Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-02-17
Select Gales.
From the Christian Waterman.
ALICE WESTON,
BY MRS. NJ. G. sLEEPER


her oosened tresses fifty dollar bill lay on
the table with which she intended to purchase a
winter bonnet and pelisse. 1t had been bestowed
that morning by her father, and she would have
noticed the reluctance with which it was granted
but that she was absorbed by the attempt to de-
eide whether certain Edgar Morris would pre-
fer pink or white hat. She was still busted
with the important question but in vain she ran
sacked her memory for some remark which might
furnish hint as to his taste. He never convers.
ed upon such topics, and carefully avoided com
mendng or condemning any style ofdress. The
longer she dwelt upon the subject the more per-
picked she became.
"Ah well" she said to herself, GIFTS Of little
use to sit here. must be guided by my COM
plexion. think will get white one with a
very rich white feather, and the smallest Of deli
cate flowers for the inside such as saw at Hay.
ITEMS"
So saying she finished dressing, glanced con.
temptuously at the last years bonnet as she put
it on, thrust the bill into heI purse, and took the
way to the principal shops. She was still balan-
cling the merits of silk and satin, pink and white,
when she was stopped by crowd of people who
were prevented from crossing the street by two
entangled carriages. Her father was standing
near, but he did not observe her for he was en-
gaged in conversation with his next door neigh.
Dor, Mr. Burton.
"Allow me" said the latter gentleman, Gas an
old friend to enquire the cause of your anxlou,
and harrassed look We were boys together on
the banks of the merrmac, yet, while remair
comparatively young, your eyes grow dim, YOU
hair whitens and on your brow are wrinkles
made by the unrest of perpetual struggle
cay, my good friend but my family is large
and our expenses great. For me who nheri
nothing toll is ordained"
"My income is scarcely the half of yours, ye
my hours of leisure are double those you allow
Yourself | have somewhat to spare, too, if you
capta'-and he heStated lest he might give of
fence
81 understand YOU" replied Mr.. Weston
"the offer you wished to make is generous, bu
such aid do not need. Step hither," and HI
pointed TO the arched entrance Of the church be
hind, "where we shall not be overheard"
Thus far Alice had listened with breathles
eagerness. She must hear all, Her fathe
might refuse her the communication he was d
bout to make. She thought, she had right t
know why he was thus growing old before hi
time, She followed the gentleman and stoo
unobserved beside them.
"The death of my wife," said Mr.. Weston
has impaired degree of sacredness to the sui
iect of which we have been speaking that ha
made me shrink from converslng upon it; BIT
your kindness to me and mine has given you
claim upon my confidence | married. as yo
know, the daugter of wealthy man, frall an
beautiful girl surrounded by every luxury TIL
money could procure | was in prosperous bu
mess. A few years Of economy would HAY
made me rich; but | was unwilling to propose
different style Of living from that to which 81
was accustomed. | struggled with every powc
bent every energy to the task of supplying Il
means of lavish and ostentatious expendtur
Day and night were alike consumed in the to
Even upon the Sabbath my spirit was in my cou
tlng-room. Had my wife been aware Of this 81
would have insisted upon retrenchmeut, but 81
had seen her father thus engrossed, thus Car
WOlli dhu olC lC lSttCu my ldOOilOuo ilO 40
necessity without suspectng whence that nect
sity arose. After her death determined to
duce our expenses. But my children have be
brought up in luxury They repined at sig
de6ciences-maginary wants. aud feared i
they might think me cold and stern"
"You have misjudged." said Mr.. Burton
"Though they murmur at triAes they will be
tive, vigorous, happy in great change. 1t
give them work for the heart, work for the he
work for the hands,
"Nay, my friend my lot is fixed. Be
toll for me, leisure for my family, | CAM
risk the loss of my only pleasure, that Of seei
smiling faces at my Preside"
The gentlemen parted, leaving Alice ov
whelmed by the discovery she had made Sic
ly she retraced her footsteps, forgetful of her
rand She re-entered her dressimg-room a
gazed regret(nlIy upon its luxurious appointing
Tney seemed to reproach her with the hours
ken from lfe's highest duties and battered
their perishabe spendor. She laid aside
purse thankful that its contents remained
touched then she looked long and steadily W
the new position in which she was so sudde
placed. Her needless disregard Of her fat
who had INDUCED her every caprice seemed
her little less than criminal. Her idle self
life spoke to her with hundred voices, and tn
was reproof in their tones. The retrospect
sautary though painful. From her very err
sprang the knowledge of right, and the true p
once found, her loving spirit prompted her
ward. She was certain of cooperation on
part of her family, and after surveying the tas
the habits and capacities Of each member dc
TO The pet'ed Eaie, the darling of the WHOLE
opened her desk and sketched the outline of
plan.
Her father left the same evening for New
to be absent for several weeks Alice Ionge
reveal to him her decision to ask his counsel
receive his sympathy but she doubted her
tried strength and preferred to make the ate
alone OF six domestcs she dismissed tn
As she determined to give up the superantie
the table the pastry-cook was no longer neec
while Charles and George proffered their SC
ces in Mace Of GRAND how Tha eaap,e,roes ~