Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-12-26

the nall>IOVc OF weak ana irritable natures
5 who are themselves children amongst the
children, who can themselves be pctuent
t selfish, and caprlcious-it is this that mars
temper. But calm and unalterable love-oh
, believe it not that such ever spoilt child
Maria grew up under the eye of affection
and the ever-open hand of paternal love
and she herself seemed TO have learned nc
other impulses but those of affection anc
generosity.
Alas for father when the child grows into
the budding woman, and by her soft, n,elll.
gent companionship fills the house with glad.
ness, and the heart with inappreciable con.
tent, then comes the gay, permitted spoilel
comes the lover with his sul,-his honora-
bic sGit-and robs them of their treasurc.-
The world feels only with the lovcr-wil
the youth, and the fair maiden that he wins
L or the bereaved parent, not "A thought No
one heeds the sigh that breaks from him, as
amidst festivities and mirlh, and conpra,uIa-
tory acclamalions, he sees the daughter, with
all her priced affections, borne of from him,
in triumph, for ever.
There was, on this occasion, in the manner
Of Laski towards his child, an evident sad
ness. II was not that the political horizon
was darkening; he had never permitted tina,
to throw its gloom over his compromising
with ms daughter. 1t was because he had
grounds to believe that the events which
threatened the tranquility of Poland threat
encd also the peace of his daughter, whose
affections lie had OWNED were no longer ex-
clusively his own.
She, observing his emotion, and a,ribut.
ing it to some untoward event in the political
world, could not refrain from expressing the
wish that he would quit the I,arassng affairs
of state, and live wholly in his home.
Il would long since have done So, he re-
piled, if personal happiness had been the
sole aim of my existence. But have task
work to ccomplish-onc, | think, which
God, by fitting ,me thereto, has pointed on,
as mine. Else it is indeed here, will, thee
beside me, that | find all that can bear the
name Of happiness. The rest of life is bu,
s'ernest duly-slrifc, hostility, contempt
Bot away with this gloomy talk-whal gossip
IS there stirring in your idle world, Maria 2
Pray, is there war forward?
Il hope not. Why do you ask 2
\ maid of mine, who IN the city gathers
news as busily as bees, in tie open fields,
their honey
Your smile, fear, would scarce hold
good, as to the honey
No, in faith /; and there is no honey in
F. the news she brings. She tells me that a
camp is forming in the frontiers between
Poland and LIlhuanis, and that Augustus
Glinski is sen, there to,command the ,roops,
Is this trucl
Ii nal SI,o f,t, l,,, l,l III.
duke himself secretly left the city last night,
40 place himself at their head
Is it a dangerous service?'
The service on which the duke has en-.
tered, and into which he misleads his son,
is dangerous. You tremble, Maria. 1t was
no maiden, nor the tallle of the town, that
brought you this When did you last see or
hear from him-from Augustus GIinskiY
Believe me- said Maria, while crimson
blush suddenly spread over her countenance,
if | have concealed anything from YOU, il
was not from craft nor snbtlely, nor fear
but from -
From mere delcacy, a simple bashful.
f ness, said the father coming to her assistance
| know it well. Had you "A mother living
would bid YOU conhde these sentiments 10
her, and TO her only; but having no other
parent, make me your confident. Trns,
me, you shall not find "A womans heart more
open to your griefs, your fears, your ovs
than mine shah be. Make me your sole
confident-you love the young Angus us 2
. when was at my aunl's we met ca eli
other oiten-but to you, my father, | have
ever referred him as our final arbiler.
, need not say that the known political rivalry
between his father and yourself has made
,, him backward in addressing you"
'All men speak well of Augustus GInski
blame you not, my child; | only trembe
for you. The duke, his father, is a restless
bold, ambitious man, who will lead him
honorable as he Is, but too young to Judge OF
resist his parent-into reasonable enterpri.
sos Both father and son = if they will play
the rebel, and bring down war on Poland
Il stand prepared to meet. The sword
OF justice shall sweep them from the earth
But if thy heart, my child, is doomed to
bleed in this encounter, the wound will moi
be more yours than mine. There shall be
no secrets between us. will protect thee
all can, and if cannot proven, lhy sor.
rows, ! will at least share them"
a low tap was heard at the door and
"A page made his appearance. On see
ing the minister, the stripping was about to
retire. Maria, however called him in. and
babe him deliver his message. "You COME
she said to the youth, who still hesiiated to
, speak-"you come from the younger Gins
HI: speak openly, what is it he has commits
stoned you to say?'
"This, my lady," answered the page,
that he has ridden in all haste from the
, camp-that he must quit The city again, be-
fore nishtfall, and Graves an audience, il on
ly for one minute"
Maria looked towards her father, and thus
referred the answer TO him.
Cnunt Laski was silent.
!, "Will you not" said his daughter, tell
this messenger, whether his master NAV
come here or moi %
"My child he cannot; he is at this mo-
ment under my arrest. Return, sir page"
/ and he molioncd him from the room-''bul
return to the fortress ;you will
5 find your master there prisoner, under
| charge Of high treason" "Oh, spare him
; spare him y cried Maria, as she sunk back
almost senseless with terror and alarm.
"My child my child !" exclaimed the
minister, in heart breaking anguish, as he
bent over his weeping daughter.