Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-05-16
VOL. XI.-NO. 3S.

What is the matter, child? Have you
been straying away in the LAKEWOOD, aud
lost your senses with frightl
Oh, no, mother, it was only dream /; but
methought a form, lovely, beautiful, almost
divine, approached ME and whispered softly
that she was my mother and when strew-
ed the bright fresh flowers around the lonely
grave, she smiled upon tne SO complacently,
and with such angelic sweetness, that fain
would have thrown myself into her arms,
and called her mother-the mother of my
being. 1t was sweet enchanting dream,
from which would never have been ava
kened. Is not yonder lonely grave the
grave of my mother, and was she not beau
tiful very beautiful
You are my child, Meta, said the fisher
mans wife, while sighs and sobs almost
choked her ui,erance, and God grant you
may ever remain so.
am sorry, very sorry, to give you pain,
kind mother, and will strive, for the future,
to make myself more worthy Of your loye;-
but cannot help thinking that my birth and
being are shrouded in mystery, at least to
me. feel like an orphan, poor and dest-
tute, dependent upon your generosity and
protection, and would fan see the day
when can better reward you for your care,
anxiety and toll
Meta, said the old lady, as she regained
her wonted comprehension the soft,
balmy breath of Spring shall again fan the
Young leaves Of the forest, and sigh over the
expanded flowers of the valley when the
music of songsters is heard upon the hill
top, and charm is spread over the broad
ocean; when music and beauty again COM
Il to ha IF ms tt0ht
our forest wilds-then, Meta, you will be
woman-you will be no longer child; but
you will not, promise me that you will not,
whatever may be.yo fortune, forsake her
who has watched over and cared for you,
who has guided your footsteps, though i'm
perfectly, to the path Of womanhood
Forsake you forget you'll No, never
how could II | could not be so ungrateful.
Go, my child, be happy, be innocent, be
free; and on your eighteenth birth day j
shall have something of more importance to
communicate.
The bright sun of glorious May morn
ing shone galy over the lofty amphltheatre
Of hills in the far distance. The huntsman's
Il horn already reverberated over hill top and
forest, Ginning with the loud hoarse peals
! Of the hounds, which had already gained
J some distance IN advance OF their masters.
; Count Mountaine, with his friend, Sir
, Charles SomervilIe, were Just mounting their
noble, restless steeds, who stood champing
the bits and paving the. earth, as if impa-
tient to regain the merry party IN advance.
? say, Count, continued Sir Charles, as
r they mounted their restless steeds, you will
find rare sport to-day, in Rosewood forest;
! it is the best hunting ground in the country;
I il is a delightful ride on day so charming
. as this promises to be; and | have half
mind to give you another treat to-day, in
4 addition to the treat Of wild deer or fawn
, from the mountain. What say you, Count,
{ for an introduction to the belle of the forest?
: And again, am half inclined TO deny you,
for fear you will unconsciously lose your
J heart amongst the flowers and ferns OF the
mountain, and we shall be obliged to take
e another trip through Rosewood forest to find
r it.
E Give Yourself no fears on that account,
Sir Charles, for my heart is well guarded by
a a forti6cation Of superior strength. But in
: what capacity may consider this rare treat!
: Is it lady, beautiful, divine, fairy god
d dess, or a wild flower Of the forestl
e know not which; she has claim to all
: of them; she is the most beautiful creature
I ever beheld-so sweet, artless and unas-
G suming it was by mere accident that I
I saw her, and then almost fancied her a
: fairy being. And who do you think she is.
d Nlountaine? Well, then, she is the daugh-
: ter of an old, rough, weather-beaten fisher
e man.
I Ha hal responded Montaine, gaily, |
!, was just forming plan for contest, for
o had already imagined her the heiress of some
e rich old baron, who had concealed her be-
e meath the forest shades, to prevent an elope-
a ment with some chivalrous youth of meaner
g birth. You may talk thus, Sir Charles,
: who have never seen our Genoa maidens.-
: do not believe they have any rival in the
!, whole world nevertheless am anxious to
d see your little paragon of the forest should
e | find her beautiful as imagine she may be,
i I should be halfinclined TO sue for her hand,
e for should not run the risk of being dis
y inherited, and il would suit my romantic ma
L tnre to find beautiful goddess in the wild
IS forest. But she must be deficient in grace
y aud refinement, having no other instructor
is than the rough untntored hsherman's wife.
Nay, answered Sir Charles, she is a lady
r for she deserves that appellation-of SUI
Il perior grace and refinement, and there is
]. native dignity about her have rarely, il
?, ever, seen surpassed.
y So deeply interested were the two noble
ID men in conversation, that they needed not
d the huntsman's horn, as it died away in the
distance, and to their surprise they found