Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-10-01
Select Tales.

nv MRS. LYDIA JANE PERSON.

She was a beautiful brde!-a truly beautiful
woman Hers was not, however, the beauty
which statuary may mpart to cold marble, the
perfection of form and feature in the untouched
bloom of youth, but the living, speaking, lowell
ness of soul, full of love, and trust, and good
ness; and high and holy hope, flashing out from
its pure shrine in every tone, or word, or move
ment; the commanding beauty OF noble char-
acter, legibly impressed upon perfect tablet
Every one who knew her admired and honored
her; but she was not iOycd by all, for she was
not one of those weak effemlnate creatures who
appeal, with all the helpIcssness OF infancy, to
the tender affections OF the heart Men could
not regard her as a fair, fral being, formed in
utter dependence upon their support; to be gul-
ded by their Judgment, worn as beautiful orna-
ment, soothed, petted and led just as it pleased
their caprice or convenience; and so they did
not love her Women did not love her, because
her superior mind could not enter, with intense
interest, into all the petty joys and grIets which
seemed, to them, Of such great moment. She
was not transported with the beauty of a new
bonnet, nor thrown into extaces by the tones OF
new piano She could not weep with the ten
der Mary for the death Of her poor little Gagged
bird, nor sympathise in the terrible alarm with
which Ida shrunk from the proximity Of poor
caterpillar, or big black spider She did not
shrek, nor fall INTO Mysteries, when mammals
pet fell down upon the carpet, or got his little
finger pnched In her intercourse with the
world she never dealt in datery or scandal
She looked, with a quiet smile, on occurrences
that were, to others, exceedingly agitating and
though she had always gl: for the poor and a
tear Cor the miserable, and kind word for every
body, still they did not love her; and the gener,
al opinion WAS; She is cold, and proud, and
heartcss.
But she had nnt with one who lOrcd her; a
man capable Of appfeclating worth in woman
who would wear her Proudly, as monarch
wears his diadem. He was, in soul, and form
and feature, perfect Specimen of manhood
And she loved him as only heart like hers
can love. She had walked thus Ear in lle's
pathway alone She had met no sfnt that
could blend with hers; no eye that could I'M
derstand her own; no heart that could echo
truly the sympathies that made the music OF hel
life. But when she met Arthur Wood, she fell
that she had found all that necessary to her
happiness And when, after thorough acquan
lance, he drew her londy to his bosom, anc
asked if she could be content TO follow the sal
of his destiny; to live with him, and for him
for ever, she felt her ?ery soul gush out, in CRATE
full ecstacy, with the softly murmured answer
81 WILL And she was bride; beautiful, hap
Ply, and envied. And we'll might Jane WOOD
be envied by every woman who looked on het
that day; for she stood high above them in the
scale of intellectual life; her spirit was glorious
in purity that knew no envy, malice, or lc
morse; and her heart that deep fOuntaia, which
with its ever-gushing, sweet, OF bitter waters
makes woman's happiness or misery, was full
TO OVERLOOKING with the rich, trusting bliss o
perfect love- And he, whom her affections st
worshipped, was worthy Of that homage; for HI
was noble of soul, generous of heart, and loft
Of spirit; he had honor, genius, and a compctcn
cy Of this worlds wealth; and he loved he
fondly, strongly, Pure y,-even asshc loved him
As she sat beside him, in his elegant thougl
not sumptuous dwelling, surrounded by ncatnes
and beauty, arranged by the magic hand of taste
she clasped his hand, tendcrIy, between both 0
hers to her bosom, and breathed, in tone tina
seemed of heaven, 50 expressive was it Of per
feet satisfaction:
t" Now | am wholly happy; my heart necdcc
only this Its holy place is now filled with the
presence of the deity toward whom it has al
ways yearned without knowing what it needed
what angel inhabilant should be able thus to fill
it with warmth, and light, and music. Oh,
am happy!-and this happiness shall endure fol
cver-ior eyer!"
She was miserable wfe!-a heart-broken
and bowed down woman Alone she sat, with
heaped up work-baskct beside her, in one Of
those wretched dwellings which the poor are
permitted to occupy, in fear and agony, lest after
months of toll and prvation, they should not be
able to carry to the sumptuous palace of the
landlord, the sum, SO paltry to him, demanded o
them so imperously for the privilege Of cover
ing under the roof which he would not deem
sufficient shelter for his animals. She was pale
and sad, and worn; her spirit was dark with the