Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-01-14


"Wi she be present in Affections hour?
Is it not then the enient hand of love
Proves its best Office? then the vrtuous wife
Shines in the full meridian of her truth,
And claims her part of SORROW"
Many years ago, on bright and laughing
morn in April, | left my paternal root with the
all buoyant feelings of one Just emerged from
childhood, and entering upon the duties Of more
mature age, intending to spend few months in
western Virginia with one whom, in my heart,
longed to see once more; hoping, that even that
might tend to alleviate some pang in an afflicted
bosom, To this day, every thing of which
took any notice, is stored away and haIIowed in
my recollection.
The season of the year referred to, is one
which is variable, perhaps more so in Virginia,
than in any other State, and yet there ls pleas
ing loneliness even in the change of the climate.
Sudden and unexpected, they like the smiles Of
one from whom you expect frown carry with
them all the exctements of pleasing variety,
and we forget the dlsagreeae frown of Winter in
the opening smiles of Spring. and in the glowing
brightness of Summer.
Spring scatters, with abundant profusion
much of It's FRESHNESS among the hills, dales and
forests of Virginia. At that season of the wear
the cIoudless sky-the dark, yet cheerful green
of the woods and meadow-the busy hum Of an.
mated nature-all tend to excite the deepest
emotions, and awaken the most imprisoned
feelings. Enough, it would seem, to enliven the
10 bu mic un1 a.,
hearts, chilled by Indifference, loneliness, and
neglect
Even habit, Old Habit, so powerful in it:
influence so hard to shake off, and so subversivt
of the best interests of society, cannot steal a
way all of that delight and admiration will
which we revel in the sofness and sweetness o
such season. But aasl How momentary the
charm to that individual, the avenues of who's,
heart are closed to every tender emotion TIT
sensibilities of whose nature are blunted AM
whose conscience, once tender, has become oh
durate and infexlble.
But as when standing amid the ruins of som,
noble ediice, you may look upon its totterinl
walls its falling columns and imagine what wa
once the beauty and grandeur Of that building
SO may you look upon that man whose sys
TEN has been paraIyzed by MEDITATION, and, az
you look, imagine what was once the glory o
his moral and intellectual constitution. little
while ago, the promise of greatness to ever
friend, and of usefulness to society-now BLASTED
suddenly, like the unfruitful fig tree under the
curse of God and there he stands withered-o
mor1 ia tbo livin lohr
of thousand hopes"
know no place, where the dangerous elfec
of custom and of habit are so fully exhibited, al
in my own native State But there is Contes
"a mighty struggle between habit and reform
and am happy to know that time, with its swl
rolling current, is fast sweeping away from he
beautiful escucheon this awful "stain Of deepes
dye" The Ebenezer of Temperance is sung
long and loud; and may it continue until ever,
cheerful hearth-stone echoes back the peasin!
rhapsody with which it has been ushered int
existence
After my departure from home, few day
travel brought me in sight Of that residence
upon which my young and restless spirit hal
been anxious to gaze, and where | could soo
find rest for my wearled limbs and faculties -
Need say that my eyes fell upon the house jus
after sunset Yes, it was the hour of twilight
OF all others, most lovely to me; is that hour, =
So sweet, so serene! How closely did watcl
the sun, as he heightened his shadow over the
meads, and gided with his departing rays tn
tops of the forest trees behind me-
moment or two, and was in the presenc
of one whom well knew and notwithstan din
the haggard look of Eliza Snead, the heart
welcome which she gave me, checred my heart
Behind that forced smile, there was deep
seated melancholy, as lasting as life itself M
heart was touched Eliza was widow.
Who, upon the eve Of the marriage of Henri
Snead and EIiza--, could have thought c
nought but happinessl Who, as they gazed UP
on the promising pair standing at the altar {
Hymen, sealing their oft repeated VOWS with tn
too oft forgotten 81 will" could have dreame
of domestic afflictionl There he stood cree
with all the manliness of youthful virility.-
There stood Eliza, too, the young, the admired
the lovely bride. Around that pure white bro
was entwined beautiful Aowret She recne
gently upon him, by whose side she stood, an
from whom she expected protection and succo
trembling beneath her bridal dress-whits an
unspotted-appropriat emblem of her own col
fdng, guileless heart. Her morning sky ha