Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-08-26

vain inclination 10 enjoy the season Of llber.
~, as master Of his time aud territory He
was proceeding TO number, one by one, the
stones paving the courtyard, doubtless to
verify the accuracy Of former calculations,
for it was by no means the first time they
had put his arithmetic 10 the test, when, he
perceived small mound Of earth rising be.
tween two stones Of the pavement, cleft
slightly at its summit.
The count stopped short--his heart beat
horriedly without any rational grounds for
emotion, except that every trivial incident
affords matter Of hope or fear TO captive.
In the mos, Indifferent objects, in the most
unimp1riant events, the prisoner discerns
traces Of mysterious project for his deliy.
GRANGE.
Who could decide that this trifing irreg-
ularity on the surface might not indicate
important operations under ground Sub
teuaneous issues might have been secretly
constructed. aud the earth be about TO open
and afford him egress towards the noun
tainsl Perhaps his former friends and sc-
completes had been sapping aud mining. 10
procure access 10 bis dungeon, and restore
him to light and libertyl
He listened he fancied he could detect
the low murmur Of a subterraneous sound.
lie raised his head, and the loud and rapid
clang Of the tocsin saluted his ear. The
ramparts were echoing with the prolonged
roll Of drums, like the call to arms in time
Of war. He slaried-he passed his irem-
bling hand over his forehead, on which cold
dews Of intense agitation were already ris-
ing. Is his liberty at hand! Is France
submitted TO tho domination Of new ruler
The illusion Of the captive vanished as
il came. Reflection soon restored him to
reason. He no longer possessed accom-
plices-he never possessed friends Again
he lends listening ear. and the same nois-
es recur; but they mislcad his mind no
longer. Tn, supposed toesin is only the
TO hear daily at the same hour. and the
drums. the usual evening signal for retreat
to quarters. With bitter smile, Charney
begins TO compassionate his own folly,
which could mistake the Insignificant la
bours Of some insect or reptile, some wan
dering mole or ield-mouse, for the result OF
human fidelity, or the subyersion Of mighty
empire
Resolved, however, TO bring the matter
10 the test. Charney. bending over the little
hillock, gently removed the earth from lie
summit; when he had the modification to
perceive that the wild though momentary
emotion by which he had been overcome,
was not produced by so much as the labours
OF an animal armed with teeth and claws
but by the efforts Of feeble plant 10 pierce
the sofia pale and siekly scattering Of
vegetation. Deeply vexed, he was about to
crush with his heel the miserable weed,
when refreshing breeze, laden with the
sweets Of somebower Of honey -suckles, or
syringas, swept past, rs IL to intereede for
mercy to wards the poor plant, which might
perhaps hereafter reward him with its flow
ers and fragrance.
A new conjecture conspired 10 suspend
his act Of vengeance. How has this tender
plant, so soft and fragile as 10 be crushed
with touch, conlriyed 10 pierce and cleave
asunder the earth, dried and hardened into
a mass by the sun, daily trodden down by
his own footsteps. and all but cemented by
the flags OF granite between which II was en-
closedi On STOPPING again to examine the
matter with more attention. Ne observed at
the extremity Of the plant sort Of Heshy
valve aifording protection to its first and
tenderest leaves, from the injurious contact Of
any hard bodies they might have to encoun-
ter in penetrating the earthly crust in search
Of light and air.
"fhis, then, is the secret 7" cried he, al
ready interested in his discovery. mature
has impaired strength TO the vegetable germ,
even as the unAedged bird which is able to
break asunder with IFS beak the egg.shell in
which it is imprisoned; happier than my
self-in possession Of unalienable instru-
menis 10 secure its liberation " And after
gazing another minute on the inofiensiye
plant, he lost all inclination for its desiruc-
ton.
On resuming his walk the next day. with
wide and careless steps. Charney was on
the point of setting his foot on il, from in.
advertence but luckily recoiled in time
Amused TO find himself interested in the pre-
seFysiion Of a weed, he paused to take note
of its progress. The plant was strangely
grown and the free light Of day had al
ready eifaced the pale aud sickly complex
ion OF the preceding day. Charney was
struck by the power inherent in vegetables
to absorb rays Of light, and, fortified by the
nonrishmeut. borrow, as il were, from the
prism, the very colours predestined to dis
iingulsh lis various parts Of organization.
1.-THE leaves" thought he. twill proba-
bly, lmbibe hue different from that OF stem.
And the flowers what color, | wonder, will
be the aowersl Nourished by the same
+sop as the green leaves and stems, how do
they manage TO acquire, from the influence
ofihe sun, their Variegatons Of azure, pink
or scarlet !-For already their hue is ap-
pointed, > In spite Of the confusion and dis
order of all human affairs. matter, blind as
II is, marches with admirable regularity !:
still blndly. however for 10, the fleshy
lobes which served to facilitate for the plant
its progress through the soil, though now
useless, are feeding their superlluoIs sub.
stance at its expense, aud weighing upon its
slender stalk |"
But, even as he spoke, daylight became
obscured. A chilly spring evening, threat.
ening frosty night, was setting 10 and the
two lobes, gradually rising, seemed 10 re-
proach him with his objections, by the prac-
teal argument of enclosing the still tender
foliage, which they secured from the attacks
of insects or the inclemency of the wealth
or bv the screen of their nrofactino ,v;ooa