The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-04-24

among Strangers even if they are kind
hearted. The good woman of the
house received Lizzy in very friendly
manner, and told her to ma her self at
home. But the word only sent a mourn
tul echo through her heart. For few
days, she vent about in a state of alb
straction that seemed like absolute stu
2'dtty. Her Stepmother had prepared
them for this by telling them there was
sSmeihing strange about Lizzy, and that
many people thought her fits had affected
her mind. Being Of coarser and stron-
ger natures, they could none of them
ina inc that the slow stagnation in the
heart might easily dim the lirht Of in
telIect in n creature so heenly suscepti-
Bile. But by degrees, the duties requr
ed of her reused her lac uitiee into grea.
ter activity; and when night came, she
was fortunately too weary to lie awake
and weep Sometimes she dreamed of
Willie, and her dreams of him were al,
ways bright and pleasant; bat her moth
er sometimes londled her with loots Of
love, and sometimes came as tho pale
cold spectre, Thus the months passed
slowly away Her father came to see
her at distant intervals, and once in
great while, letter came from Willie, in
a large stiff hand. Unaccustomed to
writing, be could not throu h that medi.
um tell much that was passing in his
heart. That be wanted badly TO see his
sister, and often kissed the flowers they
plucked from the dear mothers grave,
was the substance of all his episiles.
In The mean time Lizzy was passing
into womanhood. Childhood and youth
kissed each other, with new and glowing
beauty. Her delicate cheeks mantIed
with richer color, and her deep blue
eyes, shaded with long iringes of the
darkest brown, looked out upon life with
mole earnest and expressive longing.
PLAIN and scanty garments could not
conceal the graceful outline Of her !e\-
lie figure, and her motions were like
those OF some pretty tlmid animal, that
had always stepped to sylvan sounds -
She was not aware of her uncommon
loneliness, though she found it pleasant
to look in the glass, ard had sometimes
heard strangers say 10 others, See that
pretty girl
There were no young men 10 the i'm
mediate nelghborhood, and she had not
been invited to any of the rustic dances
or quilting iroiics. One bashful lad in
The vicinity always conrved to drive
his cows past the house where she lived, |
and eagerly kept watch for a glimpse OIL
her, as she went to the barn with her
milk pails. But If she happened 20 pass
near enough to nod ADD smile, his cheets
grew red and his voice foGsook him; and |
she could not know or guess that he |
would lie awake long that night, and J
dream Of her smile and resolve tAal some
time or other he would nave courage to
tell her how handsome she was, and how |
the sight OF her made his heart throb. -
She did not yet know that she could
love anybody better than she had loved
Willie She had seen her darling brother (
but twice, during their three years of
separation; but his image was brig ut and
fresh IN memory. When he came 10 see
her, she felt completely happy. While
he gazed upon her with delighted eyes,
her atlcctluna!e nature was satisfied with |
love- for it had not yet been revealed t.
her in the melting glance OF passion. -
/ ct the Insldlous and unquiet power al
ready began 10 foreshow itself in vague
restlessness and romantic musings. For
she was at an age,
"'ro feel want, yet scarce know what it is;
To seek enc nature That is always new,
Whose glance is warmer than auothers kiss;
Such longing instinct fills the mighty scope,
OF the young heart with Que mysterious hope"
At length an important event occur
ed in Lizzy's monotonous existence. -
A young girl in the village was to be
and she was invited to u quilt.
1g party. Ii was the first invitation of
he kind she had ever received, and of
course il occupied her thoughts day and
tight. Could she have !oreseen how
his simple occurrence would affect her
whole future destiny, she would have
'ondeed over it still more deeply. The
brought friend with him TO
he party, handsome, dark eyed young
nan cIer| Of a store in neighboring
own Aware Of his personal attractions
le dressed himself with peculiar care.
I-lzzy had never seen any thing so ell
egant; and The moment his eye glanced
upon her, he decided that he had
lever seen anything halls 50 beautiful. -
lie devoted himself to her in a manner
sufficiently marked to excite envy; and
some ofthe rich farmers daughters made
,ritica! remarks about her dress, which
hey concluded was passabIy gentee, for
4 girl that lived out at service. How
ever, Lizzy was queen oftho evening by
virtues own impress ofroyaIiy. When :
NJ HI 4