Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-09-04


Mortgage after mortgage was given-though not
laging shadow of legality about them, they
we're accepted as eagerly by these human leech-
IS as the yellow gold, for which they had sold
heir souls to perdit!on, The men with whom
t was Spencer's fate to be connected, were
most of them from thirty to forty years of age
willy, unprincipled villains, well calculated 10
govern the simple youth, whom they remorse-
lessly plundered of all at his present command
and accepted his honor as pledge tor the rest
when he should become Of age. Nor were the
months tardy in their fight. AT the end OF two
short wears his property was formally delivered
by his passive guardian, and the day that gave
him house and stock, land and slaves, saw HIM
resign it to the fends who had possessed mm
with a love of all that was degrading to human
nature, and taught him to scoit at all who were
truly poor and virtuous.
It is the same Bradley Spencer, kind reader,
whose brief career we have endeavored to trace,
that we left IN the llttle village, with his knavlsh
companions who, fresh from the hidlngpaces OF
loathsome vice, were intent on drawing the
young man into yet greater depths OF wicked
ness. But they struck upon the wrong cord
spencer had been culpable, most culpable, it is
true; but was to himself the worst foe; he had
not Willingly injured others, but he had been the
dupe in every instance Thus, when his brutal
comp2non expressed his determination to rob
one OF the habtations before Them and urged
his assistance, his robler spirit, that had slept SO
long, was reused, and he gave vent to his feel
ngs in the hammer we have described.
Brief was their consultation, and the argu-
Iments they held with him babe far to be Of no
avail, until the elder and more polite villain,
declared that Bradley could not now withdraw
with honor, as they should suspect he meant to
:, betray them; that they would not require his as
sistence if he had any foolish prejudice 10 the
contrary; but he should accompany them as a
mere looker-on. Without passing for an an
f sweF, he passed his arm into that of the young
man, and followed by Layton, they stepped into
a small yard, at the gable end of one of the man
sons There window had been left open by
the unsuspecting inmates, for the benefit of the
air. Sprnging lightly in, he was followed by
the Others. Cropping their way by the light OF
dark lantern which Layton pulled from the bo-
som Of his coat--thus showing himself perfectly
an fau in such proccedings-th asccnded the
staircase, and pausng in the long passage, bade
Bradley be watchful, and give low whistle up
on the slightest alarm, The two less scrupulous
runians then pursued their way down the pas
sage. What Spsnccr'S reflections would have
been, he had not leisure to ascertain, for, fancy
ing he heard a low breathing, like one in deep
lsIumber he turned and discovered, by the light
| Of the moon, which was streaming in at a win
dog aeaFy!pdeqgst ho which, on applying his hand
welded to me impulse. Impeled by curiosity
or some more deinable feeling, he stepped light.
- aAt-Iamp was burning
sma couch, where
loFeness, slept fai
,tgHl sh of sixteen summer
passed over tie cIaaFabl9g that lay upturned il
its marble whiteness, for,
"Deal's twin-sistcr, seepo
weighed down the reined lids, the long, darl
ashes of which rested on the family tingo
check beneath As Spencer turned from thi
unexpected vision, his glance fell on SINAI
book, that lay open on the table. Some ligh
pencil marks, that pointed to an admired passage
drew his attention. As he bent to read, hi
brow crimsoned, and his frame trembled wit
cmotion.- 1t was volume of the Inflated She
Iley's Poems, opened at Adonais,' and as he read
"Remorse and sclfcontempt shall cling to thee,
Hot shame shall burn upon thy secret brow"
e a full sense of his degradation, and how he ha
fallen from high estate, rushed upon his stricE
t en- heart, and feelings that had slumbered fong
were now fully awakened by the thrilling line
y of the mystical poet, and the strange scene be
t fore him. As he turned quickly to leave, wher
= his presence was sacrlege, his attention wa
h eau ght by small miniature, one glance at whic
# showed him the waking likeness Of the seepin
c beauty before him. Involuntary catching i
l. he fled from the room, and giving the signal ;
, greed upon to his companions the next momcn
q saw them vending their way to the boat, which
l. having discharged the freight that detained hel
: was soon flying upon her course. Three year
ii had passed away since Bradley Spencer, league
with common thieves, accompanied them g
70 their nefarous night expedition to the little vi
Is lage already mentioned Bradley Spencer, the
+ the companion of gamblers and low debauchee
l. was noso Henry Murray, the trusty head cler
Is of one of she most wealthy mercantile no lses
a New York. From the ever memorable night
4, the robbery, tie wretched young man forsoo
b, his unworthy associates Remorse and sci
l. contempt did indeed cling to him, and dcspa
le and shame at first conquered his remaining er
s. ergy. But the spirit was present with him;
IL only needed to be reused into action. He ha
I'll parted with his last dollar when he arrived
II New Y rk, and the change Of name was decide
g on to soothe pride, that came to his aid after S
3 long time. Deprivation only rendered hin
d stronger. in his yirtuouS purposes, thus proyin
II at once the false system of indulgence adopte
e by his parent
e Clement Archer, Esq, was a stern; unbent
j ing business man. Strictly moral in his wal
a before men, he required all around him to sho,
n the same regard for the welfare of society,"
With heart filed with benevolence, thong