Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-09-29

, ed here is to escape with a whole skin. In
consequence ofthis conclusion, she took lodg.
ings with an old unmarried lady, who from fear
of thieves, inhabited a couple Of attics four
stories high Here Foresight might have spent
good and quiet days, if she had not been tor
mented with a thousand fears and fancies Of all
possible dangers. Out Of terror of fire she scarce.
ly trusted herself to cook anything she was
apprehensive of becoming i'll from lack Of fresh
air, yet going out was not to be thought Of she
might be run over by the very first carriege a
flower.pot might fall out Of window and kill
her: she might break leg on the steps, etc.
No, no going out was quite impossible and
such was the repugnance to this that out OF fear
that she must one day be obliged to purchase a
new gown, she had not courage TO wear her old
one, which was already torn in several places.
AT length it came to that pitch that she could
neither stir hand nor foot. She had infected
her landlady, the old naid with all her fears
and scruples to such degree, that when at
length fire bfoke out in the house, the two
friends dared TO make no efforts for their escape,
and must certainly have persisted in the flames,
had not chimney sweep and a carpenter taken
them on their backs and brought them out Of
danger.
In the mean time Zeal ran ABOUT the world,
gossipped, cried, preached, and drove mankind
first in one direction and then in another He
tore the peasant from the pillow, the mother from
her children. and the officer from his bureau, to
give to each Of them other employment. Then
he ran suddenly off. and left them to take care
of themselves. AS he turned himself from Eu-
rope toward China, in order to to convert the
heather, he came to near to a mine in Russia
IN the moment Of its explosion. was caught by
the powder, and lost-aas, alas /! both his eyes,
Still he ran some time longer about the world,
creating naturally nothing but confusion, and
came into collision with the police. He was
ultimately compelled to provide himself with a
conductor, who for a certain remuneration led
him back to the place whence he had come.
Humility. it is true, had not passed through
such hazardous adventures yet neither had it
gone extraordinary we'll with her. Separated
from her companions, she cut such a pitiable
and lamenabe figure, that no one would have
al y thing to do with her. After she had drag
ged herself, witt bowirgs and curtseyngs,
though the whole world, after actually crawling
on her knees, knocking at all doors, and every.
where saying, Il am not worthy to loose the
la.che: Of your Shoes" and had been every
where attacked and il.used, the turned herself
homeward, and reached Stockholm, completely
in rag, and nearly dead
Here, at the foot OF the statute of the hero.
king, she saw, one after another, all her early
travelling companions arrive. But, great heav.
en- how changed were they. They could
scarcely be recognised. Zeal had lost his fiery
eyes, and was lame of the right leg. Courage
carried an arm in sling, and had in the high
est degree the lo"k of mauuaise sWel lid.
ness was covered from head to foot with sores
and blue weas ; Oh her former angelicaly soft
brow, angry passion had seated itself, and eve.
ry third word was curse. Generosity had al
the airs of comedian !; he acclaimed and rant
ed necessarily. Patience and Pity were be-
come so thin and transparent, that they could
not be seen, without the deepest compassion
Good.humor was any thing but sober Pru
dence found herself in better case but she
was become naughty and boas,fu she measur
ed with an air of deep thought her steps and
words took snuff every minute, carried he
head aloft, cast looks at her companions over he
shoulder, turned up her nose and was unbear
able.
1t may be imagined whether, under such re
versed circumstances. the meeting again of The
virtues was pleasant one. To confess the
truth, they resembed, in their present assem-
bly,, the Vices far more than the Virtues. Blu
scarcely were they all together, had extended
to each other the hand, and recognised eacl
other, than their appearance began to change
and every virtue TO acquire its former character
Prudence took from her travelling medcn,
chest an ointment, rubbed herewith the dark
cned eyes of Zeal, which speedily opene,
themselves, beamng with their former fires
Good-humor was So struck with the dry, ghost
like appearance of Humility, that she becam
sober on the spot and the Virtues resolved t
. strengthen themselves in the next hotel with
, banquet and bowl Of punch there should ever
one relate his travelling adventures and take
resolution for the future. "Bravo !" exclaimed
, Courage, and gave Foresight the hand Good
humor took Humility under the arm and led tn
{ way, the rest al! cheerfully followin
1t would be leading us too far to repeat a
, the adventures with which the Virtues enter
tanned each other over the bowl. Suffice it t
state, the resolve which at the end of the sitin
J, was unanimously adopted by all present thi
was, that from the time forward the Virtue
should always travel together. and should ser
I crate as seldom as possible. since they foun
!. each one given over to herself without tn
d counsel and support Of the rest, only played tn
fool. With this resolution all the Virtues wer
highly satisfied. They concluded this feast wit
i a song which Good humor mprovsed, an
: which they styled the League ofthe Virtues.