Litchfield enquirer., 1848-04-27
MlSGgLLAMY.
For he Litchfeld Enquirer.
THE YOUNG MANIAC,

| Deau nature was lOrce0 INTO SOmCtS
smile: and though the surly month of Feb
ruary had not gone, the torpidty of winter
| the sunny side of March. The children
in our quiet little village were seen sport
in 6ocks, and men relaxed their muscles
and moved slowly, as if to inhale more Of
the bland atmosphere and 10 enjoy more Of
the pleasant scene.
The village church bell struck. 1t was
an unvonted hour and TO every one pro-
claimed that death was nigh, yea, had al
ready invaded the peaceful Preside of some
neighbor. A country village hell peals
many dolorous tale. and is the signal
which awakens thousand sympathies.
e Some one is dead!" ''Who can it be p
Is Hark it tolls one, two, lhree-and-twe
ty six! Who can it be p" All! tits Mary
NJ. she is gone, poor girl, and who can
wish her back. What singular case -
And why should it be so?''
But who was Mary Mp The story is
short, but full of tender ami melancholy
interest.
Embedded among the green hills OF
Litchtieid County is a sweet lake, which,
when its placid bosom was rirpled by the In-
dian canoe, was called Waramaug. And
scarcely since has the woo lsman's axe and
devastating hand Of civilization invaded
the wildness and beauty of the scenery.
The same rocks frown on its surface
the same lofty hills are mirrowed in its
transparent waters. The thick green fol>
iage of its borders still bathe as gracefully
in its waves, and the wild laulels bloom as
beautiful as when the smoke of the red
mans hu, alone gave signs of human in
lrus ION into this lonely retreat of nature.
But the heroine Of our story had not her
abode exactly here. From the south point
CT this lake an outlet Of water makes its
way through dark rocky glen, aud then
over ragged country, struggling fJr mo
meats Iepose, till, after the length of a
mile, it becomes placid, sluggish stream.
threading its way through pretty valley:
spread out in rich and narrow plain on
eilhe. side. In this sequesiered vale,
adorned with a few pretty dwellings and
neat little church, lived the subject of my
story. Her mother was once the beauty
and the belle Of the town; and like many
beauties and bellies, her end had less of re-
nance than her beginning. She few high
as she has often been heard 10 say, 'and ii.
low Her domestic relations had been
embi,tered almost from the frs; and for
some years prior 70 the time Of which we
speak, the voluntary absence Of her unfeel-
ing husband had robbed her of the solace
not yet full.
A band of little ones cheered her o,her-
wise cherries dwelling; and you might
have observed among them one more beau<
,iful, blythe and rrecocious than the rest.
Her morning opened clear aud bland as
smiling May. The rose budded and begun
10 open in all its lovely fragrance. Pa
rental nope ranged high, and fondness chung
more and more tondly about the opening
flower. Her young mind begun 10 expand /;
the affections OF her young heart to open 70
the genial rays Of the Sun Of Righteousness,
and their fragrance went up as sweet in-
sence before The altar Of the upper sanctua>
~. There was the promise OF life, Of use
fulness--,he image of perfect womanhood,
the hope of celeStial crown.
But an early frost nipped that rosa
full eclipse darkened that sun before hall
its morning course was run. AT ten years
OF age The fair tabernacle of that soul fell
iulO decay, aud the poor inmate OF thai
tabernacle was crushed in the ruin. Fol
len long and joyless years she struggled
amidst a dilapidaled frame; reason Blu
poorly maintaining her balance; life en-
bitleIed by fearful forebodings of idiocy Of
raving del rum, which already gave bu
100 sure pre- mouiiions Of lis Savages.
The next six years were but the wretch
ed endurance of a poor maniac's bitleI
days. Vet amidst the thick darkness u
;hese gloomy years, .leamed up, ever aIe
anon, a few rays OF confused light fi"m he
sun which had so early set. Her love To-
her Bible. which in her worst rawlings sh'
would never give up-her love Of the sane
tuary, where she would not fail 10 he OF
Sabbath IL not foIcibly hindered-the OF
, REPETITION OF the hymns of her childhood
/ aud her rawlings for The peace and quiet o
domestic life, were all so many unobli'era.
led ves,iges Of her childhood's innocence
and hope.
But her days Of hope and joy and sani,'
we're never to return. Her sun hsd SET, u
rise no more till the emancipated tenan
: should fee the dilapitated tabernacle and b
. free in the world Of spirits. She died I'm
: der the same cloud-and who could mour
ne