Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-12-20

ladder to the ground with the heroic man and his
feeble charge, dashing the head of the poor woman
to atoms. The man was borne away burnt wound
ed and apparently dead. The aged corpse, the
man and the daughter were borne in silence and
grief to dwelling near, where medical aid was
soon procured and consciousness restored. The
Injury received by the fall was slight, and in few
moments the gentleman was able to walk. He in
qured anxiously for the fate Of the occupants of
the consumed dwelling, and was directed to the
room containing the agonized daughter and her
deceased parent There scene was presented
for which language is inadequate. Too full of an
guish to weep, the orphan sat with a fixed gaze
upon the manged face of her mother, firmly grasp
ing her cold hands in her own. All were SILENT
Sympathy was too deep and sincere in every heart
to interrupt the mournfu silence by word. Each
looked upon the other, while all eyes streamed
with tears.
Upon entering the room, to his great surprise,
the philanhropic gentleman who had saved the
lady at the risk of his own life, discovered in her
the beautiful and modest girl who had supplied
him for months with the saleable 4" London caps.'
Long had he desired to find her residence-but so
brief were her visits that he had never been able
to enter into conversation with her upon any other
subject than that of the business between them.-
Whether she were rich or poor he knew not, but
he saw intelligence and loveness in her counte-
nance, which had unconsciously won his heart in a
measure-and he had determined to learn her his
he OF LnlS meeting,
consequently, produced a powerful effect upon his
feelings. Nor were these feelings lessened when,
soon after, he entered the room of death and
mourning, the first shocking, overwhelming effect
of hei sudden loss Of all earthly means, and above
all her only remaining relative, began to spread
its dark pail around in the contemplatlons Of her
mind. The fountain, too full at first to give utter
ance, finally found utterance in paroxySm Of
tears. Violently and rapidly did they flow. But
Martha was girl of no ordinary moral power
She had been educated to lean for counsel and
support in the hour of trial upon his arm which is
mighty to uphold, and whose words of consolation
are precious to the afflicted. The pail of bereave-
ment had frequently passed over her young heart,
and she knew where to flee for soace. Fervent-
y and humbly did she pray, while bending over
the inanimate form of her mother, that she might
be clothed with grace for the endurance of her
we're trials, and the spirit of murmuring banished
from her heart. Nor did she plead in vain. With
camness and forttude astonishing to all who be-
held her, she arose from her kneeling and thanked
the company for their kind attentions, and IN the
most impassoned eloquence, prayed for the bless
ing of heaven upon her preServer.
A few days after the funeral Of her mother Mar
tina returned to her native State, and found friends
and sympathizers among those who were wont to
rejoice in the smile of her happier days Here,
- she industrousIy applied her time in efforts to
support herself, and to store her mind with useful
knowledge. Every day witnessed an addition to
her friends and admirers, and many were the Of
fers received from those who sought her hand.
y Two years passed away, and Martha became
If the wife of E. II, the generous and veal
> thy merchant who had assisted her in adversely
i and saved her in peril. In accordance with her
:, wishes, neat cottage house erected on the
:, place where stood their former residence, in which
~ they lived in happiness, enjoying the love of many.
A smiling daughter played in infant innocence be-
hon, lndf m Znh,
~ sings their feet. and to promise brightness in the
! future. But it was not to be. f.. Il. was a
=, kind, devoted husband, but ambitious of wealth.
u Not content to witness the sure increase of good
business he sought to swell his thousands by the
. wild speculations of $50 and 37, in which so ma
! ny men who could not Z" let well enough alone"
=, were ruined One short year from the time in
It which he embarked in these speculatiOns, found
- him a bankrupt! The effect upon his mind was
- so powerful that in few weeks his health failed
~ and death closed his earthly trials filling again to
e. the brim the cup of the afflicted Martha.
" Left again alone, with beautiful babe, poor
. aud without relations, the energy Of mind and
heart so richly cultivated were again taxed for the
;, endurance of this trial. and to prepare for the
~ uncertain issues of the future. Although deep
y was the wound of the last severe blow upon hel
: heart, yet it was not fatal. Meeky her spir
bowed to the will of heaven, and faith in the pro
81 lection Of the hand that had snten, fortified he
against despair. Enough was saved from thu
- wreck of her fortune to refrain the cottage, anC
:" the exchange of the rich furniture for that which
~ was palmer and afforded a trhe for present ne
~ VI cesslties Blessed with health and accustomed tt
y, labor, she still finds the path of life strewed will
" many blessings, and manages to light up the sparl
do of Joy in the bghted hearts of many poorer thai
n herself And if she does not
TT, Sing by her wheel at the low cottage door,
al yet there is the music and harmony of a vrtuou
,1v and elevated mind and generous heart, whic
he more lasting mine of wealth than the vault
.nt of Partisan princes Time may impair the beau
,ix ty-afflcton may try the heart-adversity ma
rs Cypress, but neither, nor all, destroy the ee
aII vated and refined, although humble and poor yam
IL, KEE GIRL.
ut, -