Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-12-13
THE ADOPTED DAUGHTER.
ny MISS MARTHA RUSSELL.

"Who would have t.ncird ,l,a, these Jag
sweet village as ,l,is1 Why, !, is like
fairy rncl,a tlnen, !"
Such is the involuntary exclamation of al
most every lover of the beautiful, as he
leaves the rough mountain road, and tlrns
toward the village of Mindrr.
Fairy rnclan,mcnt! Yes, indeed. But
alb, the world is rrnne to nnhtlirf! We
know not why the don,nns of the rlfn peo-
pie should be confined to merrie England !
and sumo other parts Of the old world
nor do we believe they are. Indeed, we
have proof positive to the contrary; for
what are all those beautiful green circles,
under the old oaks down in Deacon Dnd-
lcy's pasture. hut rings in which the fairies
hold tlpir moonlight dances And then,
on some mornings. many pretty girl in the
village will tell you that every thing is out
of place, that somehow every thing goes
wrong; and shall this be accounted for, il
we must not believe that sn'ne of the mis-
chicvous cousins of Puck or Robin Gondt,l.
low have in,rrtrrd Besides dear reader,
Mindrn is somewhat renowned for its share
in the mrn,nrahlr Salem wiiclrrait, and
manv legend of that awful d"lision' is
still preserved among its inhabitants.
Otherwise, Mindrn has nothing peculiar,
Even its hraniy is not uncommon. Huns
drrds of similar villages lie wedged ~ he
tween the hills If dear New England
There, on the Yves, side of the road, ARE tho
meeting ho,ise and h0ul-l,nusr. Just be-.
hind them are two or three little, low, dlap.
dated bindings. These are the last of the
Sahhaih-day muses. where those whose
homes were not in the village spent The re-.
cess between the services on the Sabbath
the fathers and unrles criirising the sermn,
the nnn,rrs and aunts talking over III.
deaths, births and marriages, and pxchang
ing pledges Of friendship in the shape .
frnn'l SEED, orange peel and sweet flag.
Farther along stands tine store. and nearl
opposile this, the low gambrel rooted house
of widow Barker. Just On the corner ap
pears the new cottage Of the Doctor, and be,
yond in that neat white house, with the hon
ey.suckle over the door. lives tho minister
Down by the river, in tina, red house. will
the tall hnllyhocks and sun flowers in front
Aunt Chinnin lives, and the noise of he
loom is heard through the day. On ,ht
hill stands the backsmth's shop, whose lttl'
chimney, belching showers OF sparks, ! have
watched many time in the long winie
evenings. wondering whether Vesuvias O
Eina could equal that. Blu, come with ~,
down the lane yonder, and stop at tina, sub
s,an,ial looking house around which there i
so much shrubbery. That is the residence
of Aunt Sally Collins, and there purpos
to begin my story.
1t was Il lively summer evening. TIL
large rain drops on the foliage around Il,
house, gliticrrd in the bram,s Of the settn
sun, for mass Of clouds had first swep, rap
idly over the heavens, and,
"L,e hooded frars,
Told their heads in drops Of ain"
An old gentleman. accompanied by
young girl. came slowly down the lane, an
reached the little red gate jus, AS Aunt Sail
appeared from the harm yard, with iw
swimming pals Of fresh milk. The ri
sprang away from her companion, and hold
ing up her hands, full Of shrubs. exclaimed.
See here! Amt Sally, here are III
sassafras and hearts ease you have wan,r
50 n,ucl. And besiles, have an apron &,
of wild roses and blue scullcaI,s-and her
is the frs, goldenrod that has blossomcd III
season.
.Wrll. well. Clara, I will take care
them when I have strained my milk. q"
mercy 'on MS, child, wI'a, Is the matter vii
your dressl Why, il was span clean wle
Won went out this afrrnmn.'
Clara gaxed a, the skirt other muslin, wi
q half sad, half comical counienance, al
replied.
II never thought, -bu, II can be washe
you know.
Never thought interrupted the old &C.