Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-07-29

,
hours and hours chanting snatches of old
songs and running her fingers over that
sweetest of homes friends, the Preside pi
ano, in harmonious reveaings. And when,
day by day, the vague sadness of aimless
and unsatis6ed youth grew upon her, the
glind girl still chung to her ever mournful
strains, that made her feel less the weight OF
her solitude.
There are in life, crises, distinct and WV
id, on which we can look back and feel that
they have colored our whole destiny; can
say, but for that one year-one week-one
day, how different would al. have been. ST.
lently, unconsciously are we swept on towards
these moments, which lie like hills, placed
here and there, from whose top we can see
our whole life, like panorama, stretched
out before us; and know that but for such
and such events we should not have felt and
and been as we are. Chance, fatality, are
the words on the lips of the wise proud man,
in explanation of this but the humble, low
ing spirit looks higher for the unwilling of
these marvels which pass worldly wisdom.
Thus, nearer and nearer came the blind
girl to the boundary Of that golden shadow
which overhangs human life, and ever has
done so since the time when the first created
one wooed the mother of all men, in the
twilight of paradise. Once, and once only,
can come this sunny cloud over mortal life
Man may love twice, thrice-nay, even wo-
mans constantly may know the freshness of
early fancy, or the calm peace of healed af-
fectons; but be it first or last, every man
and woman has, or has had, some love su-
81 Nth
And this is the Immortality of love; false
hood, or change, or death may intervene /;
the wounded heart may be healed, the tickle
vow forgotten in other and higher ones, but
no other feelings can ever be exactly the
same. 1t is the idealization of love, which
happens but once in lifetime, and which
each young life that enters earth renews
within itself, thus making an ever fresh eter-
nifty of love.
Some inexpicable within allured the re-
tired and studious Mr.. Brandreth from his
home and he set off to travel on the CONT
nent, taking with him his daughter. YEARLY
did the blind girl ask to be left in peace
with her birds and flowers, and heavily and
fearfuly did she look forward to entering on
world that could bring her nought but
pain. Stella did not know that the silken
thread of her destiny was insensibly draw
burthen, and make all JOY and sunshine to
her. Thus it was that she met him.
As man of science and learning, Mr.
Brandreth had the entree everywhere among
the gifted, and the patrons of such. Thlth-
er he also carried his blind daughter, per-
haps because he thought to please her, foi
he was kind father, in the main, and per.
haps he liked to see many eyes resting witt
admiration on the beautiful English girl
and to hear praises of her glorious voice.
Rarely ever was it that Stella suffered thi:
gift to be shown forth but on one night
wearied of herself, of solitude, of society
she gave way to her feelings, and sang, witt
her whole soul in the music.
"Who is she who sangl" said a clear
low-toned, manly voice, whose pleasant Eng
lish tones ran through the Babel of French
Italian and German tongues that filled the
saloon, and pierced to the acute ears of the
blind girl The answer was inaudible t
her, but then she heard the same pleasan
voice again, in tones that we're much faint
er, and had mournfu emphasis.
"Poor girl-poor girl had siste
who was blind"
A deep crimson flushed Stella's cheek
for she was ever sensitive on the subject o
her misfortune; but that sweet and com
passionate voice healed where it wounded.
AS she left the piano, the blind girl fel
her hand taken by that of stranger, and
gentle Suffer me to lead YOU" fell on he
ear, in the same voice to which she had lis
tened before. Ere they could find Mr.
Brandreth, the stranger had time to ask ant
claim pardon, as countryman, for thus ad
dressing one unknown and by declarin.
his name, and speaking of some mutua
friends, he won upon even the reserved faith
err All that evening, Philip Armytage sa
by the side of the blind girl, who felt he
voice in that far land. As his was so sweet
and when he spoke to her, had such pity
ing softness, as if he thought of the siste
he had mentioned. No wonder that whe
sleep came over poor Stella's dimmed eyes
that voice haunted her in her dreams.
Philip Armytage was that darling hero c
novelists, that Parah of real life-a poo
gentleman. Heir to an old uncle, VIII
woud marry and thwart the hopes of tn
nephew he had educated with all the luXu
ries and expectations of wealth, young Al
mytage, at twenty-five, =. was thrown like
stray sea-weed on the ocean of the world
with manners, mind, and education that on
ly made him feel more keenly his change
position. He experienced to the full hoy
differently the world looks on a baronet'
heir and a nobleman's secretary even tn
fine gentlemany bearing and richly-giite
mind, which could not be taken away fror
him, were almost thought to add to the cal
egory of his imperfeciions now.
Under the influence of these changed fol
tunes, Philip Armytage ought, in order
become true novel hero, to have grow
cold, sarcastic, naughty, misanthropic; bu
he very wisely did no such thing. A goo
mother-the guardian angel of boys lii
} had better trained her fatherless and onl
son. Philips mind and principles were to
well regulated for one blast of misfortun
to wither the flowers, and cause ill weeds I
spring up rampant in the garden of his hear
/, That heart was disappointed, but not chile
or soured he did not scorn or rail at tn
world, but stroye, like true hero, to BRAY
its irowns, and wait patiently until his ow
firm will and endurance should earn for hiI
what fortune had denied. Philip Armytag
was not perfect-who on earth ever was 2
but his foibles never amounted to vices !;
and, young as he was, he had learned Wi
DOM and babe fair TO become If he were M