Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-07-11

For three years she kept tho pace Of his resi- t
dence, but then all things from him ceased; all
traces of him were lost. Many were the con- S
lectures about him, many the hopes and fears Of
an anxious parent; but as year counted on year, S
and nothing more was heard from the youth, all
settled into the vague feeling Of despair----the
boy must be dead. tits true that neighbor
who happened to be at New York said he met a {
young man in lawyers office, looking very
much like George used to look but good deal
handsomer, and indeed very smart young man;
he almost thought it was George, but finally he
knew it could not be, though his eyes looked
Istangely alike, and he never saw another pair
like them. But at last he was given up by all,
even by Mrs Damer and Mary, who, although
grown to young woman, still entertained Wv
| id remembrance Of her brother
Seventeen years to a day, from the time our
story commences, the little village Of RI
q shall leave the matter-oElact lovers to guess
where) was thrown into state Of excitement by |
the arrival of member of Congress at the tay-
ern Of the place. 1t was rather an unusual oc-
currence, and there seemed to be an air Of mys-
terry connected with the stranger, for no one could
find out who he was, or why he was there. Mott
two hours after he had stepped from the stage.
coach, the whole village was by the ears. The
young ladies We'd with each other as to wRoI
should get the first peep at him, conriving onI
some plea or other to pass the tavern several
times during the forenoon, not falling to raise
their heads each time, and giving long look as
they passed. Wonderful stories were in crcula-
ton about his beauty and graceluness, and it,
was unanimously agreed by these who we're for
tunate enough to get look at him, that he was
the finest looking man they ever saw Mr. Da-
mer was of the opinion that he was around ''clec-
pioneering, Tor trying to get petitions for bill
something to work money out of them "lor these
Congressman are sharp enough" said he, "and
| don't want anything to do with them"
Bat the mystery was fated to be unraycIIad
earlier than they feared for before night-alI the
stranger himself was seen walking loisurely up
the lawn that led to the farm house His form
was fine and his air noble and majestic, but a
touch ofmeanchcly shaded his countenance, as
he walked slowly along glahcing eagerly around
at the various enclosures, the garden, the turnip
tidy in new coat Of white.
Il Mrs Damer stood for A moment bcwildered as
she opened the door The stranger spoke not
A pair of black eyes were fixed upon her intense
Iy, earnestly, with half mournful, half pleased
expression, as he pursued each line and feature Of
that benevolent countenance. His hands were
cIasped, and he bent slightly forward-but mo-
ment he turned away and brushed tear from
his eye, but was still silent There was some
thing in that turn, that look, which startled the
CLAIM of memory in the heart Of Mrs. Damer.
The mother awoke in her bosom, and a stiAed
shrek burst from her lips
at is-no! it cannot be-yes! it is mig sqn
/, GEORGE"
"Your own son, my mother--itis your son,
George Damer!" and the grateful mother clasp
ed to her heart her beloved and long lost child!'
Mary had heard the exclamation, and stepping
into the entry, stood trembling, hoping and fear
ing as she saw the stranger in her mothers arms.
But oh! with what joy, with what pride did
she look upon him! With what rapture did she,
too fly to his arms, when she indeed found it
was her brother!
only own sister-sweet sister," said he, kis-
sing her again &agan then holding her off to look
into her beautiful lace-for Mary was the pride of
the whole viliage-then embracing her again,
till both laughed and cried together in the ecstacy
Of that unthought of meeting
Il remember very well the little girl with the
apple pie, when | was terribly whipped and
shall never forget it, said he, when he could
get breath to say so much, for his mother still
chung to his neck, silent in tears of gratitude and
JOY
! "Dear brother" was all Mary could utter, as
she looked through her tears with sisters pride
on her new found relative
Two stout farmers came up from the outside
= wondering what all this fuss could mean; but
when Mary cried out, catching her breath in the
y wildness of her joy,-"Ts George! It's GeorgcP'
= they came up and shook him by the hand till the
tears glistened in their eyes, and they turned
away to hide them
But the fatber----oh! how could he greet the
4 boy whom his cruelty had driven from the door;
I and who had come back a man----an honored
y and great man. He tried to steal from the back
e door, pale, and trembling, but his wife stopped
S him. '"Ts our son George" said she, and she
led him forward like child to the noble and in
| jured youth TWAS the day ofretrbution; sew
j enteen years to an hour had passed since he had
y stood with whip over that brave boy, and beat
= him till he could no longer stand, and for no con-
ceiyable reason on earth! 1t plain that thoughts
it were working in the heart of the man, for he
c stood like craven coward before his SON George
was first to speak; "My father" said he, extend
v ing his hand but the old man drew back, and
l. brushed tear from his sunken check The
e fierce passion ofhis noon-day manhood had failed
h IN age-the waters of repentance were flooding
+ his soul. He talked as if to himself
: "This hand drove my boy hence, almost
G murdered him-no, no, l cannot touch him again,
|, there's curse upon this right hand"