The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-09-24

piled Clarinda, inditierently :" All her near
est friends are dead, and we have given her a
home"
Come here, let me look at your pretty
basket" said the young man, turning from
Clarinda as she ceased speaking, and calling
to the child who pressed up to his side, and
held up her attractive toy.
Very pretty, indeed. Your Cousin Mary
is treasure | should think"
"Indeed she is" replied the child warm
ly.
You love her very much, I suppose ?"
" Oh yes. love her."
"Why do,y you love her?"
BecauseSshe is good"
"The best of all reasons. Every one loves
good people,"
:" But every body don't love Cousin Mary"
said the child.
"Why not Is she old and ugly?"
"No she is not" replied the child, her tiny
Indignation coloring her cheek. She's young
and pretty"
D." Indeed Young, and pretty, and good"
replied the young man, smiling-"and yet
not loved by every body? That is wonder
full! Who don't love her?
Clarinda tried to catch the child's eye, and
frown her into silence, but was unable to do
"Why sister Clarinda don't love herr" said
the little girl, positively.
"Why Anna p exclaimed Clarinda, forcing
laugh. What do you mean? What's the
reason don't love her ?"
II don't know" replied the child" but
you don't; and mother don't love her, neither.
But father does, and so do /, and SO do all
the children. We all love her but you and
mother"
The truth was brought home so suddenly
to Clarinda, that she was unable to control
her feelings. She blushed deeply, and look
ed very much confused but still she tried to
scold laughngly, little Anna, and to treat the
whole thing as a fiction of the child's BRAIN
The young man, however, knew that what
had been alleged must be true from the effect
it produced. He patted Anna on the head,
and ingeniously led her mind away from what
she was thinking about, and in a few mo-
mentS afterwards was chatting freely with
Clarinda on some subject entirely foreign to
the one that had Just occupied their atten-
ton. But his curiosity was excited to know
more about Cousin Mary"
"Young, and pretty, and good !" he said to
HIMSELF after leaving the house of Mr. Ell
wood. "It certainly is little curious
wonder who and what she is? Mr.. Elwood
owes her, and all the children love her, but
Mrs. Elwood and Clarinda do not. Strange
enough l think l may indulge little Gu
'iosity in this matter, without being very |
criminal"
The young mans name was Clarence. He
was the son of an eminent lawyer, and con-
lectcd with several of the highest families in
l,o t. had n,ln tod
o the bar and had already made two or
hree brilliant arguments before the District
Jourt,in cases in which he had been associated
With his father. Considered in every point
# view, he was one of the most estimable and
promising young men in the particular circle
where he moved Clarence had been fire.
luently thrown into the society of Clarinda
Glwood, and had become quite intimate with
Ter, but not more so than he was with doz-
N other young ladies. He often dropped in
o see her, not so much in order to enjoy the
harms of her conversation, as to hear her
ing and play. Her execution was very bril-
ant, and she sung with much spirit, though
Ter voice lacked sweetness, and she usually
allied when she attempted any thing express
We Of deep feeling and tenderness.
The attentions Of the young man, all I'M
nown to himself, were received by Clarinda
S indicative of a particular preference for
er-and Mrs Elwood was graticd beyond
very thing at the prospect Of so desirable a
for her daughter To both her.
elf and Clarnda, the fact of Mary's living
18th them was great trouble, especially as
IT. Elwood was always trying to bring her
orward, and sought every opportunity to in
reduce her to their friends This did not {
rise from any fear of Marys rivalling Clar-
ada. That was an idea too preposterous to be
for moment. The trouble arose
'om q very different cause 1t was the fear
hat Clarinda would suffer dscrcdit from the
lct that she had a poor cousin, and associated {
Nth her.
Thus matters stood, when little Anna intro
uced Cousin Mary to the notice of Mr.. Clar-
nee, and excited the young gentleman's Gu
iosity in regard to her. But that curiosity
'as not 50 easily satisfied; for whenever he
isitcd at Mr. Elwood's, care was taken that
Anna was kept out of the room, and things SO
lanaged that it was not convenient for Mr..
,lwood to have Mary brought into the parlor ]
nd introduced. t
1t may be remarked here that, as to Mary's l
accomplishments, they were not so few as t
[rs, Elwood had supposed at the time she c
bJected to her becoming one of their family. l
lr. Elwood visited his sister at least once
ear, and not only furnished means for her i
lpport, but had Mary, whom he always liked, ]
ell educated, and taught music, dancing, and |
ne or two of the modern languages. She |
poke French with great accuracy-and was .
to teach either that or music but /
lis Mrs. Elwood did not know-her husband |
urposely concealed it from her. He did not '
lpect his sister to live long, and, while he
I'd Mary SO well instructed as to be compe- a
mt to earn her own living if that should be b
9ccssary after her mothers death he did P
ot let his wife know that such was the case, l.s
st she might urge Marys ability to take ?
Lre of herself, as a reason for not receiving d
IF into their family, when left alone in the b
orld. s
1t was nearly six months after her mothers
,ath bofora Mr. Elwon6 vnnturod 70 ,sl,