The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-02-19
VOL. TX.

Several times had Ferris Harvard com
pletely put to fault the shallow Drained fop
around him, placing them in anything Blu
an enviable light.
Ferris Harvard was Lieutenant in tn,
Navy; and depended entirely upon hi
pay as an officer, to support widowed
mother and younger sister,-to both Of
, which he was devotedly attached. Hi:
, father, :elf-made man, had once been a
successful merchant, who sailed ant
freighted some of the heaviest tonned yes
, sells that left the port Of Boston but mis-
fortune and sickness overlook him, and he
sunk into his or ave, leaving his only son
: to protect his mother and sister from the
wants and ills of life. Ferris had enjoy
ed liberal education, and having en-
tered the navy as midshipman, had risen
to lieutenancy by reason of his superior
talents and good conduct. HIS profess
sion had led him to all parts of the world,
and he had carefully improved this ad-
vantage, though constrained by his linn
tied means, to practice the most Iigid
economy,
He had met with the only daughter of
Harris IL, one of the wealthiest
citizens of Boston at fete given on board
the ship to which he belonged, and had
Immediately become enamored of her, but
he well knew in his own heart, that the
difference in their fortunes formed a, bar
rier TO his wishes. He had been a cas-
ual visitor for several months previous to
the time our story commences, at the
house of the H family.
81 must think of her no MORE" said
Ferris to himself; "if | am thus sacred
at by her friends for offering her common
civilities, with what contempt would her
austere parent receive proposition for
her hand from one so poor and unknown"
Harris Il, was indeed stern
old man and yet he was said to be kind
to The poor, giving freely for the relief
of the needy. Still he was strange man;
he seldom spoke to those around him, yet
he evinced the warmest love for his only
child, and Anne, too. loved her father
with an ardent affection. His delight
was to pore over his library, literally liv-
ing, as it were, in the fellowship of the
old philosophers. Upon several occasions
when Ferris was at his house and engaged
in conversation with Anne he had OBJ
served the old mans eye bent stearnly
upon him, when his heart would sink
within him and he would awake to the re-
ality of his situation.
Ferris was one evening in Beacon
street, where, in spite ofthe cold reception
he received from those he generally met
there, he still enjoyed himselfin the be-
lief that Anne was not Indifferent to his
regard. He had been relating at her re-
quest, his experience ofdiflcrent national
characters with whom he had met, speak
ing oftheir peculiarities and describing
the various scenic effects of different
countries Anne sat near a sweet-scen-
ted gernanium, whose leaves she was
most industriously engaged in destroying.
Ferris, bending close 10 her ear, said
canine, will you pluck me that rose as
token of affection you must know how
ardent mine is for you-or, stop. dearest,
behind it grows the candy tuft. You
know the mystic language ofboth, will
you choose and give me one -
"Hush, hush, Ferris" said the blush
ing girl, handing h.m The rose.
! This passed, when the attention Of the
company present was drawn to some ell
gaging object. Never before had Ferris
received any evidence of Anne'S love, save
from her tell-tale eyes The flower was
placed next to his heart, and he left the
apartment He had proceeded but few
steps from the house. when he was accos-
ted by poor mendicart, clothed in rags,
who was exposed al that late hour of the
night to the inclemency or the season.
pray sir" said the beggar to Ferris,
"can you give me triflel am nearly
starved, and chilled through by the night
air."
Ferris, after few moments conversa-
ton with the beggar, (for his was not the
heart to turn away from the sufferings of
fellow creature,) handed him a purse
containing five or six dollars, urged him
10 seek immediate shelter and food. The
beggar blessed him and passed on.
A few nights subsequent to this oc-
casion.-Mrs H., Anne's moth
visitors, with a somewhat constrained and
distant welcome. Being a woman ofno
conversational powers she always retired
quite early, conducting her intercourse
with society in the formal manner. Fer
ris was much surprised that Mr.. H. had
taken no notice ofhis intimacy at the
house, for he very seldom saw him, but
when he did so, he would see the old
mans eyes bent sternly upon him in any
thing but friendly and inviting spirit
In this dilemma, he was at loss what
course to pursue heretofore he had des-
paired ofever gaining Annals acknowl-
edgement of affection for him, and now
that he had succeeded in this, he was
equally distant from the goal ofhis happi-
ness, for his better judgement told him
that the consent of her parents could new
er be obtained. On this occasion, he had
taken his leave as usual, when he was met
by the beggar of the former occasion. who
again solicited aims, declaring that he
--.,ll Cd M ano alea 70 ,cc,et b,r, ,p1