Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-04-15
Select Gales.
From the Columbian Magazine for april.
MELINDA BUTTON
AND HER OLD RELATIONS
BY MISS MARTHA RUSSELL.


ConcIuded.
Not far from the Dudley farm, though on
more open road, lived Mr. Hatton, father OF
Tim Haton," the bankrupt merchant whom
aunt Eunce denounced daily, with inexhaustble
bitterness. 1t was shrewdly suspected that the
great linen stocking leg, in which her deposits
were kept, was minus two hundred dollars thr'o
Tins failure. However that might be, none OF
her acquaintance doubted her sincerity when she
declared, that she "ecn-a-most hated the whole
biIin of en-"
Melinda had occasionally seen the Hatton
girls at meeting, Their dress and manners in
tlmated that they made pretensions to fashion,
and were quite different from the families where
she was allowed to visit, She desired to be ac-
qualned with them, partly because she thought
she should like them, and partly from growing
desire to contradict aunt Eunice's commando
During the summer her wish was realized. She
accidentally met them at the village store, where
she somtlmes went with uncle Jonas. The
spruce clerk introduced them, and in very
short time had begun very ardent intimacy
They were delighted to add her to the list of
their acquaintance, and she very eagerly prom
ised to call on him. Their brothers wife. who
was staying with them, had formerly resided in
C-,and knew several families, some of whose
daughters had been Menda's schoolmates.
She had called on the lIattons several times
before aunt Eunce was aware of what had
occurred, Then followed scene of furious
reproaches and calling words about dependence,
on one side, and wiful, unAinch-ing determine
ton on the other. Henceforth Melinda was
utterly unmanageabe, and even uncle Jonas
began to view her character with serious appre
tensions.
1t might have been otherwise had aunt Eunice
Oeen guided by a more intelligent appreciation
OF the girls state of mind, or more largely fur
nlshed with the wisdom of winning souls But o
course, she herself could not be conscious o
this; therefore she felt that the blame all la,
with her niece, whom, she said, "a bad brngin!
up had completely spoiled As Winter CAM
on with its lionel sights and sounds, Mend
grew more unhappy and restless How sh,
longed to get away
One cold evening, as she sat modify watch
ing the fantastic pictures that stole over the
panes IN the heavy window easements each mo-
ment growing more distinct and hfe-like under
Inc magic hand OF that prmeyal artist, old Jack
Frost, she was startled by the merry ringing O
sleigh bells. Looking out, she saw sleigh
coming up the lane, 1t contained gentleman
whom she presently made out to be young
man by the mime Of Langley, whom she hat
known in C He was now a head clerI
IN wholesale store in Boston, Being on Wis
1t to some friends in the iage, he heard of Ne
lihdaS residence In D., and now called t
ask her to ride with him. She was delighte,
with this mark OF attention, for he was handsome
fashionable, agreeable, and conversant with al
the details of that life for which she pinned tina
lie, which IN the distance seemed more and NOR
enchantlng,as her present dull, daily routine gre,
dIsagreeabe and hateful She went with hin
and while he staid in D., he continued
visit her, and as he whed away the hours
her side, he soon read in her manner what II
man ever reads with Indifference
But this at first awoke in Henry Langley mott
ing but grat6ed vanity. Other feelings presen
y began to unite with this and guided by M
tVes which he did not stop to analyze, he wei
on to draw from her avowals of love, which 81
soon began to utter as if her whole soul was
them.
LangIey's visits greatly annoyed aunt Eunic
who partly from instinct, and partly from pref
dice, disllked him. But she did uot remonstra
wisely, nor even show any of the maternal wi
dom that is versed in all the mysteries of woma
mood Melinda refused to give up her acquai
lance with Langley, and began to meet him
"F'ull oft they met, as dawn and ,w;,;rh. ,,o.
In northern chimes; she full of gro,vSr d i,'w0'
As he of darkness,"-- 1'''