Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-10-20
From the Dover Enquirer.
an A N CY'S HILL :"


tains, while passing leisurely up the valley of
the Saco, little eminence was pointed out
to the writer, memorable for its connection
with IN incident which occurred many years
ago, and which from that day has borne the
title of "Nanry's Ill.," from. the name Of
the devoted heroine who persisted upon il
amid the SHOWS of an Alpine winter The
story may have been told before, but will
bear repeating. In the hands of some skill
ful tale-wriier it would form the ground work
for a respectable novel.
The little eminence alluded to, which is a
few miles below the Notch of the White
MonntaIns, was formerly covered with a
thick growth Of trees, a little cluster of
which is yet suffered to remain, probably
from the sad story connected with the spot
The pass through the Notch of the Noun
tans was discovered by one Nash, famous
hunter, an early pioneer in those regions,
who, with others in their hunting excursions
long before the settlement of that part of the
country, used to make this hill resting
place-an object for which il was admirably
calculated, as they could draw together the
thick boughs and tops of the smaller trees
with which II was covered, so as to provide
temporary but comfortable shelter. For
many years after the inhabitants began to
settle upon the rich intervals along the river,
this hill was common hating place, il be-
ing in the direct route Of the traveller from
the lower country to the region above.
Among the early settlers of the township
of Dartmouth (now Jefierson) was gentle
man from Portsmouth, of the name of W.,
in whose family domestic, was girl of
the name of Nancy, young woman of re-
spectacle parentage. and no small share of
personal charms. In the same family, was
a young man Of a similar station in life,
between whom and Nancy a mutual attach
ment existed, real and sincere on her part
but on his, there is too much reason to sup
pose, nothing more than passing fancy
Alter few years service in the family of
MIR. w. they had agreed at the close Of au-
.umn, TO 90 down to Portsmouth, where they
were 10 be married. Con6ding in the sim
certy and honor Of her lover, Nancy placed
in his keeping her little stock of money, the
savings Of several years of industrious and
faithful service. Taking advantage of her
absence on visit to a neighboring town,
the young man cIandestinely left Dartmouth,
carrying with him her little all. Learning
on return what had happened, and that her
faithless lover had been seen by some travel
lers journeying towards Portsmouth, Nancy,
with woman's love and woman's resolution
determined to follow him nothing doubling
that she could persuade him to fulfil his
vows and requite her own faithful affection.
Winter had already set in with more than
its usual rigor Deep SHOWS had fallen, rem
dering the way through the forests, which
in those days was little more than footpath,
almost impossible. From Dartmouth to
Bartlett. distance of more than thirty miles,
:here was not human habitation, or any
source from whence human succor could be
obtained by the weary or perishing traveller
Yet nothing daunted, and against the re-
monstrances and entreaties of her friends,
Nancy determined 10 set out on her peri
lous journey. She would listen to no per-
suasions and give no heed to the represent
tations of the dangers of the way. Provid-
ing herself with few necessaries for the
journey, and wrapping herself in her long
cloak, she babe adieu to her friends. She
had been gone but few hours, when the
sky, before serene, became overcast, and a
violent storm set in-one of those fearful
tempests which are the peculiarly Of our
northern climate. Snow after snow succeed
ed for several days, and all communication
between the scattered habitatons of the set
tiers was cut off. The adjacent mountains
reared their white peaks in fearful sublimity
to the heavens, the deep forests in every di-
rection were loaded down with snow, and
the very atmosphere seemed to glisten with
frost Several weeks after, some travellers
succeeded in forcing their way upward from
Bartlett. They arrived at the hill at night
fall, and prepared as usual TO encamp.-
Gathering some dry branches, they kindled
a fire, to protect themselves in some mea-
sure from the inclemency of the weather.
AS the light streamed up from the burning
wood, and illuminated the wintry landscape
around, an unearthy figure stood before
them beneath the bending branches of a
large tree. il was wrapped in robe of ice,
rigid and motlonless, and reclining its head
as if in sleep against the trunk of tree
1t was the lileless form Of Nancy! Over
taken by the storm, aud fatigued with her
journey, she had stopped at this place for
rest aud shelter, and while endeayoring to
protect herself from the fury of the tempest
by the trunk of tree, had fallen asleep and
persisted, from the intense cold her last
thoughts directed probably, to the faithless
lover who had abandoned her, aud for whom
she had thus laid down her life. M
MARRAcE,--I look upon mans attach
ment TO a woman who deserves it, as the
greatest possible safeguard to him in bis
dealings with the world; it keeps him from
all those small vices which unlettered youth
thinks little Of but which cerlninlY thnnot