Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-04-26

eighteen, stood almost penniless in the world
at his birth was envled as the sole prospec-
tive heir of the great Stanton estate, siiuat-
ed in one Of the most thriving towns in cas-
ton Massachusetts. His father was one of
those pleasant, genial souls, whom every
body calls good fellows" Born TO vast
wealth, and unaccostomed TO labor, it never
once occurred to him that he or his fami-
ly could by any possibility become poor; or
that there was anything in life for him to do
but live as a good fellow" and make the
world pasture for his sefindulgence He
Kept horses and hogs. He hunted, drove
and hshed; always sure Of 6uding compan-
ions in abundance. Among the humble
shops which surrounded the green Of $.
s,ood that of Messrs. Gresham and Bartlett.
which was denominated "the store" par er-
csiience. This was his favorite lounginv
place, where he took precedence rs king Of
the idlers, aud paid the BILL Henry Stan
ton was not then what was called drunk
ard. In common parlance he was termed a
"high fellow" one who liked good spree
Alas the geRtle attentions of his wife
could not win him from the love of strong
drink. He went on spending, and never so
much as dreaming that the condition of his
property might require examination. His
estate was left TO the careless care Of others.
Therefore It was not mysterious to any
one but himself when, after few wears, the
fund necessary to support his mode of life
were not forthcoming. He looked grave
But his credit was good; he could raise
money without d fficuliy. He borrowed :;
mortgages followed and on each new mort
gage he doubled his drains, until at length
violent fever, the consequence of one of his
high sprees." laid him in his grave. His
sorTowful widow and little boy we're left with
nothing save small pittance, the proceeds
of her claims on the estate, which was paid
annually by the new owner.
Ellen Stanton, wishing TO avoid place
which could only remind her fthe past,
aud Influenced perhaps by some movement
Of wounded pride, accepted the invitation of
an early and beloved friend, who offered her
share of her humble home, and, what was
still better, one ofthe warmest places in her
heart. This friend was no other than Lucy
Maynard's aunt Esther. She was one Of
that class Of "us women" who, as some one
has said, or if il has not been said we say it
now, are born to keep the world in equllib-
rum. She was an old maid and God bless
all such, we say, for we do not see how the
world could we'll get on without them. Lu-
cy was the rich legacy left her by an only
sister, the widow of sea captain, whose
last resting place was beneath the blue waves
he had loved so well. His wife, a part of
whose very existence he was, seemed no lon
ger creature ofearth after the news of his
death reached her. She grew paler aud pal
er, her eye brighter and brighter, as the
hour drew near when she felt assured she
should again meet him who had been her
life on earth, until at last her wish was real
lied, and she slept in the grave, and awoke
in heaven.
At the lime Of her mothers death Lucy
was about five years old. A few hours be-
fore she died, the mother called the little
girl to her side, and impriniing a last kiss on
her lips, said to her sister, in the low, husky
ZONES of death, Esther Esther make her
true-hearted woman p Nobly did aunt
Esther fulfil the dying injunction of her sis
ter. 10 this end she directed all her efforts.
Her true heart, superior mind, experience
and strong good sense counterbalanced the
deficient in this, as she had received the ben
eft OF the schools, such as they were, for
persons in her circumstances, fifty years a.
go. With rare tact she united the qualities
OF companion and mother; and while she
taught her adopted daughter all the mystic
ries ofpaslry, soup and soap, she could also
sing with her ''od songs, the music of the
heart" and sympathize with her admiration
of the beautiful, whether in nature or in
books, If not always with equal enthusiasm,
at least with hearty good will When
Charles Stanton aud his mother came to re-
side with her, aunt Esther's heart, which be-
fore seemed to be wholly occupied by Lucy,
Immediately expanded to make room for
Charles. lie was two years older than Lu-
cy, aud became her protector in all the civil
wars oflhe village school, participated in all
her studies and amusemenls, aud was the
companion Of her visits to the old pastor,
Mr.. Clayton
The old man dearly loved the child, as he
always called Lucy, and would even lay a.
side his favorite volume of Jeremy Taylor
when her light knock was heard at the stu
dy door. Charles soon became almost MS
dear to him as Lucy and il was pleasant to
see the old man, with Charles and Lucy seat
ed by him, alternately reading aloud some
OF his favoriie volumes of history, poetry or
romance, or listening intently as he pointed
out some new beauty of the author, or at
tempted to satisfy their craving for knowl-
edge from the rich and varied lore OF his own
mind
At length his mothers second marriage,
which by the way was marriage of exped-
ency, brought another change fer Charles
She accepted the hand of worthy farmer,
and took Charles to reside with her. But