Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-05-07
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Ladies' National, for April.
ANNIE LYLE.

Little Annie Lyle was the angel of our village.
Her pretty haxen rnglets had a world of poetry in
them; and her mild blue eye looked as if it had
been intended only for Heaven and not for a world
like this. | wish you could have heard her laugh
1t was not like running water, like birds carol,
nor like the sigh of zephyr; but it something
made up of the music and silver and melody OF all
combined. She was like sensitive plant IN mod
esty, was dear little Annie; and when you
would look too earnestly in her eyes, the long ashes
dropped over them, II the angels who kept watch
there shaded them mercifully with their wings.
The very boys at school loved Annie. 1t is true,
there was one now and then, who did a spiteiul
thing toward her but they paid for their nsoence,
if Edmund Dale heard of it. He was Armies self
elected defender; her counsellor in all her little
difficulties; and her constant companion. Why,
they were like two lovers And do not see why
children may not love well as grown up folks.
Certainly, Annie blushed if leased about Edmund,
Us much as you would fair reader, If teased about
BONE one else and, as for Edmund, he was posi-
lively unhappy if days indlspositon kept Annie
from school. They were once overheard denurely
arranging their future plans, for they had fixed 1t
even then that they were to be married when they
grew up. Edmund had selected a spot, on his
fathers farm, where their house was to be; but he
could MT determine where to place the barn.
"Never mind, DEAR" said Annie, coaxingly--" you
know if we get house, the barn isn't much
matter"
Annie grew up very beautiful. l can compare
her at fifteen to nothing but violet, hackneyed as
the smllltude is She was so graceful and light il
her motions, that those who saw her tripping ovel
the green Thought Involuntary OF swallow skim.
ming the field. Oh! what happy voice was hers
as she carroed some old fashioned air, or sang in
the village choir. There have been such things as
strangers stopping TO ask whose was that light
hearted voice.
But Annie did not always remain light hearted
She was still girl, in years as well as manners
when her father died. Mr.. Lyle had never beer
though: rich man, but every body was surprised
to hear that his estate had proved insolvent A
small debt here and large one there soon ate W
the farm, and the widow Lyle found herself witt
her three children, and no roof to cover them. Blu
Armies mother was proud and SO was Annie, who
from being the oldest child, poor thing! was the
confident of her mothers troubles: so the debt
were all rgidy paid the furniture, though prizet
for many associations, was sold, and the bereayet
family removed to a humble cottage, with but on
story, and only two rooms at that, on the edge o
the village. But there was sweet-brier over tn
door, and on one side was half covered with ivy
So, at first, it was thought very pleasant place.
do not know how 1t Is with others, but coul
never blame the widow Lyle and Annie for bein!
proud and refusing to accept aid from strangers
They were grateful for work, but they would no
4. take cent without earning it; and those earning
were slight enough. The widow Lyle had alway
, lot soon proved too much for her. Yet she worke
and worked, night after night she and Annie ply
ing their needles by candle-light often far towar
morning, until exhausted nature gave way, and sh
was laid on bed Of sickness.
The winter was just opening when this too
place, the second winter alter her wIdowhood; all
The sympathes OF The people, which at first ha
beat 50 warmly in her favor, had found time to COO
=. Not that any body loved her or little Annie less
but then folks did not think of them so often, an
did not any longer go out OF their way to assis
Mrs Lyes family. Thus Annie found hersel
alone, with long winter before her. and the ncces
sity Of providing from day to day for all their want.
She struggled on for while, and then her hear
came nigh breaking for she found that her utmos
exertions failed supply them with fuel and breaC
Poor Annie she was beginning to know suffer
ing But where was Edmund Dale all this Will
s-he who should have saved her from it? Time
had changed since he used to wander with her i
1.-THE buttonwood grove, their light laughter maxim
the stage traveller look back with a God bles
themp Ednund's father too, had died, and die
before Mr.. Lyle; and Edmund had been take
away by his guardian, an uncle, in tie sity. Ii
had cried all the afternoon before he departed an
Annie had cried too, though her little lover ha
wiped the tears from her eyes with her apron an