Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-07-14
CHAPTER IA MOTHERS INFLUENCE.


"Molher molher!" exclaimed sweet eager
voice, and the speaker child of thirteen years,
burst into the room where Mrs Carlton sat al
work--"don' you think there is to he prize
given on the next exhibition day for the best COM
position. Aud mean to try for it-shunt !"
She was little harum scarum looking thing
l suppose she had ran all the way home from
school for her straw bonnet hung on her neck in
stead Of her head, aud profusion of soft, dark
hair was streaming III such disorder about her
glowing face, that you could not tell II she were
pretty not; but you could see pair Of brilliant
grey or blue black yes,-lhey certainly changed
their color with every new emotion, but think
they were really grey,--inll OF laughter, and love
beaming through the truaut tresses, aud all elO.
queht with The beauty of fresh, warm SOUL
The change in the cIli'ds eye is no freak of "A
foolish fancy; tor every one noticed II /; and her
school crony, Kate sumner, used TO declare, that
when Harriet was angry they were black grey
when she was thoughtful; violet when sad and
when happy and loving they changed to the ten
derest blue.
Mrs. Carlton drew the little girl towards her.
and srnoolhed back the rebeIlous curis, at the
same time excalmlng, with long drawn sigh,-
My tear Harriet how you ITO LOOK"
ooh, mother us not the least matter how 1
look If | were only beauty, now, like Angelina
Burton, l would keep my hair as smooth as-as
dny thing; but woull't rub my cheeks though,
as she dues always, just before she goes into
room where there is company you moth
er?'
The mother gazed at the chids expressive
face as she spoke with its Irregular yet lovely
features, the strange, bright eyes the changing
cheek the full and sweet, but 81 irted mouth, aud
said TO herself" W halever you may think, my
darling | walld not change your simple, child.
like uncOnsciousness, Tor all Angellna's beauty,
spoiled rs it is by vanity and afectation."
"But mother do give me a subject for compost
lion for want to write it now, this minute
" Harriet" snid Mrs. Carlton, quietly, ego and
brush your hair, change your shoes and mend
that rent in your dress neatly us you can"
Harriet halt pouled; hut she met her mother $
tranquil eye the poul changed to a good humor-
ed smile aud kissing her uheclionatey, she bound
ed off to her bidding
While she is gone, you would like-would you
not, dear redder?-to ask few questions about
her. can gaess what they are, and will answer
them TO the best OF my knowledge
Mrs. Charlton is widow, with a moderate
fortune, and handsome house in fremont street,
Boston. She had been star IN fashionable lie,
but since the loss OF her husband, whom she ten
derry loved, she had retired from the gay world,
and devoted herself to her child-u wild, frank,
happy, generous and impetuOus creature, with
halt "A dozen glaring faults, and one rare virue,
which nobly redeemed them all. That virtue,
patient reader, you must find out for yoursei.--
Perhaps you will catch glimpse OF 1t in
CHAPTER Haunt ELoI5E.
Harriet was busy with her composition, when
her aunt, who was on visit TO Mrs. Carlton, en-
tered the room. Aunt Elose was n weak minded
and weak.hearled lady OF very uncertain age,
uuhappiIy gled with more senslblliy than sense.
She really had great deal of ieeng-ior herself,
and all almost inexhausiibIe shower OF tears, va
red occasionally by hysterc aud iainling fits,
whenever any pressing eXigency, in the tate OF
her friends, demanded self possession, energy OF
immediate assistance. II, too there happened, as
there will sometimes, in all households, TO be al
urgent necessity for ins,0nt eXeiIlon by any mem
Der OF the family, such as sewing, watching with
an invalid, or shopping with country cousin
poor Aunt Eoise was invariably aud most unIor
lunately sezed with sudden tooth acme head
ache, pain in the side, strange feelings, dreadful
nervousness, or some trouble OF The kind, which
quite precuded the proprely of asking her aid.
Every morning at breakfast Aunt Eose edieC
the family with wonderful dream, which Ih'
breakfast bell had interrupted, aud every evening
she grew sentimental over the "reminiscences
which the twilight hour had awakened IL wa
then that innumerube shades OF lormer admlrer
arose. Some doubted il they had ever been NOR
than shades but Aunt Elose certainly knew
best about that and who had right 10 deny tina
Mr.. Smith had kneit to her for pity that CoOne
Green had vowed eternal alteration; and tina
Lawyer Lynx had laid his heart, his hand aud hi
fees, which were not quite fortune, AT her feet /?
Aunt EIoise lad been-at least she limited so
beauty and blue, in her day and, 10 maintain
both characters, she rouged, wore false rnglets
and scrubbed love verses which she had a ba'
habit of leaving by accident. between the leave
Of books in every trequenIed room in the house.
Sine thought and vowed herself extravaganza
fond OF her niece, during her early childhood, am
imagined that she displayed graceful enthusiasm
in exclumng, every now aud then, IN her pres
ence, and in that OF Others, -" Oh! you ungt
child ! do think she is the swee est creature
Come here and kiss me, you beauty! &c. az
But no one ever saw Aunt E!oise taking care &
the child, attending TO lis little wants, or dom
any thing for its benefit The only tangible prou
OF her affection for her nece, was in the shape c
bohbons and candy, which she was in die hab
OF bringing home from her frequent walks il
fremont street. Harriet regularly minded tines
forbidden Injuries TO her mother, and Mrs. Carl
ton regularly threw them into the fire.
"lsn'l 1t "A pity 10 waste such nice things, moth
er? Why not give them 10 some poor child il
the street," asked the lnIIe girl, one day, as sh
watched, with longing eyes, paper full Of tn