Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-03-25
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N AIRY NELSON.
OR, THE POISON OF ERROR.

"Thcre, dear, be still aud it will soon be
morning." said Mary Nelson as she reached
down from her own bed to the cradle, in which
she had laid her hrst-born
Her own pillow had thus far been seepless
one, and short and restless had been the dreams
Of her infant, whom she had tried to soohe in
her bosom, till wearied with the effort, and anx-
ious to get little sleep herself before the sun
should return, she had committed the child to
its cradle, and was rocking it to sumber
1t was sad night that to Mary Nelson, and
she hid had many such already, and prospect
of more for in the distance she saw no relief
for the sorrow that was growing deeper and
heavier as each month wore away with its load
of grief
Mary and were playmates in childhood II
Her father and mine were ncighbOrS, in the
country, and that means something. They
were friends, and their children were friends,
going to the same school and church, fond of
the same amusements, and looking forward to
the same ile--the life of happy turner's in a
land of plenty. Mary and | grew up together,
and we're in the flush of youth before we had
either of US thought of ever being anything but
children. She was handsome and what was
strange, she did not know it, or at least no one
could think she did, so simple, so artless, so
humble was Mary Beauty makes girls vain
often, and it seems a pity that they should spoil
their looks by airs that win the love of no one,
ard make them only disagreeable. But Mary
never looked so pretty as when we had been off
in the fields gathering flowers in June, and com
ing home she would fling herself down on the
turf by the well, under the great elm in the
rear of her fathers house, and as she arranged
her flowers in the pitchers TO stand on the man
tlepiece in the front room, would once in while
fasen one and another carelessly in her hair, till
she looked like fairy but not fairy from the
spirit land; for Mary's cheek had too much of
the rose of health, and her eye, dark and pierre
ing, was too bright for fancy work,
Charles Nelson was the son of wealthy
citizen of the great metropolis, and had been
sent into the country in the hope that he would
unlearn and forget some wild habits that he had
formed in the midst of the attractions of the
city. 1t was even said that he had been to col
lege, and been ruSticacd for a season, that his
idence among his country cousins But he was
just the youth to be happy any where and when
the pleasures Of the city were no longer his
own, he entered with as much apparent delight
upon the new world which the country offered
"And what if they say am wild" said young
Nelson, "and will never do for one so gentle,
and so sweet as you are, Mary, what ,hen 2"
40, but they will not; know they will not :;
they know that you are not wild no,0 that you
will never go away from this quiet spot, but will
just stay right here like my brother, and always
love US; will you not p
"Any where with you Mary know have
been wild, but that was before knew YOU, or
dreamed there was one on earth like you.
would love to spend my life in this country-place,
and leave the city for those that like ii. have
had enough Of it, and would like to quit it for
ever" How little did he know his own heart,
or the power Of early habit.
The next summer Charles returned from the
city, and having made arrangements for going
into business with his father, he made serious
proposals for Mary's hand, and after no little
struggle on the part of her parents, the consent
was given, and the young lovers were married
Now he brings her to this great city and she is
happy with him any where. The fields and flow
ers OF that rural home, seemed part of life to
her while she was there, but her heart was now
another's, and she was willing to quit the sweet
home OF her youth, and be buried in the wilder
ness of CITY, for the sake Of him whom she
loved to call her own.
CHOW you will not 60 to that lecture tonight
will you, Charles" said Mary, as her husband
was preparing to leave the house
"Why not, what's the harm, dear z"
'Much, very much fear. You are not as
happy now as you were before you fell in with
those men. You do not love home as WELL and
do wish you would stay at home and read tc
me-"
"Bnt love you more, Mary, than ever. Yor
know do. ! only go to hear these men talk
don't believe half they say, and will be home
early" ...,.
Aud off he went to hear lecture from The
Socialists, whose schemes of Improvements hac
recently caught liisfancy and he was determin
ed to hear for himself Here he learned to Zee
that home was arpfison, and husband slave
that happiness isto be found only in liberty, ant
that no liberty can be enjoyed where man mus
be tied up by the laws Of domestic life Th
was new doctrine TO Charles Nelson lie hat
always felt free and happy, and what more coulc
be ask in the way Of liberty and love, than h