Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-08-04

convinced of its propriety, he dared not IN
terposc. Edward caught up his hat with a
naughty gesture, and without word, abrupt
ly left the room. He had nearly reached
the street door, when Mrs. Clarwood, in a
paroxysm of rage. rushed past him, and seiz-
ed his shoulder.
Edward said she, in voice trembling
with excitement, Edward! you have insult
ed me; repent this instant apologize or
you never darken these doors again.
Mother he replied calmly, Il am ready
to go-apologize cannot
Go them said Mrs. Clairwood, opening
the door herself go, migrate drown your
self: if you will, but never let me see your
face again. and with these words, the door
was violently closed and locked in Edwards
face. He stood for moment musing with
folded arms, as if irresolute, and then walk
ed slowly on.
Ii was calm summers morning. AS Ed
ward walked, the morning breeze played
about his temples, and famed his burning
cheek, but in vain; the fires that lighted up
his eye and sent the hectic to his cheek, were
inward, TO be cooled by no external appica-
ton. The fragrance, waited from a thou
sand opening flowers, saluted him, and the
tall trees waved their tops, as if in gay Ca
rousal. The sun shone brightly and warm
ly on his path, but all these were unheeded.
Nature, though wreathed in smiles, attracts
no notice from the sick and weary soul
Edward walked more hurriedIy !: he had gain
ed the open country and was crossing a
bridge that was thrown across narrow but
rapid stream. Totally absorbed in his re-
Elections, unconscious of aught beside himself
he was striding hastily across it, when his
step was suddenly arrested.
What change the few last moments had
effected in his condition He found him.
self not voluntary exile, but an outcast,
elected from the paernal roof, and that by a
mothers hand. The sensations excited in
an ordinary bosom by such circumstances
would have been powerful; but to his acute
scnsibllities they were exquisitely, intensely
painful. The strong tide of excited feeling
swept through his sonl, arousing and concen-
trating every thought every passion upor
the one engrossing, maddenlng idea of hi.
expulsion from home. 1t touched his feel
t ngs to the quick, lie could have born ridi
cule, contumely, even ilI-lreatmen,, but t
be driven out in the world, a wanderer
homeless. friendless, an object for 'scorn tt
| point her slow, unmoving finger at plunged
HIM into wretchedness that was nearly aIliet
to desperation. He had camy thought o
leaving home, but that was honorable Il
be driven from it with curse upon his heat
was maddening. In the giddy whirl of feel
ing, the delrium of excitemant as it wer,
, that followed, thousand wild, incoheren
ideas floated through his brain, like wave
each blotting out all trace of that which hat
preceded it.
Advancing to the side of the bridge, h,
leaned over the railing, and gazed abstrac
tedly into the stream beneath. The eddy
ing waters swep, under him, rejecting tin
rays of the sun from their pelucid surface
A new idea seemed to flash upon his mind
The workings of his countenance and his in
coherent mutterngs evinced a new emotion
The last words addressed him by his mohe
rang in his ear. go dromn yowseT if go,
,, mW.
'Ay! drown mu,tered he. This wer
indeed place for that; o, that it were so
, y, that it had been so ere it came to this
f To die yes, death would be indeed bless
ing, for what is life! A burden bite
sting if death then destroy that sting or rio
me of the burthen, twas indeed to be desir
, ed. Bright waters would that your merr,
gambols were now playing DER my bosom
f would that your embrace had snatched NJ,
from this too early anguish
HIS mutterings became more disconnec.
ted and ndistinct. His head sank upon tn,
railing, and overcome with fatigue and in
tensty of feeling, he slept.
An hour passed by, and Edward still slept
: The noise made by passing traveller dis.
turbed his slumbers. He awoke, and pulling
: his cap over his eyes, hastily walked on
: lie was refreshed, aud the agitation Of hi,
mind in some degree sooIled. As he walk.
ed reflection served to tranquillize still more
his agitaled feelings, and he soon ceased, to
all outward appearances, to remember the
scene through Which he had just passed
His countenance reganed its accustomed Sc
renity, and his manner again became calm
and undisturbed. The outward traces OF
emotion had indeed vanished, but the iron
had entered his sonl.
1t was lovely autumn morning, about
four years after this event, that small group
were assembled in Mr.. Clairwood's chamber.
The balmy air breaihed through the partly
opened easement and the merry carols of
the birds in an adjoining garden made the
apartment vocal with enlivenng music.
Beneath the window spread out charming
landscape, whose features, thrown into hight
and shadow by the beam of the morning sun,
rendered its beauty still more striking. Ev-
cry thing wore pleasant aspect the very
furniture in the room seemed to shine with
more than its wonted lus,re. The mirrors
looked more dazzeling, as they caught and
rejecting every ray that passed across their
polished surface. But the brightness Of all
external objects, by helghtening the contrast,
rendered the gloom that sat upon the coun-
tenances Of the group still more gloomy.
Mr.. Clairwood had been stretched for
months upon bed of disease and suffering,
and the only change about to be wrought,
was that from bed of disease to the bed of
death. He had fingered on, sustained by
hope and comlorted with the assurance of ul-