Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-09-27


,lrnmn (althoneh his thoughts seldom drscrn.
dcd to such sublunary mal,rrs) wondered how
his friends were led to select such n stupid,
awkward, inconccivably dull servant he
should really have been afraid of her cll,.c,
upon the children. And the friends them
selves were ready to fall into convusions of
laughter when they Glanced to encounter
this odd, ridiculous transformation of their
lovely little relative.
'Ion have never seen Miss Lindsey, i
hplirvr,' said Mr. RAYMOND, one evening,
addressing Mr.. Augustus Hanson.
mo nor do | desire to- returned tina,
gentleman, with quite variation from his
usually composed and elegant manner. Il
passed some weeks At the seaside this sum-
mrr with bevv Of friends, and adorrrs of
the lady, and if ever was weary of hearing
ones praises externally sounded in my ears,
was then. They raved about her conlinu-
ally and the little anecdotes and rpn,rnhran-
crs which they recalled gave me no other
Ilen than that of IA pettrd, saucy, self-wlllcd
nrt'
Beware, beware Hanson interrupted his
friend laughing; 'sI,r is my wifr's Cousin and
a most special favoritr.'
i beg n thousand pardons.' returned the
gentleman addressing ANY; take 1t all
back; that she claim, kindred with YOU would
be sufficient recommendation
Mrs. Raimond did not listen as politely as
she should have done to this apology. She
was absorbed in the visions Of a little slender
hand shaken ,hrpainingly at the speaker and
wide cap in the distance, which, before she
could well discern it, had vanished.
This incidental little figure caused Mr..
Hanson one Morning. TO donhl very much
whether he was awake or dreaming. She
was busting the parlor, entirely unconscious
of his proximity, while he, from AN inner
room, reclned on lounge and watched her
motions. Was ever "a little awkward servant
so transformed. The EN-, figure erect, eve
~ motion AS she glidrd around in her occu.
patton, ful ofrasr and grace. Her eyes (he
had never seen their color brinrr) were a
deep violet, and she sang as she worked, with
no little taste and execution, IA sweet spirited
air. Il must crrlsnlv he dreaming, mur-
INJURED Mr.. Augusis lla son 10 himself, and
he stood mp, throwing out his arms and limbs
tn assure himself that he was not quite awake:
vet though the figure had vanished. even then
he fancied he heard the tairy-like melody IN
the distance. From that day forward Mr..
Hanson looked upon the small servant as
nothn! more or Jess than witch he would
not have been a, all surprised to see her turn
into IA black cat and vanish up the chimney.
Well was il for Clara Lindsay that old and
purltanc DAYS had passed, else might she
have been convicted and burnt ON his evil
d"ncr. He was passing one day summer
house, and hearing the noise, uprUnrinus
laughter of the chillrrd, saw fit 10 enter, for
in spite of his fasidiousnrss and elegance he
had most ovrrwrcning passion for the little
gentry. What did he see! The child on
shouting and screaming in triumph aud de-
light; they had succeeded in wrestling the
cap from the head of the little nurse, and the
brown, sunny curlS had fallen N a cluster
around her face, hInshing rosy with the en-
dravor To retain it, Scarcely had his eve
token in the prture when it disappeared !;
vet he WIS certain h" heard the shouts of the
children as they passed into another walk -
Ih" next moment, however, he was cnnvinc-
ed of his mistake, for he met his fancy hero
inc, dull. awkwnrd, rs was her wont, bearing
the vounecs, child in her arms in an entirely
different direction. - What curious law
dreams and visions had Mr.. Hanson begun
to have :! He WAS standing one morning
near the piazza wherc cxulirs, in the shape
of birds and plants, made - perfect lIlllr par
adise. Suddenly, he heard "A light step NOV
ing among them, while the first were clipper
ing, answering and apparently charmed and
delighted with certainly the sweetest, Sirang-
est, most tantaslical, peculiar pruing he ever
heard in his life. Very sensible birds Ia be-
pleased he did not wonder II, il A.; Mrs. Han
son would not have the slightes, objection 10
being addressed so herself. Surh m,rmnrrd
odd expressions of tenderness, sucl, musical
dlminiives, such amusing, original twisting
joining and rrnding or words, till the, rx-
pressed the wiuiesi, arcl,est, lovingness -
Svlphs, fairies, or spirits, celestial could
alone discourse thus. Mr.. Hanson, disrrac-
ted with curiosity, stepp-d sofily around T."
peep at the descended angel. VIVA, did he
See!-The lutte turlorn servant creeping
with ca'likr, s'cal,ly pace away in the dis
lance. lie could scarcely believe his eyes
he thought his friends house must he infrc-
ted, haunted, and the dreaming came ON
more desperately than ever. Mr. Hansons
fairy queen, MS ideal heroine, instead of the
tall, dignilird, dark-eyed lady, who was
walking maJeslicallv through the world and
share with him his lnxrrious home, was
changed to lille creature that spoke soft
", sang sweetlv, petied lovingIy-a third
light, changeablr, caprcuous, half trars, with
vioen, orbs and thick brown curls. In short,
an idea, a remembrance, connected most
mysterionsly and inscrulabe with his friends
small servant. The elegant, refined Mr..
Hanson hlushed when he acknowledged il To
himself One morning he heard loud cries
laughter and many voices proceeding from
the parlor. He entered and there were
many Of his seaside acquaintance with d.
vers others; the apartment in the utmost
confusion, chairs, satas, oiiomans, in mex
plcable con,iguiIy and disorder, thick dust
flying through. The company were collrc-
ted around the dire cause of all this huhbuh.
There upon IA chair, where she had dropped
in apparent embarrassment and fatigue, (sat