Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-06-13

come and stay here. Now, why may NOT
, also love TO be here when am dead Be-
, sides, cousin Mercy, do not know that ]
: have ever had, at least ever expressed, any
particular wish. Every body has some cho-
sen time, place, or person TO be graifed. |
, cannot go from Kingston, as John Davis and
wish to- cannot have and enjoy amuse.
ments such as others have-I cannot marry,
as Charles Bradford will to-morrow--is it,
then, too much ihaS ask to be buried in this
, little point of grouN! 1t is not mine, in
; deed, but couldVhy it; or Mr.. Bea, who
! owns it, would, COUNT not, graut the priv-
lege. Yon do not answer, Mercy. may
j not enjoy society," may not marry--I must
die, and surely might be allowed to choose
my buryng-place.'
, Mercy disliked the melancholy tone of
!, Bcnjamn's thoughts, and sought to rally him.
'Ynn may amusc yourself as well as any
! one, and you may marry. There is no
D law against il, and the town IS we'll supplied
Y with young women
, Almost every one of whom has called me
, fool and IDIOT said Benjamin. with unusual
T asperiiy of voice.
cousin Mercy, how much time have
spent in that green nook below US, you know;
wears of childhood have passed by me, and
have sat there almost as insensible as the
bushes that grew up around me. That |
was different from others, knew, but did
not care; | would sometimes have joined
r the sports Of those of my age, but when
away from them neither regretted my loss
! nor sighed for aught else. But for nearly d
year change has been coming over me /,
: You have seen it; | have felt it, bu. know
not whether to rejoice at the good attained,
or to mourn over the knowledge of evil that
has existed. Has my mother spoken to you,
Mercy, Of my wishes =
= My aunt mentioned to me this morning
very strange wish Of yours
'Whv strange2 What is there strange in
the wish! Who does not wish? Every
} body wishes. | have sat on that bank for
days, and wished that we're bird to fly,
like yondcr swallow, which is now dashing
' down the stream, and gathering food from
among the waler.nies. Why should It be
strange that should Uish! We wish and
pray for every good that God can send us
, we pish for happiness here and happiness
hereater--nsy,s some people hope for it, many
e1pect il-now only ,cished, | could no,
b expect, could not even hope-l know tin, diff
0 ference well. Is there any luxury around us
we do not wish 10 enjoy? When we hear
OF happiness, do we not wisl, TO share il =
and when we read of angels, do we not wish
we ylsn had wings ~ .o"id hy,"p to I'onv-
, eni Or, rather, " t'th hear of them, for .
Cannot read, cannot do any thing but wish
wish, wish
! Yes, cousin, Benjamin, you can said
Mercy. soolhingly; you can love YOU
, good mother and me-
'Wil you let me lore you? cousin Mer-
cy, will you let me love you?'
You have always loved me, hope said
e Mercy, blnshing. Have you not always
d loved me?'
: NAY, cousin Mercy, do not attempt to de.
ccive me now. You of all others have new.
e er deceived mc-do not attempt it now
u You may confuse me-you may make me
donbt--you may, by force Of mind silence
II me-but know that feel toward you as
did no, once, do not now, toward my mother
e 1t is not wholly new-,he feeling has grown
and strange wishes have grown will, it
a strange thoughts have come up in my mind
e AS was leaning against tina, old oak q
~ few evenings since, Charles Bradford and
y Mary Carver came and sat down on thai
bank. Perhaps they were there when
It came, for their voice was the first notice
"a had of their presence. lwould have moved
e. hut Gould not. Charles explained to Mar,
l. his affection for her. They were not lik,
o those have tried 10 feel for all those arounS
me-all hut you, Mercy all his feeiag
J. we're mine for you. never knew before
10 what had sprung up in my heart-never til
then could tell why felt not for you VIVA,
felt for others. Every word he uttered seem
~ ed to be drawn from my heart, and what h,
said to Mary | could say to YOU at leas
is Mercy, could say it if | had such words
but Charles is learned
is Yes, so he is, cousin Benny, so he is, ant
u | guess he had been stud ying his speech in
fs book he must have read it somewhere
10 perhaps so,' said the young man, alb
!; strattedly; perhaps he had read il, 70
Ks how otherwise could he have known exact
l. what felt how could he have so espresso
nj what | cannot utterl wish | could read
M I wish you could, Benjamin.
III could, Mercy, would you answer m
r as Mary answered Charles?
s. If any inducements could make you rea
Id and write, why have not they been equal
re operative before, when other young person
lie acquired their education! 2
'e Il canno, tell that. said Benjamin; 'bu
a do you see that young apple 'reer
t. Certainly
ne well. for years that has stood exacil
i" where il is, stretching out its branches file
81, with leaves, and once or twice thought
n. saw it bossoming--but il bore no fuit.-
y Why is that
We Simply said Mercy. 'bccause it wa
IN surrounded by the thick growth of wood tia
- kept i, from the sun, and took from its roc
u wholesome nourishmen,. 1t will, this yeal
" bear fruit better. perhaps, for not havin
~ burne before
nd 'And so, Merry, may it be with me-
II. Some shadow has passed from my mind
MI something Of sunlight has settled ,here--ol
a F, may it be permanent. Let me feel th'
no some one, besides my mother-but you ur
ou dersiand me. cousin Mercy
" Benjamin. you know am dependent q
'ss your mother for all enjoy, and wha, wou
les the people say If should consent 10 20,
is wishes I When my course and yours al
,ps both considered-do not be offended. BENZ
ION min. blu, your situation would make my courI
more csnsured.'
&c, The dependence, Mercy. is one tina, h