Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-06-24

Robin had not taken up his book to read
as usual, and Alice had allowed her work to
drop listlessly from her hand. Robin tho't
OF their situation at that time the year be-
fore; OF the anxiety, the cold, the hunger,
they had endured, and then he looked around
at the comforts of his happy home and his
heart was full.
"Alice, my love-" he at length said,
"what are you thinking of You do not
look as if you felt as happy as / do"
{" Yes, dear Robin, | am happy" replied
Alice, Every happy"
"Then why do you look so uery serious"
said Robin, half playfully, and half anxious
ly, as he passed his arm round her slender
waist, and gently drew her towards him.
have been thinking" replied Alice,
"of one thing in which we have not quite
followed the fairy's injunctions."
What can that be, my love Surely we
have been moderate in our desires and con-
slider how much we have given to the poor
what is wanting yeti"
"Why | will tell you, Robin, what have
been thinking about; it has pressed heavily
upon my mind for some time. Do you re-
member your old friend, Walter Collins, the
carpenter, whom you always liked SO much,
who helped to nurse you when you had the
fever and his wife, poor Mary, who took
care of my baby, while was too much en-
gagged with your illness to attend to it as
much as usual, and it was pinng, and be-
lieve would have died. but for her kindness
Well, during all our prosperity, we have
never once thought of them"
You are right, Alice, we have not done
as we would be done by But how can we
repair our neglect? Shall we seek them
out, and give them half the contents of our
treasure chests next year?'
THAT would be a very good plan," re-
joined his wife, smiling" but l think l
know better"
Do you? Well let us hear it."
Why, you know, dear Robin, this night
at twelve o'clock you are to make your sec
ond request"
81 have i'll" interrupted Robin, al will
ask the fairy to make them as rich as we
are, and to bring them here that we may
have them for neighbors. You know that
beautiful house which has been uninhabited
ever since we have been here Elm Lodge
it is called how delightful it would be for
them to find themselves there some fine
morningW
Yes, how / should like to be invisible,
in some corner, to enjoy their surprise" re-
joined Alice; and only fancy" she added,
laughing how Walter would stare about
him, and then begin to handle all the pretty
things with his dirty fingers And then,
how happy poor Mary would be! l hope
this is not forbidden request"
Before twelve o'clock, Robin took out his
golden key, and fastened to the vauted
chamber.
Punctual to his promise, the fairy appear
ed as the hour sounded He filled the cof-
ters as before, and then Robin made known
his wish. The bright zone shone more
brightly than ever, and, with an approving
smile, he pronounced the welcome words,
cts well, thy request shall be granted p'
and vanished
The next morning symptoms of a recent
arrival were visible at Elfn Lodge. Smoke
was seen curling through many chimneys,
and servants hurried to and fro. Robin and
Alice lost no time in renewing their acquain.
lance with their old friends They were
not at first recognised by Walter and his
wife, but they soon made themselves known
After the expressions of mutual satisfaction
at meeting were over, Collins endeavored to
account for the change in his circumstances
by pretending that fortune had been left
him by a distant relative. Robin felt disap.
pointed in his friend, but he was too gener-
GUS to inform him of the part he had him.
self taken in occasioning his good fortune.
Walter was of course anxious to know
how the change in Robins affairs had been
brought about, and Robin, after exacting a
promise of secresy, told him all that had ia
ken place, only suppressing the part which
related to Walter and Mary.
There are some flowers, which, as long as
they remain in their native shade, with their
blossoms only peeping forth, with dropping
head and closed petals, from beneath the
shelter of their thick foliage, appear bright
ly tinted and sweet; but, when the sun
shines on them and draws them forth from
their hiding place, and they unfold theii
leaves, and raise their modest heads to the
light of day-all their beauty, all their fra
GRANGE is gone, and the unfolded petals on
ly disclose the hollowness within.
SO it was with the character and temper
of Walter Collins. While he was poor anC
: neglected, he was humble, and, when he haC
, nothing to give, he was good-natured; bu
no sooner had the sun OF prosperity shon'
upon him than he became proud and hard
hearted.
This change, however, did not show it
| self all at once; it came on by degrees, an,
: the warm-hearted Robin and his gentle wifi
, were little inclined to think i'll of their oil,
friend.
The neighbors were on the most intimat
terms; and the gentlemen hunted, and fish
{ ed, and dined together; and the ladies walk
1 ed, and worked, and talked together; on tn
whole, things went on pleasantly enough 70
. a time. Robin, it is true, felt vexed some
: times that Walter seemed to take so it'll
{ interest in his plans for promoting the com
t fort aud improvement of his poorer neigh
5 bors; and Alice would have been glad,
r Mary had not been always poorly or busy
: when she asked her to accompany her ii
I her visits to the abodes ofsufiering and want
D At length the fatal pride and envy, whicl
i. we're gradually gaining possession of Wal
e ter's heart, began to show themselves in ma
a nv ways. Whatever the Maynards had, tn
r Collinses were never satisfied till they coul
e procure something better and more costly
e Nor was this all though Walter did not il
direct terms betray Robins secret, yet h
. was SO DESTROYS of degrading him in tn