Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-07-22
From the Dublin University Mcgasiae.
PHILIP ARMYTAGE:
Or, the Blind Girls Love.
- child most niantina
Yet wandering far beyond that innocent age
10 all bot its sweet looks and mein divine "SHELLEY

est season of the year
"when April has wcpt itself to May"
Earth awoke from her winter sleep fresh and glo. |
rious aud young, as il il were bot day since she |
bore on her bosom Adam aud Eve and shed around |
them the flowers, and breezes, and sunshine of
Eden. Beautifully looked the Eternal Mother, in
her ever renewed youth over which the change, and
misery, aud crime Of six thousand years have pas.
sed like a shadow, and ef, no trace.
There is no glamor like that Of the pen and il |
has this surprising spell, that the magic extends
also to the one who Yields the charm. Let US,
therefore, in this wet and gloomy day, when heavy
mist hangs like shroud the dreary city
when under our window sound the FLASHING foot |
falls Of tired passers by aud the ncessant rattle Of
vehicles--let rs. amidst all this, call up to our
minds eye the scene where our story begins and
linger fondy over that beautiful spot in the delin-
cation OF which memory strives with Imagination. |
II was the breakiast-room OF house that stood
alone on hill side-one Of those stately mansions
that are found in England far in the country, where
generation after generation Of the old families OF
the gentry are born, live, and die; father, son, and
grandson occupying, in their turn, the abode,
and descending to the same ancient stone monument
hard by. Cheerfuy came the warm morning sun
into the room not s,ealthily, as in early spring but
with glad overflow OF light and warmth, brighten
ing even the solemn oak furniture, and contendng
bravey with the tiny fire that was lii through habit
until IT fairly put out its pupy antagonist and reign
ed supreme. The long low windows on one side,
opened on formal, dainty little nower-garden. and
then, winding through a smooth lawn, lay narrow
walk that led into the forest, whose borders the
house lay. la three minutes might pass into
that beautiful wood, wild II mans foo, had never
entered it, and alive with the melodies OF leaves
quivering in The morning breezes. The tender
green OF the thorn mingled with the dark holly tina,
here We'd even with the oak in size aud grandeur
the primrose looking out smiling from the roots of
the old trees and large beds of the wood anemone
or wind flowers. seemed like white wave mantle
cast over the long grass thick that not
a stray sunbeam could pierce through. The loud
song Of the birds reached to the house, like
flood Of aerial music the ringing carol of the lark
the deep note Of the throste, the svery MARBLE Of
the linnet and the soft COO Of the wood.dove, all
mingling in sweet hafmony.
Listening eagerly, with up-turned face, that did
not shrink even from the broad dazzling sunlight,
sat little girl beside the open window. Her soft
hair falling in curls that pretiiest fashion for child
was Of that hue which CLEAN Of sunshine changes
into gold; her head turned aside but her atti-
tude was full Of childish grace with the little hands
crossed on her knee, moonless, in silent thought.
| Opposite to her a boy-her twin-brother--a
taller and holder model of herself; sitting careless.
ly ON the floor he was busily carving the top Of
hazel wand. Boy-like. he whisiled merry over his
work, and looked so happy and handsome. with his
sunny curls, like the sisters, hanging over face
that still preserved the round of childhood,
his deep blue eyes shaded the dark heavy lashes,
and the perfect classic profile OF his mouth and chin
over which smiles were ever dimpling With these
young creatures, with the earth, il was The spring
Of life--to them il was beautiful hopeful, joyous
morning.
The mother entered--a sweet, delicaie-looking
woman, fragile and graceful, in her robe of pure
| white; and then the father came in like shadow
aner sunshine He was tall man, Of middle age ;
but the sharp lines about his mouth, and the
entirely bald, gave him the appearance of being
much older. Yet, not single gray hair mingled
with the thick brown locks at the back OF his head
aud his form was unbent His cold, clear blue
eyes CLEANED from under.hanging brows. and his
noble forehead was full Of intellect. He looked
like man in whom mind held pre-eminence over
heart. The little ones timidly advanced towards
him
why, Edmund-Stella--ear this morning z
he said. and stopped mechanically to kiss them,
while smile like winter sunshine Just bent his lips.
Edmund, the boldest, and the lavorite, stayed TO
show his wonderful wood carving 10 his father, with
boyish pride; but little Stella crept along by the
table, and nestled beside her mothers knee.
What has my little girl been doing 2 said Mrs
Brandre,h, twlning her fingers in the long slken
; hair,
4 Il have been listening TO the Birds mamma, and
L feeling the sunshine, il is so warm and pleasant
! A light sigh heayed the mothers bosom.
That is well like TO my darling happy and
gay she answered tiemulousy,
And now came the pleasant breakfast hour--ihe
pleasantcst meal OF all 10 coun,ry-dwellers and WIS.,
i,ants How cheerful, and fresh, and blIfhe all
look how welcome is the balmy morning air; nay,
TO descend TO common things. how fragran,ly rises
up the stream of coffee aud how grateful both 10
sight and taste the country yands-snowy nes7
laid eggs, and golden butter and cream--rich and
nj luscious as nectar Commend us 10 country break
+ fast. Who could come down with sour looks, and
bitter speeches, on a sunny morning. and not fee
all the hardness aud ill-temper melt away from his
heart beneath its influence
Merrily the children laughed and talked, making
at times, even the sedae father look up from hi'
, reading, and winning The gentle mother TO smiles
less pensiye than ordinary. At last Mr. Brandrell
e collected his papers, and laid them carefully aside
he was a learned man. wise in geology and natura
= philosophy, and always devoted the breaklasthou
TO the re-perusal and arrangement Of his ucnbra
!. ions The twins received the signal TO retire. an'
Edmund hastily rose, while Stella moved slowl!
8 from her seat As she passed, her stretched on
: arms, dy which she guided her steps, came IN con
tact with the heap of papers so carefully arranged
!. and ihey fell in coniusiun on the floor MIR Brand
y reth started up angrly-
Careless chd--always doing some mischief o
other he said, and thrust Stella rudey away IN
child fell. and began to weep--no' loudly as mos