Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-02-21

creature down as bitter enemy, each Tan
cying with the infatuation Of love, that she
must Of course bow down to her own par
ticular idol So when Mira in the benevo-
ence of her heart sought their friendship,
each looked on her with the distorted eye
of jealousy, seeking only for some fault
which might serve as an excuse for their ha-
tired. Neither do they employ Islander aud
vile insinuations with the view Of making
her despicable in the eyey Of their lovers
Thus the poor girl found herself an object of
general dislike, in a society where she had
neither injured, insulted, nor provoked a
single creature. Experience had not yet
unclasped before her the dark volume of the
human heart, the mystic lore of which is so
revolving to the learner, and when she was
treated with slight and GOODNESS, or heard
the cruel things oil which she was accused
she searched her own heart, and scrutinized
her whole conduct for reason, and when
she found none, relieved her soul by weep
ing. The young ladies' soon discovered that
she had no designs on their beaux, for she
evidently loved her books above the society
of the first amongst them. They then de-
nounced her pride, and sneered at her pow
erty, even taunting her with il openly.
How can you endure il so patiently =
said an excellent lady who had become her
fast friend
Il regerd them with more pity than anger
she replied.
You are noble girl cried the lady,
and will yet fill an exalted station
i shall fill the sphere for which the Lord
has fitted me- said Mira. He overrules all
things Here was the secret of the young
girls philosophy trust was in Om1ipo-
tence. But the toll, anxiety, and inequie-
tude Of her life, began to wear upon her
constitution, and she returned to her parents
pale and enfeebled She had tasted the cup
Of life, and found the draught excessively
bitter.
Another scene now opened before her.
A young man of one of the best families in
the country saw and felt her beauty and her
worth. He was handsome and well educa-
ted. and but for one foible, of noble and
generous mind. He was never weary of
gazing upon Mira's gentle loneliness, or lis
tenng TO her melodious voice, for she sung
with truthfnlness, taste, aud judgement
seldom equaIled. Mira felt new emotion
throbbing in her heart as she listened to his
words Of love and admiration. He was no
fulsome fatterer. She could have loved
such an one. Bat her dream Of bliss was
short. She soon learned that his parents
we're indignant on account of her poverty.
She then told him that she would never en-
ter a family which could despise her. That
he must seek companion elsewhere. In
vain he implored her, she was firm, and
they parted. Soon after she was told that
he was sick her heart ached, but she stihed
its throbbings. A few weeks passed and he
came to her cottage. He was pale and ema-
ciated he told her that he was dying for her
sake, and besought her TO consent to an i'm
mediate union. Her heart seconded his
plea, and she might have yielded, but in the
course oil conversation he said, my father
asked me if il was possible that | could stoop
to marry that poor, loo mechanics daugh-
ter, and / told him that love was no respect
er of persons, could marry you were your
parents mean as the DIRT
The blood rushed to the poor girls brow,
and her meek eyes flashed with indignation.
Then your struggle was with pride aud not
with ilial duty she said calmly. You
consider my family beneath you I; | can new
er be your wife. Go-forget me, andebe
happy
1t was in vain that he plead, she was in
exorable but when he had said farewell
she sank down and wept as none can weep
but once The bloom of her heart was
blighted, the bitterness mingled with the
sweet fountain of life which flows in all its
streams forever Yet she felt that she had
acted wisely, and was thankful she had
learned his character before it was too late
She dropped like fair flower when the
worm is at its roots-the envious triumphed
aud whispered foul surmises concerning her;
but the wise and good of her acquaintance
sustained her with consoing words, aud
heartfelt kindness.
At length she married one who was re-
puted christian, benevolent, kind-heart-
ed man, and withal, wealthy. But public
opinion is seldom well informed in domestic
affairs. II was soon whispered that she was
broken-hearted woman, and when her
husband failed in business, envy placed a
new plume in her cap, and exuted in anoth-
er triumph. 1t seems strange that malevo-
lence should pursue even to the death so
meek and unoffending a creature remark
ed her friends; but she is possessed of mag
nanimty which wards of every arrow--she
scars like the eagle, though she is tender as
a dove Her husband, after his disastrous
bankruptcy, removed to the far West, and
her prosecutors lost sight Of her for several
years. During this time she suffered almost
every i'll that the pioneers of civilization are
subject to. Her husband suffered himself to
sink under his mislortunes, and his energies
of mind and body seemed utterly stagnated.