Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-09-09

D ed blessings upon her for her kindness. Laura
;nvoIuntarily contrasted this ever active kindness
with her own chilling indlferences and immedl-
' ately commenced reform. She could but no.
r tce the sunlight which the presence of Mary
had thrown upon their dwelling, and for the first
: time realized how valueless were her own &C
quirements TO their possessor, unless accompani-
ed by kind, warm heart. She resolved to cul-
. tivate gentle nqture and in her waking dreams
pictured herself as the light of home that
was yet to be her own.
The health of Mrs Percy continued to de-
cline gradually, and when autumn came, she sell
dom left her bed One morning, feeling that
she had not long to live, she conversed with
Laura on the subject of her coming dissolution.
Long and earnest was the conversation that fol-
lowed Laura related all that had passed be-
Tween herself and Victor, and dwelt upon their
dreams of happiness when he should have at
tained the desired position in the world.
Would that you had told me this before said
the invalid. How much of toll and sorrow, and
hope deferred it might have savgd him, Know,
then, Laura, that have ever considered you as
my heiress The fortune of Henry is ample,
and my will was long since made, bequeathlng
to you my whole property. Yet | formed the
romantic project of Conceallng it from you and
the world, lest you should become the victim of
fortune hunter loved you as a daughter,
and felt assured that your attractions, unaldcd
by wealth, would secure the love Of one worthy
Of you; and intended, when such love was prof
fered to you, that would dvulge this secret. |
hoped, when first knew Victor SomervllIe, that
you might love each other, and felt sad dsap-
: ponment when he left, as thought, without a
declaration of love to you. have erred in con-
cealing my intentions from you, but hope that
all may vet be well. Write to recall him i'm
medately, that | may have the satisfaction OF
, committing you to his care before die
I, Exhausted by the effort of speaking so long,
t the invalid fell into quiet slumber, and Laura
. Victor SomerviIle The characters were traced
with trembling hand, and she could scarcely
realize the truth Of what she was about to com
t municate to him. The letter was despatched
i and the following days were spent in alternate
i solicitude for her aunt, and anticipation for he
p were concentrated upon the invalid. She failed
: rapidly, and one week only after the converse
: ton we have related, breathed her last. Tht
II day after her funeral Laura received a letter in
" forming her of the illness of Victor. few
% days OF fearful anxiety and another came, but /
l. was the herald of death with its badge Her lette
q had reached him only a few days before hi
" death; and as it was read to him by the lrien
At who watched by his bedside, he answered
or Tell her it came too late to save the life tina
= was devoted to her; but that the love that ha
" im2eled me on will remain changeless eV en- unit
# death
al This last drop in her cup of affection wa
O. more than she could bear. That night she wa
I'd seized with violent fever, which long defed a
a, medical skill to relieve it. Henry and Mar
in watched increasingly by her bedside, and Grol
r. the rawlings of her delirum learned the tale
n her sorrows. Hers was the agony that on
re strong minds are capable Of feeling; and muc
in they feared that life or reason must yield to j
v intensity. But youth, and strong constltuto
as finally triumphed over the disease, though it WI
l. long time before she regained her iorm
H. strength. Mary was like sister, ready to a
on and console her, and she felt that, though b
nt reaved, she was not alone in the world 81
VI loved in loneliness, to recall the brief period
sc her happy love, and the blsslul hours she h;
of spent with him who was now cold and silent
of the grave. There was joy III the thought tn
IL. his love was unchanged TO the last; but it W
he with deep and poignant sorrow that she pourt
Of over the lines written by strangers hand, tn
-. told of midnight studies which consumed h
nc strength long before she knew of his illness. A
,.t this had been endured for her sake-lor the i
he diligence of her pride, which nothing could sat
~ fly. How worthless, thought she, lis the tres
H Ho ure for which | have sacrificed noble life p
;tb Then arose in her mind the noble resolution
At giving up the remainder Of her life and foru
,be for the purpose of doing good-of relieving t
M suffering and consoling the afflicted. From I'll
in hour she became different being. She soug
out the unfortunate and relieved them, and b
NV came an angel of mercy to the sick. Whentv
her she found worthy objects of her benevoIenc
her gifts were freely bestowed. The heart Ii
had remained stubborn and unyieIding thiou
row prosperity now bowed beneath the pressure
adversely in meek obedience to its God.
tho There is no lesson like death to teach t
cb folly and worhessness Of human. pride. Il
,ro. wealth Of nations, the wisdom of sages, the raj
b,, and beauty of a world, cannot lengthen hum
hat life. The great, the good, the brilliant and t
,no beautiful, alike must fall before the 'ReaT
,nv whose name is Death
vol The pride Of Laura was subdued; and it W
70 not long before she found rest in the conso
a. tons of religion She became worshipper
nm God in spirit and in truth, and bore her tri
nee meekly as sent by an all-wise Creator. S
han became kind and forbearing towards all, for
,,t had learned too well the bitterness of sorrow
,bt. be willing to inAict it upon others. Thus
7ere life flowed on like gentle stream towards
om- ocean of Eternity,
out Reader with your permission, we will gil
,oro over ten years, and again look in upon the