No lover will imagine that Robert would
make his stay at Boston Of much duration.
Despite tie many warm friends among his
youthful companions none could supply the
void in his heart which bis absence from
Mary caused, and he wus seen soon vending
his way back to Dover, equipped to settle in
the forest.
The appearance of his farm might not
have been exactly TO the taste of the city
breo beaux Of the present dsy. II lay in all
. the wilderness of nature, the tall trees toss
ing their heads proudly in the wind, as If
bidding defiance 10 puny man, who was
seeking to usurp the dominion that they had
held undislurbed for thousands of ages
And in the recesses of dark old woods often
: lurked the willy savage, more terrific and
blood-ihirsty than The prowling Ion or the
: crouching tiger. However, Robert Wilson
surveyed the trees and though, of the Indi-
ans without shrinking. He had been bred
10 consider labor-hard hand. labor-honor-
r able even for gentleman of the first standing
and best education. The ea,Iy .olon;s,s