Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-12-31

No matter who Charles Sedly was, wheth.
er descended from heroes or statesmen,
from the proud arisSocrat, reyeling in all
the pomp Of riches, or from the poor and
honest citizen, whose daily toll along the
rugged paths of life, where the flowers sci.
dom blossom, and the way this side the
grave is so often choked by weeds and
brambles if from the first no might claim
descent-their talents and discretion were
perhaps his inheritance, for these he pos
sessed If from wealth, their robes Of rich.
es mantled not his shoulders, for poverty
was his portion; il from the last, then like
them was he struggling through the world.
From his earliest childhood Charles had
known but little save toll aud hardship; yet
cheerful heart and well balanced mind
had carried him bravely on through every
difficulty. In a foreign land his father had
died, leaving poverty the sole inheritance
Of his widow and infant boy. Al the age
Of fourteen, Charles was apprenticed to a
sind-hearied printer who allowed him to
pursue unchecked his desire for reading
aud improving the advantages which his sit
uaton afforded him. II is too often the
case that an hour thus spent is considered
by many who employ young lads as SO much
money stolen from their pockets, even a;
those seasons when they would otherwise be
idle. Soon after, worn out with trouble
and disappointment, Mrs Sedly died.
When Charles had completed his appren-
iiceship he formed the resolution Of turn
ing country schoolmaster. Living in the
country he knew would be less expensive
than the city. The profits arising from his
labors would, he thought, with proper econ
omy support him there. while during his
leisure hours he could pursue his studies.
which was his chief ambition. Repairing
then TO lovely New England village, he
there made his first essay as a school-mas'
ter, and soon became general favorile with
both parents and children. Here, too, he
had the good fortune 10 secure himself a
warm friend in the person Of an eccentric
old lady, whose life he had preserved at the
imminent peril Of his own. IL was one mild
day in early spring, that the old lady sci
forth 10 visit neighbor, living on the op.
posite side OF small river, flowing through
one portion of the town. As there had
been several days Of warm weather previous
the usual passage across the ice was con
sidered unsafe still the old lady persisted
there could be no danger, aud well cloakec
and hooded, unhesitalingly proceeded OF
her route She had reached The cent?,
Of the stream in safety, when there was
sudden cracking, as the firing Of number
less rifles, heaving motion, aud Instantly
the heaying mass gave way, precipiia,ns
the old lady into the black gulf below
This Accident was witnessed by several per
J sons on The bank, yet no one dared to ven
lure TO her assistance, as on all sides IN,
ice was now rapidly breaking up. Foriu
naiely, Sedley Glanced al ihat moment {,
! be passing; and learning wha, had happen
! ed, unhesita,ingy advanced upon the ireach
erous footing. In a moment he deiecte,
} the spot where the old lady had disappear
ed, and boldly plunged in. With the heay
ing mass above his head he struck out il
the dark waters to save the life of felloy
} creature; aud in few moments his hu
name efforts were successful Selling tn
. poor old lady, who in moment more conf
not have been saved, he came up with he
! some rods from the spot where he had fire