Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-10-02
~ i S C JEN "a q d.
GLandine, the FOEsakeN, OF
THE PEASANT GIRL OF LAUSANNE.

figure of a young glr, who, apparently overcome
and exhausted by exertion, had fallen to the
ground, wherelrom boy, Of about ten years OF
age, was attempting to raise her; but the strength
of the little fellow was not equal to the task, and,
as approached, he Turned his eyes towards me
imploringly, and without saying word, made
most powerful appeal to my compassion. The
little fellow was too timid to ask for assistance,
& needed not the asking for, observing the CON
dition Of the poor girl, ran towards her, and
in another moment she was again upon her feet,
and leaning upon the shoulder ofthe boy, too fee
BILE prop to support her The girl thanked me
as well as she was able, and the boy also added,
that heaven had sent me to save his sister from
perishng on the highway.
oh said he, and his eyes sparkling with
gratitude, poor CIaudine would have died but
for youp
viii CIaudine accept my assistance, in con-
Quoting her into the town, said | adding lean
upon me- my poor girl, am better able to sup
port your fragile form
Claudine murmered her thanks, and accepting
of my prodcred services, we entered Lausanne
together.
The boy conducted us to a small but neat
cottage, where he stopped, and Observed this is
our home, SIR and then called for his parents,
when two happy and generous looking creatures
came out, and with tears and outcrles embraced
their dying child, and led her into the cottage
They were all too much occuped.with themselves
to heed me, and as did no: wish to be over
whemed with their gratitude, silently gided
away.
'Aasp | exclaimed mentally, there is life in
all its mingled briIliancy and gloom. Happy pa
rents, miserable childp There was something
in the demeanor of the girl that led me to believe
that she was the victim of unrequited affection.
don't know what it was, but could not dis
possess myself of the notion and it gave rise to
a train of reflections that continued to occupy
my mind until arrived at my inn
As passed the house with Claudine upon my
arm, had noticed my good hostess looking out
upon US; so, when | entered, made inquiry
for the good woman of the inn, and, when she
came, asked of her whether she could give me
any information concerning the girl she h2d seen
me with
No. said the hostess, but I believe her
name is CIaudine, and that her parents are poor,
but creditable people enough
'And what is the occasion of Claudmes ILL
nessp
ooh, some love stuff, | believe, replied mine
hostess, in such tone and with such an air, that
had been more curious about Caudine's hsto-
ry than was, l would not for the world have
heard it from such lips. They scandaizcd hu.
mainly.
Go thy way, my good woman said |, and
the good woman who seemed only to require a
hint to turn her back, departed with alacrity.
So Claudine is Loves victim The spoil
er, perhaps, has desoIated her heart and soul =
IT'S melancholy to see bIighted love in halls o
state but deeper, much deeper, is the grief wher
the object is Iowly, who, not having the mean:
to minge in the worlds gayetes, and seek con
ISOLATION in the thousand pleasures that arc to be
purchased by those who can afford to buy, looL
for qualification only in the fields and groves
among the birds and flowers and tihkling riIIs
wherein Nature stands revealed in her pure Clio
ry and whose voice makes the sad heart saddcr
because of her own perfect purity against whicl
the grossness of the best of mortal clay show,
vilely.
| was DESTROYS to know more of Claudinc, bu
would not hear it from my hostess | couIC
not endure to hear human misery turned into a
Jest, and the finest feelings ofhumapity ridiculeC
by one who evidently never possessed them ano
was not able to appreciate them.
In the course of the following day, rambleC
again about the same spot where had seen Clau
dine, but CIaudine came not, My hopes were
all in vain, and | returned toward my inn.-
Within short distance of the town, however
perceived the girls brother turn from a narrow
pathway into the road before me. | hailed him
and the little fellow ran towards me with tear.
in his eyes, and exclaimed, ooh, sir, why did yot
90 away last night, we all wanted to thank you
for what You had done for poor CIaudine'
Indeed my little fricnd,' said I, my hear
is already rewarded for any service l may have
rendered. But how is Claudine
oh, very bad, sir, very bad We do no
think she will ever rise from her bed again Sht
can take no nourshment, and is very restless un
ICSS Oul dIC at ouCj blCSSlllS lOl
giving her, and supplicating heavens mercyr
She is unhappy, thenF
ooh, yes, sir all her illness was through NJ
Frederic
and who is NJ FREDERICK
ooh, he is now the owner of the estate our cot
tage stands on; but he was not so once whel
his uncle lived he was plain Frederic, and ever
body says that better lad never lived II
courted Caudine, Sir
And having betrayed her, scorns her God O
Heaven what beings there are that are wearing
thy likeness
when his uncle died, continued the boy
every body thought he would have married Clau
dine, but he became acquainted with rich people
and they drew him away from our humble cot
tag, and then he left the place, without even
farewell to poor sister, and now she is dying
There was a history in the boys few words
ia. oc1,