Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-01-15
select Tales.
From the True Wesleyan,
The Village DresSmakCr
or CHRISTIAN FIDELITY R EWARDED.
n r.4.t rt..am..h

1t was now eight O'clock, and Mrs. Arlin1to
and her daughter sat at their work.
Jane, my dear child said Mrs. Arlington
but Just at this moment a lopd and well-knowl
rap at the front door arrested the attention o
mother and daughter, and after a little unusua
hustle, Jane unlocked and opened the door, anC
was greeted by the cheerful and familiar voice o
Robert Ellison. Good evening, Jane saiC
Robert, 4 hope you are very well and happy to-
night, and your good mother also; this IS gen
orally the happiest house ! find IN the village
and here | have spent some Of my happiest hours
and after the hurly-burly of the day which has
made me a little melancholy, | thought ! would
come down and chat an hour with you, Jane,
and cheer up my tagging spirits, and so prepare
for my future fortunes
you are always a welcome visitor to our hum
bic dwelling, Robert said Jane: 'though,'-but
she could not speak, and a tear stood in her eye,
for the thought that was in her mind, called up
the conversation she had Just held with her
mother, who had now retired from the room.
But what is the matter Jane, responded Rob
ert, you seem to be in trouble which is a thing
unusual for you; pray tell me, are you i'll, or
your motherl
eve are both quite well, Robert, and we live
happily together, but then you know the sun
does not always shine, nor does sunme last all
the year, and earth Yields the thorn as well as
the flower. Nothing special the matter, Rob
ert; only mother and I have been conyersing on
a subject this evening which makes me a little
sad; but | shall mas;er myself and smile as Joy
GUS as ever soon m
4 admire your courage, Jane, and hope you
will be successful in what you propose, as it
would relieve me of quite a load; but am re-
ally afraid that in the information | have come
to impart, | shall add but little to your cup 81
10y If share such a place in your affections
as feel is necessary to the happiness of my
earthly existence Il will come to the point. |
am now prepared to enter college, and, without
tarrying at home awhile as anticipated, | have
concluded to do SO Immediately. To-day | have
been busy in making preparations to leave home,
and tomorrow night will find me in C,
where | expect to spend three years, as | shall
enter one in advance
This intelligence did indeed add but little tC
James vigorous power of selfcontroI. Her bo
som swelled with mingled emotions which she
had no power to eXpress,-but Robert procee
ded.
"Jane, you and I have long been friends-in
innate friends. [ believe we are m0rc Il have
watchedjthe Developments of your mind | have
studied your disposition | know your VIRTUES
| am-may I-shalI say it?-cnamored of youl
personal charms and | think | have made an ac
curate estimate of your worth, mental aud NOR
al now tell me to-%night-wiIl yoa be miae?"
Quite likely, we have no right to reveal thu
privacy of lovers, and perhaps shall be chide(
for doing so, but in this case we must be ex
6used.
There was no mistaking the signi6cation 0
this proposition, 1t was plain, open, generous
without circumlocutlon, and unencumbered wit
worthless lumber. Jane understood it-appre
ciate it, and felt no small degree of qualification
in being thus regarded and estimated by so in
telligent and worthy a young gentleman as Rob
ert Ellison but then she felt and saw that Their
were obstacles in the way many, and, as tn
aristocratic world views things, weighty reason
why she ought not to fatter herself with the I'm
certain hope Of %conjugal union with Esquire Ell
lison's son. Some of these reasons she modest
ly presumed TO state.
"Robert, you will allow that there is an ap
parent abruptness in the manner in which w
meet and converse this evening but | can inC
a sufficient apology for US both in the long ant
intimate friendship which has subsisted Between
us and as you have been frank in your avowa
of esteem and affection, | will be equally SO; 70
| can sincerely say that l reciprocate your love
but still | hesitate to respond atflrmatively t.
your question, BECAUSE
"Of what, Jane | protest that | am yours
and you say that you reciprocatc my love what
therefore, can hinder the mutual pledge of ideI
ity to each other this evening! Pray let m
know"
eyes, Robert, that is what | was going to dc
| an poor and dependent on my industry for live
Iihood. My mother, too, is widow, withou
money or rich relations so that every way GU
circumstances in life, though innocent, are hun
bic. Of this You must be aware, but ?robabl
have not sufficiently considered the subject. 0
the other hand, yon are ric6-thc son of a wea
thy aud influential mantle repetation Of who's
family is not restricted to this little village an
how could your honored father, or mother, {
your favored and lovely sisters endure ii
thought that you should finally wed an obscul
village dress-maker? And what would the bri
liant and fashionable circle in which you do, ar
always can move, say! or your opulent relative
No, Robert, these cruel facts are walls of ad
mant between you and me but you and | a
not responsible. The gay, rich, ~thoughtlos
heartless world, has reared them up, and v
must
"Say it not, Jane. l am ready to curse the
unrighteous distinctions, founded upon the me
accident of wealth. vow this moment etern
hostility to them all they never shall hinder
"But, Robert, be not in haste. This is
CHANGING world. and man ID n mutable creatut