Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-03-18
The old man groaned.

II am uraWn on tnat jury, you may
know what to expect We have always
been friends, but that does not hinder me
from speaking the truth to you. have been
to see Harry; he utters no disrespectful
word concerning you, but his feelings are
unchanged. / have been to see Andrew
Morriss daughter; she is in the deepest dis
tress, but she loves Harry as much as before
She had no hand whatever in this suit, and
deplores it from the bottom of her heart
Yes, as little as you have deserved from him,
Harry will not marry without your consent"
And once more the turbulent wind whrl-
ed dry sticks and leaves and sand against
the window.
The old man covered his face, and though
he longed to ask if it were indeed true what
his guest told him, he was ashamed of man
ifesting any interest in his son.
Peter De Ross-from my soul / pity
you Instead of sitting here in this great
lonesome house, alone and silent as the
grave, except the wind-your son and daugh-
ter-yes, daughter, might have been with
you, making this dismal room bright with
their presence, and striving to cheer the
darkness of threescore with the tales of the
one and the songs of the other. You've
heard Minnie Morris sing as old as am e,
it does me good to listen to her. Was there
ever more happy, industrious girl than she 2
She is not one to waste or neglect anything.
She has lived in humble life too long not to
know the value of money-the good it can
do. All, my friend she would bring sun
shine into your house she would wait on
you when well, and nurse you when sick, as
no one ever did. Peter, in your soul have
you never envied Andrew Morris his daugh-
ter ~
For the first time since he was a man,
tears burst from the listeners eyes. They
streamed through his fingers, and fell with
a strange CLEAN on the floor. In vain he
strove to conceal his excited feeings-the
good spirit had spoken in his heart, and
would not be silent. 1t was pitiful to hear
his sobbing, that hardened old man, as he
trembled and quailed before the simple truths
of his friend
" | have one thing more to say to YOU
what do you suppose is to become of your
son, if you cast him away? You have new
er shown him how to struggle with the
world; you have never suffered him to act
for himself; he has lived with you, and for
you. If he goes out among strangers and
wicked people, what surety have you that he
will not fall into temptation and ruin? His
blood be upon your head p'
"Spare me! spare me p groaned the old
landlord; bring my son back to mel
will do whatever you choose"
And again the wind, that had died away
in the distance, came back across the creek,
bringing with it the sound of the water, and
crept gently up the lawn and at the foot of
the trees, stirring the scattered leaves to a
tremulous music, and swaying the shrubs
around the door, but gently, lovingly. 1t
was no more the rude, boisterous wind
As the passions in the human heart had de-
parted, so had the strength of the gale, and
now it kept paintive signing through the
blinds
" will see my son once MORE" repeated
the old man. he may bring Minnie home
-but-but what will people say! Oh, |
cannot take back my wordW
And still the tears fell those strange,
bright tears, from eyes that were always so
stony and anguish and remorse shook that
cold, proud frame.
1t was nearly morning when Farmer Wright
departed, but he had gained his end. He
had saved Harry from despair-Minnie from
the dread and modification of public court,
and his friend from himself The blessing
of the peace-maker was upon him, and his
heart was light and happy
That very evening there was wedding
at the Morrises. Mrs. Morris was in an az
ony on account of the absence Of frosted
cake, and the indispensable lilac silk dress,
the nc Plus ultra of a country BRIDES trous-
Seau; but every one else was perfectly sat
isfed Two weeks after this important e.
vent, the whole neighborhood was electrified
by the announcement in the county news
paper, of the marriage of Mr. Henry De
Roos to Miss Marion Morris.
Never was there such a fever for visiting
and tea-drinking known as that which fol-
lowed this announcement. least dozen
calls and invitations We're showered upon
Mrs. Deming, who, delighted with this UNI
expected relief from the monotony OF her IL
sual life, repaid her friends condescension
by giving them all the information upon the
one great topic which she possessed said
information, barring sundry guesses and in
ferences, amounting precisely to-nothlng.
Great was the indignation of the LAWYER
cousin, who had already written out his clo-
sing speech and appeal to the jury, and, to
test its efficacy read it to his wife, who, in
turn, declared that it was the most NOV
INCEST thing she ever heard in her life"
There was a wonderful securing and suds-
ing and rubbing at the great house, prepar'
atory to the reception of its new mistress
and the papering, painting and refurnishing
of two or three rooms at the same time, told
of relaxation of the purse-strings unex-
pected at least.
And so Harry and Minnie went home ;
and they did not disappoint Farmer Wright
prediction, for sunshine came with them
and dwelt there, even in gloomy November
days; and Peter De Roos often thinks, though
he never tells it, that never, never has the
wind sounded so mournfuly in the chimney
and around the windows as on that memora-
BILE night. He is a very old man now, but
he grows kindlier and milder year by year,
and is never so happy as when his children.
the Morrises, and Farmer Wright are seated
around his hearth.
Correspondence of the New England Puritan.