Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-01-13

pent of and Abba, if you do not wish to make me
wretched you will return to US better, mllaer'
and more thoughtful girl
That night Abby reflected more seriously than
she had ever done in her life before. Her fathers
words, rendered more impressive by the look anu
tone with which they were delivered, had sunk
into her heart as words of his had never done he
fore. She had been surprised ut his ready acqul-
pscenCe in her wishes, but ii had now new mean
ing. She felt that she was about TO he aDahdoneu
to herself because her parents despared OF beih6
able do any thing for her, and thought her too
wild, reckless aud untamnbIe to be softened by
aught but the stern lessons of experience. VIII
surprise them, said she to herself: will show
them that have some reflections: aud alter come
home my father shall never ask me if THINK
Yes, know what their fears are, and ! VIII let
them see that can take care Of myself and as
good care as they have ever taken oil me. know
that have not done rs well as might have done,
but will begin nolC, and when return they shall
see that am a better miIder, and more thought
! tul girl. And the money which intended toI
spend in fine dresses shall he put into the bank:
will save it all, and my father shall see that can
earn money and take care of it too. 0 how diff
lerent | will be from what they think am, and
how very glad it will make my father and mother
to see that am not very bad after all!
New feelings and new ideas had begot new res
oIutiOns, and Ahby's dreams that N ght were of
smiles from her mother, and words from her ia
Their, such As she had never received deserved.
When she babe them farewell the next morning,
she said nothing Of the change which had taken
place in her views and feelings, for she felt
slight degree Of self distrust in her own firmness
Of purpose
Abby's self distru5t was commendabe and au
splcious: hut she had very prominent develop
ment in that Part Of the head where phrenoIoglals
locate the organ of frmness: and when she had
once determined upon thing, she usually went
thrOuoh with If Shn had resolved l.
sue Il Course entirely different from that which
was expected of her. and as different from the one
she had at first marked out for herself, This was
more difficult on account of her strong propensity
tOr dress, a love of which freely graIte1l by
her companions But when Judith Slater pressed
her to purchase this beautiful piece Of silk, or
that splendid piece Of muslin, her constant reply
was ono. have determined not to buy any such
things, and will keep my resolution"
Before she came to Lowell, she wondered In her
simplicity, how people could live where there was so
many stores and not spend all their money! apd 1t now
required all her frmness to resist being overcome by
the tempting display of beauties which met her eyes
whenever she promenaded the illuminated streets
was hard to walk by the millners shops with an IN
wagering step: and when she came to the confecton-
cries. che could not holp otopPng. Bot she did not
yield to the temptation; she did not spend her money
in them When she saw fine Strawberries, she said to
herself 81 can gather them in our own pasture next
year," when she looked upon the nice peaches. cher
ries and plums, which stood in tempting array behind
their chrysta barriers, she said again, Il will do with
out them This SUMMER and when apples, pears and
nuts offered to her for SALE she thought she would
eat none Of them till she went home. But she felt that
the only safe place for her earnings was the savings
bank and there they regularly deposited, that 1t
might be out of her power to indulge in momentary
whlms. She gratifed no feeling but newly awaken
ed desire for mental improvement, and spent her lei
sure hours in reading useful books
Abby'S year one OF perpetual selt-conest and
selfdenia; but it was by no means one of unmtgat-
ed misery The ruling desire Of years was not to be
conquered by the resolution of a moment but when the
contest over, there for her the triumph oil VIC
tory. If the battle sometimes desperate, there was
so much more merit in being conqueror One Sabbath
was spent in tears because Judith Slater did not wish
her to attend their meeting with such dowdy bonnet;
and another fellow-boarder thought that her gown
must have been made in ''the year one" The color
mounted to her cheeks and the lightning flashed from
her eyes when asked if she had ust come dolcn" and
she felt that she should be glad to be away from them
ALL when she heard their sly innuendoes about "bush-
whackers." Still she remained mistaken 1t is but
for year, said she to herself and the time and money
that my father thought should spend in folly, shall be
devoted to Il better purpose.
III
At the close of pleasant April day, Mr. Atkins sat
at his kitchen Preside, with Charley upon his knee.
"Wife," said he to Mrs Atkins, who was busily pre-
pairing the evening meal, sis it not year since Abby
) left homer"
"Why, husband let me think always clean up the
house thoroughly just before fast-day, and had not
r done it when Abby went away. remember speaking
to her about it, and telling her that it was wrong to
leave me at such busy time; and she said Mother
will be at home to do it all next year." Yes, it is
year, and should not be surprised if she should come
A this week."
"Perhaps she will not come at al said Mr.. Atkins,
with gloomy look; "she has written US but few let
ers and they have been very short and unsatisfactory
suppose she has enough to know that no news
f is better than bad news and having nothing pleasant
to tell about herself she thinks she will tell nothing
at all But if ever get her home again, will keep
her here. | assure you, her first year i'll Lowell shall
also be her last"
"Husband, told Won my fears, and if you had sci
up your authority, Abby would have been obliged tC
stay at home; but perhaps she is doing pretty WE'LL
You know she is not accustomed to writing and thai
, may account for the few and short letters have re-
, ceived but they have all, the shortest contained
the assurance that she would be at home at the close
Of the year."
pa the stage has stopped here" said little Charley
and he bounded from his fathers knee. The next mo
= ment tile room rang with the shout of "Abby has
Il come! Abby has GOMEZ" In a few moments more
she was in the midst of the joyful throng. Her fathe
pressed ncr mana IN SeHCe, anu IehS Suseu lTolH He
mothers eyes. Her brothers and sisters were clamor
Gus with delight all but little Charley, to whom ABBY
= was a stranger and who repelled with terror all he
overtures for better acquaintance. Her parents gaz
ed upon her with speechess pleasure, for they felt tina
change for the better had taken place in their onct
- hayward girl Yes, there she stood before them,
little taller and little thinner and when the flush
= emotion had faded away, perhaps little paler; bu
the eyes bright in their joyous radiance, and thu
smile of health and innocence playing around thu
e rosy lips. She carefully laid aside her new straw bon
" net with its plain trimming of light blue ribbon, ant
II her dark merno dress showed to the best advantage
n her neat, symmetrical FORM There was more delica
e cy of personal appearance than when she left then
and also sofness ofnanner for constant collision
rs with many young females had off the little as
y peres which had marked her conduct while at home
E. "Wsll, Abby, how many silk gowns have you got?
is said her father, she opened large new trunk,
y "Not one, father" said she, and she fixed her dar
eyes upon him with expression which told ALL
= "But here little books for the children, and
ID new calico dress for mother; and here is a nice bac
silk handkerchief for you to wear around your neck