The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-01-08
CHAPTER III.

No matter who Charles Sedley was, wheth-
or descended from heroes or statesmen, from
the proud arstocrat, reveling i'll all the pomp
of rlches, or from the poor and honest cit-
zen, whose daily toll along the rugged paths
of life, where the flowers seldom blossom,
and the way this side the grave is so often
choaked by weeds and brambles; if from the
first he might claim descent--their talents
and discretion were perhaps his inheritance,
for these he possessed; iffrom wealth, their
robes of riches mantled not his shoulders, for
poverty was his portion; iffrom the last, then
like them was he struggling through the
world.
From his earliest childhood Charles had
known but little save toll and hardship; yet a
cheerful heart and well balanced mind had
carried him bravely on through every diff
Guilty. In foreign land his father had died,
leaving poverty the sole inheritance ofbis
widow and infant boy. At the age of four
teen, Charles was appreDtced to kind hear
ted printer who allowed him to pursue I'M
checked his desire for reading and improving
the advantages which his situation afforded
him. 1t is too often the case that an hour
thus spent is considered by many who en-
ploy young lads as so much money stolen
from their pockets, even at those seasons
when they would otherwise be idle. Soon
after, worn out with trouble and disnppoint-
ment, Mrs. Sedly died. When Charles had
completed his apprenticeship, he formed the
resolution of turning country school master.
Living in the country he knew would be less
expensive than the city. The profits arising
from his labors would he thought, with prop
err economy, support him there, while during
his leisure hours he could pursue his studies,
which was his chief ambition. Repairing
then to Il lovely New England village, he
there made his first essay as a school master,
and soon became general favorite with both
parents and children. Here, too, he had the
good fortune 10 secure himself warm friend
in the person ofan eccentric old lady, whose
life he had preserved at the imminent peril
of his own. 1t was one mild day in early
spring, that the old lady set forth to visit n
neighbor, living on the opposite side of n
small river, flowing through one portion of
the town. As there had been several days of
warm weather previous, the usual passage
across the ice was considered unsafe; still the
old lady persisted there could be no danger,
and well cloaked and hooded, unhesitatingiy
proceeded on her route. She had reached
the centre of the stream, when there was n
sudden cracking, as the firing of numberless
rifles, n heaving motion, and instantly the
heaving mass gave way, precipitating the old
lady in the black gulf below. This accident
was witnessed by several persons on the bank,
YET iio oue uaTcu ~ venture 10 neT assistance,
rs OH all sides the ice was now rapidly break
ing up. Fortunately, Sedly Glanced at that
moment TO be passing; and learning what had
happened, unhesitatingly advanced upon the
treacberous footing. In moment he detect
ed the spot where the old lady had disnp-
peared, and boldly plunged in. With the
heavng mass above his head he struck out
in the dark waters to save the life of fellow
creature; and in Il few moments his humane
efforts were successful. Selling the poor old
lady, who in moment more could not have
been saved, he came up with her some rods
from the spot where he had first plunged in;
ropes were thrown from the shore, and in n
few moments Mr. Sedly and the senseless
burthen were rescued from their perilous
situation. From that hour the old lady re-
garded Sedly as something belonging to her.
She insisted upon his taking up his abode at
her house; and indeed so far did she carry