Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-12-24

| the throne of God. While our children are
virtuous, and have hearts that love to bow with
US before the throne Of grace, we cannot be a
broken family, even though scattered over the
green earth, or reposing peacefully beneath its
grassy turf The enthusiastic wife and mother
could not entirely repress the emotions that her
philosophy sought to restrain, as she added
And as to our deal Lucy, you know little of a
daughter love if you imagine that her heart
will be less closely linked with ours when she
assumes the responsibilities of wife. know
from my own heart, that she will then feel that
she never knew how to appreciate fathers
watchfulness and mothers care
And was it really SO with you, Lucy
never knew you pinned for home and its endear-
ments, but lancied that was all the the world
to you; and that with me you were happy and
contented--even in the Wilderness
4 was happy, and still am in your love, yet
there was nothing in my devotion 10 you calcu-
ated to lessen my just regard for those who had
nursed me from my infancy to womanhood. In
deed, never knew how estimabIe had been
their care and counsel until | realized that they
had rendered me an object which you deemed
worthy of your love. 1t will be so with our
own dear child; and though she is to leave our
home, she will not leave our hearts Do not
let us look upon her marriage sadly but joyfully,
remembering the bliss that we have enjoyed to,
gether'
Lawrence gazed on his wife for moment in
silent admiration, and then said in low voice
- You are right Lucy but for your love l
know not that life would have been worthy its
tolls You have more than your share of its
tolls. You have more than your share of its
pains and trials; but have often thought that
heaven would bestow double portion of bless
ings on the faithful wife and mother
We hive our reward even here quickly
responded his wife, as her eye caught the grace
full figure of their oldest child, the beautiful
Lucy, the very image of what she was nineteen
veal, before, when she bestowed her hand on
Charles Lawrence She was busy in arranging
things in the new house. and as she passed by
the uncuriained window with light in her
hand, accompanied by her elder brother, a
graceful youth Of sixteen, the devoted mother
felt that she had indeed in them and their sweet
brother and younger sister, more than recon-
pense for all the trials and sorrows of life
And faithfully did the passing scene recall the
same happy period of her own existence De-
cry it as the would be wise and phosophic
may, love is the true and harmonic chord of life,
and they in whose hearts it has never been at
tuned have not learned half the true wealth of
their spirits, nor half the blessings of existence,
Given for the express purpose Of adding the last
finishing grace to terrestrial Hiss, and designed
as a type of the holy relations by Christ and his
spiritual brde-the Church-is ii strange that
the alliance Of two congenia spirits by the SOL
emn institution Of marriage, should have con-
stituted one of the seven sacraments of the Ro-
should be regarded with so little soemnity by
those who have professedly taken upon them the
VOWS of that higher marriage covenant of which
this is made the beautiful and appropriate en-
blen. The truth is, tile great mass of the world
regard it as all institution more human than d.
vine-one that has more to do in keeping to-
gether the legal framework of society, than one
designed to prepare the soul for purer inward
life, more exalted sympathy than a solitary ex-
stence could call forth, and closer alliance
with the angels that surround the throne of God
Hence the young are seldom trained Tor the
discharge of the most sacred obligation, and en-.
ter the marriage state as thoughtlessly as they dc
the ballroom.
But there are some natures so tremendously
constituted that they seem almost nstinctvely
to comprehend all that is true and beautiful in
every relation in life, and without ever having
devoted moment of their existence to pho
sophcal research they at once perceive what i;
their duty, and what are the blessings that it:
faithful performance will ensure Such an one
was Lucy Vernon in the quiet simplicity of hel
grlhoood, yet gifted with glowing fancy ant
temperament rather inclined to the romantic
She had never in her life been taught that she
was made to secure the happiness of any human
being aside from her own good father and moth
er, and her dear brothers and sisters yet, wher
Charles Lawrence whispered to her his own deeE
love for her. and her heart returned all answe
as true as echo, and she felt that a new spirltua
existence had commenced within her. He hal
awakened the first tone of the deep melody o
ile and she wondered how she had ever beef
happy without loving and being loved She wa
+ but schoolgirl and he hardly more than
beardless boy but they had discovered the grea
secret of the heart atleast so they thought,) ant
it gave dlgnity>to all their pursuits.
Thenceforth, life had definite object AN
when the bold and resolute spirit of the yout
prompted him TO seek a home in the West
where he might in his own unaided industry
secure a competence for himself and his heart
r best beloved, she did not seek to withhold hin
from his purpose, but encouragingly whispered
| shall not fear to follow your destiny
Nor did he for nom ent indulge fear c
her fidelity during the years Of absence tina
must intervene between their parting and thei
reunion. 1t was not vanity that led him to fec
assured that the most favored son of forum
lcOnL not win frOno hin, thot r,ricoIass ;o,,,a