Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-03-18

heir dear, ready, country sympathy, came 10
nurse her. if they raised her from the bed to
orange it more for comfort, she invariably held
he precious treasure in her lap until it could be
restored to its place, Oh, shame for woman
With those thousands hidden under her pillow,
,he died.
Her niece, a worthy woman. though bowed
by years Of grief and poverty, came to fill her
,lace as house-keeper, ard care-tnker of Harry.
Aud a cherries life was hers still for few Wis
ted the house, and so poor Mrs. Deming lived
m, accomplishing, but utterly witout spirit or
animation.
Very different was the unpretending little
dwelling of the Morrises. 1t was wholly uncot-
taoellke although almost buried in the long
sweeping branches Of those patrarchal elms;-
for i stood in sight of the brick house, on one
corner Of the lawn. There were all sorts of
old-iashioled roses aud p%eonies and snowbalIs in
The yard, and a snug garden on one side, thro'
which a liuIe brock, that had lost IFS way in the
woods above, hurried aud spIashed and s%pIattered
tn hide itself in the bosom Of the creek. There
Mrs. Morris's loom banged and clattercd all day,
while Minnie was employed cut Of school III
picking up lost ends, or detecting lncipienl breaks
in the harness, or in that neye.-cnding du'y,
spooling the yarn which her mother wove.
Sometime she had assistance in these impor,
tant affairs from her flyorlte school-mate Harry,
who was sure to find some errand to bring him
there every day. 'He was more bother than
good" Mrs. Morris sometimes circulated for
he was forever c%ooSing Minnie to play fox and
geese, or dots and crosses, or something or 9TH
err"
But how I linger with my story | foresaw
in the commencement that it would be 50, when
found myself talking about bright eyes, etc.
never knew a story commenced in that way to
turn out well. TO take a long leap
Harry De Roos and Minnie Morris we're nc
longer children. Their early partially had
never been interrupted, and very naturally it had
widedened and deepened. On his nineteenth
birthday, Harry, with some hesitation, and witt
out quite looking his stern old father in the eyes
announced their engagement.
Peter De Roos had been accustomed to con
s,der his son as yet a mere boy he had giver
him money and fine horses, and allowed hin
the disposition of his own time, to be sure, bur
flrther lie did not trouble himself For Harr,
was so quiet and almost femIninely gentle il
his tastes and habits, that there was nothing Il
correct or control. SO when the important new
was communicated to him, he merely brushed
fly from his sleeve, and exclaimed
Pshaw pshaw ! boy What stuff is this
Just mind your own concerns, aud let inc hea
no more Of it,"
"But, fther, persisted Harry, al am in earnest.
$50 am l., was the CUFF reply.
Poor Harry! He had never opposed his ia
ther in the world lie knew not how to begin
But he had a strong motive and with a desper
ate resolution he related the story of their mutu
al love and promises. When the old man reaII
comprehpnded the truth, that his son contempIa
ted marrying the daughter of his tenant, he,
De Roos-not one Of whom had ever %snffere
love to outweigh e%old--hc was exasperaled Amos
beyond his senses. With every epithet tina
rage and disappointed plans could supply, h
commanded his son to leave his sight and hi
house, and never appear there again.
Had Harry been bred like other boys, to as
ACll llo w IlLulS dllu IGCGlNC lUGIll, IC IIlHl
have resented this conduct but ever accustomc,
to yield, never having exercised his own will til
storm was To sudden to be borne with frmness
md lie left bis home in perfect silence, but Wit
intense suffering,
Men had called his father harsh names; the
had hoped that fire and food would waste hi
possessions but Harry had never until now re
allied his character.
Poor Harry! lie mechanically turned hi
Steps to the cottage. lie found Minnie SEWN
at the window, prettier, brighter and happic
than ever. What passed at the interview non
knew, but from that hour the sunshine was gon
from Andrew Morria's dwelling, Minnie's brigl
eyes were swollen with weeping, her cheek
were pale, and her hands were white and col,
: Her mother said not a word, but worked at II
: loom with redoubIed diligence, while her father
J usually open, careless brow wore a positive frowl
1t was not long before the news spread TIN,
every farmhouse along the creek, that Peter D
Roos had turned his only son out of doors an
u that Andrew Morris had commenced a suit
, gainst the latter, in the name of his daughteI
for breach Of promise +!
Alas for Minnie's bright dreams, ! That TIL
should be the conclusion of her pretty moouIigI
%revcrleS and morning llncieS In vain had st
pleaded and exhausted her little rhetoric-Mo
ris was reused, and did not need the pursuasic
: of a lawyer-cousin who volunteered to undertal
' the affair, delighted with the prospect Of hea,
It damages aud large fees.
y Weeks passed on Peter De Roos grew dai
more aud more cxacting, Andrew Morris mo
e determined, his prudent spouse more silent, al
I, poor Minnie paler and thinner. Every one p
tied her. for her pretty songs were now unhear
aud her %yivacity was all gone. But what of liza
ry? Heart-broken by his fathers rudeness al
n savage repnIse of his petition, he sought symp
thy and a home with a relative some ten miles di
1t tant, but the train Of unhappy consequent
following his i~ll-starred love was to much for i
unused spirit. and he fell fearfulIV III A who