Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-01-10

Annals eyes fell to the floor, and the col
or deepened on her cheek When she look ;
ed up, Elliott was gazing steadily in her face
with an expression of admiration and love
Her heart was lost. Carpenter, that love
Of man, was not thought of-or, only as
one of her rejected lovers.
When Anna laid her head upon her pill
low that night, il was not TO slcep.-iler
mind was too full Of pleasant images, CEN
trail to all OF which was the elegant, accom-
plished, handsome Mr. Elliott. He had, she
conceived, as good as offered himself, and
She much as she wished 10 reject three low
ers before she accepted one, felt strongly |
inclined 10 accept him, aud so end the mat
ter.
Now, who was Mr. Thomas Elliot9 A
few words will portray him. MIR Elliott
was tweniy-six; he kept a store in the city;
had been in business for some years; but
was not very successful. His habits Of life
were not good, his principles had no sound
moral basis. He was. in fact, just the man
TO make silly child like Anna Wyman,
wreiched FOR life But why did he seek for
one like her? That is easily explained
Mr. Wyman was reputed to be pretty well
off in the world, and Mr. Elliott's affairs
were in rather precarious condition but
r he managed to keep so good a face upon the
/ matter, that none suspected his real condi-
ton.
/, After visiting Anna for short time, he
offered her his hand. IL il had not been
that her sixteenth birthday was so near,
Anna would have declined the offer, for
=. Thomas Elliott did not grow dearer to her
: every day. There were young men whom
she liked much better and il they had only
come forward and presented their claims to
1 favor she would have declined the offer.
a But time was rapidly passing away. Anna
$ was ambitious of being engaged before she
s was sixteen and married, il possible. Her
mother had rejected two offers, and she was
anxious to do as much. Here was chance
for one rejection-but was she sure Of an
ri other offer in time No!-The.e was the
r difficulty. For some days she debated the
Question, and then laid il before her moth
Ter. Mrs Wyman consulted her husband
who did not much like Elliott; but the
mother felt the necessity of an early mar.
'. lriage, and oyerrued all objections Her
IS advice to Anna was to accept the offer, and
it was accepted accordingly.
E. A fond, Maynard child of sixteen may
chance to marry and do we'll, spite of all the
le drawbacks she will meet: but this is only
in case she happens 10 marry man ofgoot
Sense, warm affections and great kndnes,
ID and forbearance. He can bear with her a,
e. father bears with a capricious child; car
r forgive much and love much. But give tn,
s. happiness Of such creature into the keep
De ing Of cold, narrow-minded, selfish, petu
lent man, and her cup will soon run over
10 Bitter, indeed, will be her lot in life
r. Just such a man was Thomas Elliott. ii,
is had sought only his own pleasures, and ha,
he owned no law but his own will. For NOR,
it. than ten years he had been living wthou
u, other external restraints than those socia
he laws that all must observe who desire I,
wv keep fair reputation. He came in whel
if he pleased and went out when he pleased
is He required service from all, and gave il t
Ia none-that is, so far as he needed servic
cd he exacted it from those under him, but wa
lis not in the habit of making personal sacrif
ces for the sake Of others--Thus, his mai
d. ural sel6shness was confirmed. When h
n married, it was with an end to the good
10 should derive from the union-not from
ar. generous desire TO make another happy i
himself Anna was young, vivacous an
ire more than ordinarily intelligent and prettl
There was much about her that was attrac
m i've, and Elliott really imagined that he 10,
oh ed her. but it was himself that he loved !
Ie- her fascinating qualities. These were all /
minister to his pleasure. He never ono
thought of deyotng himself TO her happ
ness.
On the night of the wedding, which too
:. place soon after Annals sixteenth birlh-da
the bride was in that bewildered state
mind which destroys all the rational perez
md lions Of the mind-Her whole soul was in
by pleasing tumult and yet, she did not feel ha
rec py; and why Spite of the solemn prom
md she had made to love and honor her husbar
en- above all men, she felt that there were OF
he ers whom she could have loved and honor,
IRIS, more than him, were they in his place. b
cal this, reason told was folly. They had n
ON presented themselves and he had. Th
e could be nothing TO her-he must be ever
SO thing To secure husband early was Il
hat great point, and that had been game
ade This thought whenever it crossed her min
be would cause her to look around upon h
ag- maiden companions with proud selfcol
placency. They were still on the shores
her expectancy. She had launched her boat
ma the sunny sea of matrimony, and was
AIDE ready moving steadily away under pleasa
an breeze.
red Alas young brice. Thy hymenia alt
nan is an altar of sacrifice. Love is not the d.
eau ty who is presiding there,-Little do tn
dream, who have led thee, poor lamb q
the landed with flowers to that altar, how inu
ned cent, how good,a heart they were offering