Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-01-21


A strong taste for reading, with a clear and
discriminating min united to character
scrupulously honorable aud upright had
invested him with dignity which seldom
attends those Of even very superior situa.
lion IN life. lie had had the good fortune.
too, Tor, rather. we ought 10 say, the good
sense,) to choose a woman ia every way
suited to his tastes and habits. We say
good sense, for he did not make the shape
OF her features. or the beauty Of her CON.
plexion, his guide in the selection, but the
purity Of her mind. the gentleness OF her
temper, aud the aiiectionaie warmth of her
heart and was fully satisfied with the face
that reflected these esliinable chirns.
though II could boast Of no other beauty. -
young and amiable woman, closely as
soclatcd with such man rs Henry Baker.
could not fail TO make rapid advances in
intellect aud refinement, and the admiring
husband had the happiness Of seeing all his
londest anticip itions realized, by having
secured 10 himself not only an industrious
and indicious helpmate, but a sensible and
intelligent companion. and. above ALL ten.
der and watchful mother for his children,
who trained them under that most powerful
Of teachers. example, aud taught them that
To be good was the only way to be happy
Nor was IL under the gentle influence Of
favorable circumstances alone that this
pralseworihy couple shone so conspicuous
ly, Tor sad aud bitter sorrow had visited
their dwelling. A malignant fever had car.
RED of their two iirst.born children-loye.
iy aud promising boys-bOih in one day,
and LEFT them chlldless aud desolaie
Bot Henry and Anna Biker were chris
tians in faith and practice. aud not in pro-
fession only. aud though their hearts were
deeply wounded, they mourned not as those
who have INT hope. hut mingled their prayers
for submission and resignation. with the
fasi-llowing tears Of bereavement and aiiiic-
lion. Their exemplary conduct on this, Ms
on all other occasions, excited the attention.
and eventually gained the warm esteem aud
friendship Of their rich aud highly culti-
waited neighbors, Mr. and Mrs Cranston, the
inhabitants Of the great house, as Mrs Hunt
or had called 1t, when giving way TO the
petty jealousy which this distinction had ex-
cited Asihis lady and gentleman were not
only rich, but judicious and sensible, they
he~itaied for some time about the propriety
Of gratifying their feelings. by cultiyaIing
an intimacy between themselves aud the
couple they 50 highly admired, lest by 50
doing they should make the now happy cot
tagers DISSATISFIED with tbeis own loi aud
perhaps lead them on 10 the foolish apd DO
sirnciive ambition vi aiming nj equality -
But they were soon convinced of the need.
lessness Of such fears. for they found the
mind of both husband and wife so strong
aud wellregula,ed, that they could look 10.
on The eleg lucies aud luxurles by which they
saw their pIlrons surrounded, not merely
without envy. but even with pleasure, as
| aifprding them m opportunity of observing
the beauties Of both nature aud art.
~ believe we are the best of fihe two"
said Henry, playlnly, in reply 10 some re-
mark that his neghbor, Mrs Hunter. had
made, and which hid betrayed her envy at
seeing others in possession Of what she
could NJ, obtain. "for we have the pleasure
81 seeing all their pretty things, without any
oi The trouble Of taking care Of Them"
Mrs Cranslon had been kind aud sym.
paihizing friend to the sorrowing parents
in their affi ciinn. and when little girl was
given to the bereayed mother, TO supply the
place Of the children she had lost, Tor ralh.
|
child was ever made to supply the place oil
another y the benevolent neighbor took al
most parents interest in the little stranger
Day aher day, she watched the develop.
Inent Of the embryo blossom, and when, rs
years increased, aud the child gave promise
of extraordinary loveliuess, Mrs Cranston,
} whose name had been given to il, in nc.
acknowledgement Of her kindness, exnlled al
most as much as the parents themselves, in
the surprising brlliancy of the Jewel thai
had been bestowed upon them. Mrs Gran
slon's only child had married and accom-.
! panied her husband to England few year:
aher Mary's birth, SO that the little girl wa;
| an unspeakable treasure IN the lonely moth
er, aud she spent many hours each day. ia
insirnciing her aud informing her infan
/ mind. 50 that by the time Mary had reach
ed the age nj which we have introduced he
: to our readers. her paironess had succeeded
} in procuring for herself most interesting
5 companion She had ever found her liitl'
fayorite remarkably apt scholar, but The
} new duty which the child now took upoI
herself Of being teacher as well as pupil
Z added in no small degree TO her diligence
and attention, and she never leii lessor
4; till she felt herself completely mistress of it
J that she might have no difficulty in impari
G ing il in her turn. This she continued II
6 do with great iaithlulness, till after she hal
n completed her tenth year. But now dill
U ficuliy arose in the mind other kind friend
o with respect TO the close intimacy which wa
+ produced by this course of instruction, he
tween Mary and her pupil. William sh'
+ had watched narrowly, and was coi'vince
that he was an amiable aud conscieniiou
4 boy, but still he was the son OF most unwoT
thy parents, whose indolent and dissolut
;. habits must ever be clog upon any effort
It that he might be disposed 10 make as b
a grew up, 10 put himself forward in life
y He had already reached the age Of thirteen
il without ever having been put TO any nsefu
n employment; nor did his parents seem I
n have any idea Of qualifying him for provt
e ing for himself Under these considers
n tons, she was convinced that ii would b
$, prudent to stop The constant intercourse b.
g tween her proiege and her pupil, and ha'
IS ing suggested her fears to Mary's parents
d and finding them entirely OF her way