Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-08-05


maiden, woman in the pride Of her loneliness; let
US now behold her as wife, no longer the idol Of
a lovers dream, but the sharer of his liteihe lUy
the comfort Of her husbands home We would vain
describe her, but the words float from our pen, and
glide away into poesy--into that sweetest picture Of
woman that ever dawned on poets brain Stella
was
"A creature moi too bright and good
For hunin natures daily food
For transient sorrows, simple wiles,
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smilesl
"A being breathing thoughtful breath;
traveller beiwIxi life and death
A perfect woman, nobly planned
To warn, TO comfort, and command
And yet spirit, still and bright,
Aud something of an angel light
Aner this, what can we say but that Philip Ar.
mytage had, ia truth, AN angel in the house.
Rare, very rare. are such in this world but we
have known some and others, doubtless have done
the same. Alas that while they were walking with
US we know them not, until they had spread their
invisible wings and flown to heaven!
The home of Philip Armytage was one in which
the world may see that poesy can haow daily life,
and that the glorious light Of genius is not incom
patible with the subdued, delicious glow Of the do
meslic fire side. OF talent is like beacon
SET hill, exposed to every wind of heaven, and
to the gaze Of innumerable eyes, eagerly watching
lest its light should be exinguished. IL it huter
for moment, like any other common fire.
up rises the cry Of a hundred voices aud hundred
hands are lifted to quench the unworthy beacon
God help the man of genius he walks through al
road that is full Of snares MORE aud deeper, for him
than for men Of less exalted minds and less sensi-
tive natures and all these set up rejoicing shout
If he only stumble. Yet it is not impossible to
tread the path in safety; many strive thus to work,
and all honor to those whose life proves that men
may glory at once in a lofty intellect and blame
less and pure heart Such an one approaches near.
est to that ideal Of humanity (which all shall,
lrusi one day attain-when mind and matter shall
no longer strive together. and we become only "a
| little lower than the angels
Philip Armyiage lived this life, man
! can do on earth lie brought the treasure OF his
lofty intellect to brighten his home he did not re-
nquish his profession, but he adorned it with the
refnemenis Of gifted mind He had none Of the
vagaries OF the poet he did not consider that gen.
MUS must necessarily be eccentric, and no one
would have thought that the clear headed, sensible
man whose courteous and winning Soonners were
the ornament Of the intellectual society which he
collected round him, in his well.ordered home, or
the gentle, affeconaie husband who read and talk.
ed cheerfuy 10 his wife, during the long winter
evenings, was the same high souled poet, whose
brilliant Imagination made his writings worshipped
by some, aud wondered at by others.
When the long, pleasant. summer days came
again. Philip and Stella took the wings OF the dove,
aud few away for time TO a home far down 10 the
country, the same where Siela's mourniul child
! hood had been spent, and which was nov left hall
} desolae in the absence OF its present owner, Ed
} mund Brandre,h. The happy wife OF Philip Army
thge trod, with her husband by her side, all these
forest walks where the lonely blind girl had once
wandered, aud the contrast made her. It possible
happier still. Life was TO the young pair an en-
chanied dream Of such deep Joy that ihe.E hearts
,rembed under the burthen like flo aers heavy witt
Z A - ,.... a. f,.l a. ka.r A.,
aud enjoy, TO the full oil that beautiful, anC
hearts that seemed as one in close and loyeinG
! union :; what had they more TO desrel Sometimes
: light shadow Of fear would fit over them-a sor
of vague doubt that night comes after day, 81
= grief ever follows happiness. But then love chase
the dim phantom away with its angel wings
II had been a long season of drought, so that tn
very grass was parched in the meadows, the bird
became almost mute and fled to the deepest shade
: of the vast forest Very grateful now was the THO
!, wood, whose yerdant recesses formed the only re
! lief from the insupporiable heat. Every evenin
q Stella and her husband took their pleasant randi
together, from twilight until the stars came out th
young wife added TO every beautiful sight and soun
by her deep sense of enjoyment, while Philips nc
:, bic mind invested all things with halo Of poes!
" so that TO walk with him was to walk with mag
. ician, who unveiled The inner life OF nature.
One eveningth they went out together as usual, bi
=, did not pass beyond the lawn, for twilight brougl
a with il the tokens Of a coming storm, Dark, vapl
~ frnged cumuli up DER the bed of the depar
~ ing orb, shutting out all the lovely purple and go
~ OF a September sunset, and growing thicker an
~ blacker until they reached mid heaven covering Il
N pale moon, that in her feeble age followed quick
n, after the fading light. heavy stiffness succeedt
a IA darkness that might be felt, expressing Dol
100 mind and body with dull weight
"a Let us go in, said Stella, as she leaned weari
~, upon her husbands arm see, the storm is comlr
he nearer there is a!aash.'
ad 1T is only summer lightning Philip answered.
nm But come, dear, we viii go within doors, and wal'
~, il from the window, it is so beautiful,
he They went in, and stood watching the storm.
Stella felt no fear, for her husband was beside he
She rested her head on his shoulder, and felt /
hi. arm encircle her. and thus they looked on the gal
en- erng Clouds aud the brilliant flashes Of sheet gl
ses ming that momently illuminated The whole HEAVIER
9Th aud made the dark woods bright and distinct
aw nj broad day light. Even when the heavy dro
of began to fall, and low rumbling of thunder "
,ay heard in the distance, they did not turn away,
los the minds of both we're Of too high order to
hes perence that weak sorrow which makes the feel
res shrink from that grandest and most beautiful sig
all "a thunderstorm at night.
md you aIe not afraid, my dearesP asked the b
ley band.
hal No. Philip, answered Stella 4 ike to walc
ere storm coming on. | feel a kind Of awful delig
10 as though we're drawn nearer TO heaven, and he
the voice Of God in the thunder. have no fe