Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-03-09
Select Gales.
THE STORY OF The COTTAGE.


bout Saratoga, we found one day a cottage,
whose appearance, under noble elm, and by
the side of brook whose pratng was forever
musical led me instantly to suppose il was worth
visiting; more especially as 1t was very Old, ana
had ahom it the look of the 18th century
took about a couple of hours the other day to
visit it, aud having made up my mind that it had
story connected with it, questioned the old
man whom fonnd in it so closely, that at
length gathered a tale Of the life Of man, that
thought worth repeating to the corERln atorc-
said, and which may be worth writing here.
The widow Johnson occupied that cottage
sixly-ive years ago, and with her lived son, a
noble boy Of fifteen, who was the pride Of the
country around None was so beloved as he
except his adopted sister Kate Harden. She
was indeed airy,-Iler golden hair seemed to
be akin to the winds on which it hoated SO free
ly, and her eyes had won their deep hue from
the sky into which She was so often gazing
why gazed she thus -? She had mother be-
yond the blue above her! A mother who dying
had left her to the care of Mrs johnson, and
until her voice failed, charged her to meet her
in heaven. Nay, after she had ceased to speak
she held her daughter to her breast with hel Jeff
arm, aud pointing up with her thin, white finger
smiled holy smile, and sought her home. Mrs.
Johnson was not rich in this worlds goods.
The few acres which she rented afforded mere
subsistence, and Kate and Edwin assisted her in
her abors. 1t was not strange that these two
children, when the one was sixteen and the other
seventeen should love one another.-Kate was
strange child. They said she talked with
those whom others could not see-and do not
doubt it.. | have no doubt she held high com
munon with her sainted mother At all events
her voice fell on her ear in dreams of day as
well as Of night, until she could no longer resist
its earnest call.
She faded One by one the bonds that held
her to her cottuge home were Iooscd one ny
one her gay girIsh affections were mastered and
suppressed, untiI one only remained, and then
she was ready.-Ihat one, love, was the might
lest of ALL She did not crush that, for she was
thoughtful enough to know that that might live
when death had passed; for there are affections
strong enough to reach from earth to heaven.
The morning of her departure came, with its
sweet spring flowers, and atmosphere laden with
the odors Of the country, All things seem to be
strangely solemn, The sun peered curiousIy in
at the lattice, and fell across the foot Of the bed
on which the slender form Of the dying girl lay,
'l0' ""u S"'g u'o0'Lo'ly /" It's ca9e' ana 'oe
very cat ny '''e ne"F'h looheu up ana seemed 10
feel that there was something sad going on.
The moment of agony at length came. She
had parted with all but him, and now she held
his hand between her two, and smiled on his face,
as p'Ie as he'S') ana spoke in 10" sweet tone
Oh all 'ne past ana Iu'uIe' lou Will mss me
WIG" you ~ "'e! '"e W" III tHe evening" Neu,
ana Tue zane WIN De lonely "iII 1t not ana
""Cn you 81 ao"n mere ny Tue !eaf'n VIII" NOM
e'' anu NY o"l'I Is empty you II mss me unen
lo"' o'o'ne'' loa SIT at l'e llDIe WIN hef ana
nave no o"1 at inc slde OIL II an" ieF voice
Of'Eeh ana 'aIh' as IL was leII TO lover Tone
as She conllnoeo' go out IN the twilight some
uil'eS' Neu' ana Sn uo"h ulu9F inc tre0 by lne
spring on '0e req seat III come there II !
can,
moment passed IN silence as he leaned over
o"aru 'cF tien suddenly throwing IeF arm q
rouo" ms neck She sad l love you, love you,
Ofo.nef Neo ana drawing ms head down. press
cd her Ups 10 ms; IN the last long KISS OF me-
anu lay'"9 Ills C"ceN close against nc'S SuliIeu
smile OF serene ahG Jo'luI nope, aud
hate was an angel
Is that all our story did yon ask Mot by
considerable, my dear friend There's more
love TO come YET what another love alter ms
PROMISED trust win ha'e on the green bank
yonder ny the spring Yes, another but moi
such one as you imagine Don't you suppose
that a man can love anythIn2 else but woman
year or two ms JUNIOR Remember that Ld
ward mas mother, and now be patient and Ii
tell what became OF her
Mrs johnson and Ned had lonely lille aite
they had LAID their darling Kate IN the grave
yard over by the churches at Milton; and a
msiortunes are sad to come IN crowds, SO Ii
their case mat very year the crops iaed' thu
COW dled' ana dozen other troubles followed
ana the result was thaI Mrs j. gave up the cot
tage and accepted the oiter OF home with