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


seems to have been made and answered.
She had "A competence for herself aud her on
ly child but she was sluug to the heart by
VIVA, she called the misconceptions of the
child's powers by the world. She forgave
the taun,s and sneers of the coarse and I'M
feeling; but she could not forget the quiet
acquiescence Of the better portion in the
judgment that her child WAS an idiot. a
mothers heart, and ihat is part of mothers
pride, rebeed against such a thought.
is he not all affection and Kindness =
Do they not see with what more than son.
like love he watches over me, how his eyes
follow me when move in health, and how
he is my constant nurse, by night and day,
do, and bless God for it, how, on waking
from uneasy sleep, have found him bend
ing over me with the alfectionate solicitude
of guardian angel, doubIy paying back all
my cares for him IN infancy. They do not
know this, but they do know that he is good,
obedien,, a1rctlona,e son, and at least "A
harmless, inof1ensive neighbor.
Bat they say he is siupid-he can neither
read nor write! Blessed Lord! ! would she
exc'ain, blessed pattern of the 6Iial love
which my poor, poor boy exhibits, sustain
nv heart AS thou sustainesi thy own mothers
in her fearful affection. or thee, too, they
said, this man never learned his lc,ters.'-
Oh, fountain of affection, open hIs heart to
the enjoyment of that love he has for others.
and, if he may not BIZ learned in books, make
him wise in thee. If his head may not be
stored with knowledge, may the fountain Of
his heart overflow with love-
! How fervent are the prayers of religious
mother they are sometimes eilrctual.
Poor Benny, in the meantime, had grown
into manhood-of "A fine iurm, and Al "a ais
lance his face appeared handsome-if OBJ
served more nearly, it lacked in the inspira-
ton of mind :-a GOODNESS was in it. There
seemed to be no play Of the muscle the
eye was Cast down, and want of express
ion was so evident AS to give il something Of
the appearance Of idiocy.
Benny divided his time between his mo-
Their and retreat on the banks Of "A river,
overhung with birch and maple, and carpet
ted with thick grass. Timber he repaired
every day on which the weather would allow,
and sat for houls gazing into vacancy, or
dropping his eve upon the running stream,
he would watch the liule eddles that swept
along, and seem for moment or two deeply
Interested IN the Depth and Continuance oI'
some I'l,e Whirlpool that danced round, of
the shape Of wine glass, and then sunk into
the stream; but the current was smooth six
yards below, aud SO The interest soon ceased
saw poor Benny once or Tvs ice, in deep
affection, passing up the street he had en-
Of
own age. and with the true instincts Of ma
lure. he had bowed and spoken to them -
Their manner WAS offensive, and when he
left lhrm TO turn into the path that led down
TO his ihvo,ltr retreat, the noise OF the clos.
ing gate did not conceal that of the laugh of
the vonng women at Poor Bennv's awkward
salu'alion and attempt at conversation.
Benjamin turned round, and a flush of IT.
rtaied feeling was on his connienance. |,
passed away, and left his pale face still paler
by the contrast. He walked down the field
took his favorite seat, and sush of tear.
seemed TO case his heart.
Whats the matter, Benny? said I.
Did Won see il all 2 asked Benny.
Il followed You from the gate too see
whether you had finished the ship you were
making for me-
I'm make you two.' said Benjamin s.
two Just as good as John Thomas's if vou
won't tell any body what you saw. lol
may tell Your mother, bur no one else
promised-lhe reward was magnificent
Mercy Churchill was one Of the kindes
hearted girls in Plymouth county-handsomt
and poor. She was frequent visitor a
the Widow SIurlliff's, BenJamin's mothers
and learned perhaps to appreciate the gooc
points in Bcnny's character.
She convrrsed with him often, If his talk.
ing deserved the name of conversation, ant
not unireqnen,ly led him TO make remarks
] which seemed to bear with them the impress
}, of observaiion but they seemed 10 sIartI'
the author q lie as much as they did tn
o nearer, aud far half an hour he would 81
h coglaiing on his own speech Mercy wonl
i resume the subject in n spirit of kindness
It and lead him 10 correct his thoughts uni
is there WAS a ral,onaliy evincrd that woul
v aslonish even the mother. No one had eve
II before talked 10 Bcn,min--no one had eve
1t treated him with any feeling of equality
I, was pity Or contempt; but Mercy seemed I
= regard him as a man--her equal, tie kne
ID he was not her equal, but he felt gralef'
r for the courtesy, until lie began TO think
Of almost Justice.
Brn,min seemed to regard his new al
q tanment in thought and speaking as does
u. Young scholar his progress in some modrr
ID laneuaee-he was anxious 10 put il into ns'
Of and this led him into frequent conversation
D. with Mercy. Once he tried his new power
IN with some young persons who called at I'll
house. The thought of Poor Benny's ha,
A. inc IDEAS to connect and improve was MOI
ID ridiculous than his long admitted idiocy, an
|. they laughed in his face. This aroused h
ct pride, but made him moro attached to Me-
H. CIV, who never smiled at his error, but er
ne couraged him TO speak and 10 reason.
lie One day, a1era weeks sickness Of Der
he jamin, Mrs. Shurlin called Mercy into he
o. private chamber.
ed MY DEAR said she TO tho Young womaI
lie | am about to mention something TO va
Id which l would willingly have avoided; M
ny thing bu: my love as mother should ha'
On induced mo TO expose my own feelings
nd modification, yours to the pain Of denial =
10, but am bound TO proceed
e. Mercy sat with aslonishment--at leng
lid she said, hops that my kind friend, n
nd mothers earliest friend, and my benefa
IS, tress viii not think that there is any thing