Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-01-20

following out their plans, ana rarely eH-
pressing an opinion, as to the doings of
their neighbors. Mr.. Arnold came TO
the West with some property, although
he was hard working farmer and when
he was about to put up his log house, in
stead of calling the neighbors together,
and having a grand frolc, with plenty of
whiskey, at the raising, he quietly hired
the requisite number Of laborers, and had
his house ready for roofing before any
body knew the timbers were hewed.-
This caused many frown, and not a
little shaking Of 5he head, among the sa-
ges of the vicinity, who saw nothing but
pride, that objectionable sin of the
woods,--in this way of doing things.
Then Mrs. Arnold was i'll and far
from having her room thronged with the
wise women Of the neighborhood, trying
as many fumigations, draughts and 'yarb
drinks as would have sufficed to kill
nine well women, Mr.. Arnold stayed at
home from the field, day after day, APP
parently for no other purpose than to
stand guard at her door, letting nobody
in besides the doctor and nurse and
confronting the anxiety of the neighbors,
by assurances that Mrs. Arnold was do
ing very well. This was a deep offence
and though Mrs. Arnold had recovered,
so as to ride out before any body forgot
the sleight sufficiently 10 call to see her,
yet she expressed no surprise or sorrow,
but treated her visitors with her usual
quiet kindness.
After while the baby died and then
certain persons, who were invariably in
requisition on similar occasions, planned
among themselves some display of spirit
towards peple who had shown so little
regard to the customs Of the country
What was their surprise, to hear that the
family had chosen TO perform the last Of
fees for the little one with their own
hands, and that the grave had been made
on their own ground, and the interment
completed in the presence only of the
clergyman and few relations.
This seemed the climax, and it was
long remembered. But the Arnolds went
on prosperously showing a kind inter-
est at all proper opportunities, and ma
king the worthier neighbors like them
whether they would or no. The reserve
which had been set down TO pride and
i'll will, came to be considered only odd
ity and at the period when the we'd
ding took place, of which we began tc
tell, nobody in the whole town was more
popular than the Arnold family. Per-
haps the growing up of sweet, comely
daug hter in the family was an unrecog
nized element of harmony, between the
Arnolds and those about them A young
woman who is lovely, both in person ano
character, is irresistible every where
She is the light of her fathers house
the ornament Of society, and the point
at which the admiration, interest and af
lection of those about her naturally con.
centrate. She is in the social circle, wha
the moss rose is in the garden-of the
same general nature with the rest, blu
half yelled, fresh and delicate in he
modesty and retiringness, out-shining al
others-the emblem of sweet reserve
and innocent pleasure. Our friends, the
Arnolds, possessed such a treasure, ant
they priced her as she deserved. They
required of her all womanly duty; blu
she had been carefully instructed, anc
watched over with an intelligent care
which, while it did not interfere with thu
exercise Of her own Judgment, guarded
her against all the coarseness but too riff
in that region.
The fair Lois had long been consider
ed ION the ience' between two lovers
and, as usual, the affair, though it Nigh
be supposed matter to interest onl
those Immediately concerned, becam
the especial business of everybody in tn
neighborhood. Whenever poor Loi
walked out, she would encounter pryin
eyes at every window and door, on tn
watch TO discover whom she might NEE
and what direction might be given I
her steps. If she turned down the Ian
that led to old Mr.. Gillett's, the worl
became sure that Frank Gillett was tn
, happy man if, on the contrary, she keI
straight onward to the village, it VIZ
to see the handsome storekeeper, Sal
Brayton, who had long visited at Mr.. Al
nold's ON Sunday evenings, and was d
posed TO extend his siltings further in,
, the night than had been the custom
that sober mansion. 1t was recorded
Sam, that he always sat, in pretende
Inconsistencies of the ateness OF Il
| hour, until Mrs. Arnold had put up h,
, knitting with a very audible yawn, ar
: Mr.. Arnold had brought in huge sho
y ell and pail of water, in preparation Fl
; covering up the fire. Miss Lois, at Il
same time, becoming very taciturn, ar
s returning only monosyllabic replies
s the sallies of her admirer, he was obi
: ed TO beat retreat---a monument OF Il
S power of passive resistance.
o Frank Gilett, on the contrary, had n
J, patience for this sort of blockade. +
}, waylaid Lois sometimes as she was r
= turning from her Uncle Dyer's on hors
= back or dashed in on some pretend,
IS errand, in the middle of the forenoo
Il 4