Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-05-07

being In love; but If pining for the absent and
thinking of him daily from ten till sixteen consti-
tutes love-and it Is much more like true love than
many thing that goes by that name then Annie
was in love with the bold, frank rosy-cheehed boy
who used to fight her battles and bring her the first
apples and the last strawberries of the season.
And now, when reduced in fortune, and often at
the very door of want Annie would sigh and dream
Of Edmund Dale; and all her visions of future hap
plness somehow or other, had hin, for part of the
picture. For Annie, have said was still a girl
an innocent, trustfu girl-though fast learning the
destiny of womanhood, and growing old prema-
turely.
Many wan line now began to be traced on An
MES face and the dmples that once sported around
her mouth like. sunshine around ripples, assumed a
sad, sober expression, as If sorrowful angel had
come up from her soul and fixed himself there TO
tell the world what she was too proud 10 reveal
that her heart was breaking. People at last found
It out. Ihey began to suspect that the widow
Lyle's poverty was greater than 1t seemed, though
the children always looked tidy and not even they
ever complained. So kind neghbor undertook to
lind out the truth The youngest child was seduceJ
into the house at dinner time when his wisfu eyes
as he looked ON the wholesome food and his eaper
appetite as he partook of it, revealed the secret
Poor little dear" said the knd-hearted neighbor
1T would have made you cry 10 see how furnished.
ne was. But what can we do for Annie? There
she sits, night after night straninp out her ewes
sewing, too independent to ask aid, or fear nccen,
IT. though her heart and health both break"
Just at this time the village scboo-mstress cot
married, and some klnd-hearted neighbor proposed
that ANNIE Lyle should take her place Everybody
wondered that no one had thought of the plan be-
iore; ANNE was very young, it was true, but then
all loved her; and it was soon settled that she
should have trial. at least
1t was new world to Annie, and she trembled
as she entered the cherries school-room; but her
mother was sick at home, and this was the only re-
source lett from starvation or what was worse, bep-
gary she could do all the work of the family al
Ter scnoo hours, and might snatch moment or two
at night Tor sewing she neryed her little henri
to meet the contemptuous looks of the biorer bovs
ana the sullen behaviour of the younger pupils
Lear AIMEE mad she known all she had to Under
take, she would never have undertaken school
teaching
ANNE was too young for her vocation. She
meant wen, and won many to love her, but there
were lew unruly spirits not TO be coaxed by sweet
slliieS or gentleness, whose rebellious habits were
suihcient to destroy all discipline. The elders soon
lounu II would not do and poor Annie herselfiear-
Gu It, 'aded and tretu with the troubles OF her
school, she returned home at night to wet her pill
low WIN tears. AT length the disaffecton broke
OUT INTO open reDellIon and Annie, for once tried
10 enforce obedience The result was that the
school broke up IN disorder, the bigger boys boot
ing at their baby mistress" as tney called her
ana proclaiming holiday iii derison from her yerv
seat 10y
foor Annie went home sobbing, for her heart
was pIeahihg g. All her little dreams of comfort
were dlsspated by this rude termination of her an
thory, and she saw that it would be useless 10 ner
sist longer In her present vocation. She had cal
culated the salary to penny and arranged how 1t
was all to be spent it would Just Suffice with lit
Tie more she expected 10 make by her needle, to
carry them through the winter But now this br oht
vision was dlsspated. She was in debt, too Tor
relying on her salary, she had ventured to purchase
one or Two little comforts tor her mother; and debt
was new to Annie, and in her simple heart. allied
with visions OF a Jail. As she turned to 90 home
ward, one or two of the younger chlIdren-little
girls OF SIX or seVen-cung to her gown, and cry
ing as hard as herself, yet strove to comfort her.
Soshe struggled to compose herself wiped her eyes,
KISSED the little dears, and babe them good bye
As she went up the road she had 10 pass the
farmhouse where her father once lived. The me-
noiy oi the happy days spent there rose up and
IHouAeu Her; out she resolutey went on, keeping
down her tears by strong effort. When she
EeacHeu the main street of the village she turned
ASIDE. 1t was the first time she had ever done So,
nut IL seemed to her as if every body knew her dis
graceful laureand that bundled eyes were on her.
/ roor Anne! her mothers cottage was before her,
yet she dared not enter it. Should she 90 home
ana 'el now there was now no refuge for them but
the poor-house? She knew it would kill her moth
er, ana she had not the heart to do so. Mrs. LYLE
, W, C.
ceed as school-mlstress, and even been more fertile
than her daughter in picturing visions of returning
prosperity. Her little brother and siste- too, they
must often again be sent supperless to bed. Well
might ANNE shrink from entering that cottage !
She turned aside, sat down fallen tee, and be-
gan to weep pteousy. ! am sure you would have
cried yourself if you had heard her heart breaking
sobs Q
1t was bright beautiful day in February-one
OF those mild, soft days when summer seems to
: have come back into the lap of winter-but Annie
saw not, heard not the beautiful things around her,
and kept on crying as if every sob would tear her
, young heart to pieces. She did not even know il
was the old buttonwood grove to which she had I'M
consciously come She did not see Young man
VINO arrived IN the stage, and Immediately went
down the village street till he reached her mothers
she dld not see him enter and re-appear again after
an interval taking the way that led to the school
mousse she did not see him meet some of the little
. scholars who had tried to comfort her, but who
E with their tears now dried were having n merry
sIiue she dld not see him stop and speak to them
then look all around, and then retrace his steps &c
tne village hastily, and yet with sad countenance
4 mo, poor ANNIE as she sat there CRYING bitterly
: saw none of this She only saw the approaching
oeggary OF her family; so with her face buried in
4 her hands and the tears trckling between the fin
a gers, she rocked her body to aud fro
. sob | wish | was dead" she said. "Everv
body will despise me- and mother, it will kill her
! oh! wish was dead"
;. An early bird, rejoicing in the glad weather
A hoped down at her feet and looking up as if If
o sympathy, piped his little song; but Annie heard
nm not-she was thinking, by some strange within
L how even Edmund had deserted her, and her tears
n and sobs came faster.
i "Oh I've not friend in the world" she said
u "Pm all alone--''
:. may not all alone, ANNIE" said voice at hel
side, which, though strange one, seemed vet moi
wholly strange. "For have not forgot nv little
y wife, If she has not forgot me-"
Annie started to her feet and her sobs ceased
She even uttered faint scream; for there stood
Edmund Dale, como back to claim her as his bride
HIS arm was already around her waist and his bold
i and handsome face still the same, though older anC
more manly than when she last saw it, was looking
a kindly at her! Poor Annie she had long wanted
some one to tell her griefs to: SO she gave long