Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-03-15

Yes, said she, wiping her eyes, and Fm
afraid the pudding is all cold now
Never mind; we'll bring our bowls to
the doorstep, and eat it in the SUM- And
side by side they set there, the boy and
scarcely younger girl-a lovely and loving
pair. Brother and sister seldom love so
well as they did, for they were almost ILL
solated in this world. Their home was on
lone hill side, and their parents were very
poor.
Lucy was trained up to the industry Of
honest poverty, but she knew nought of its
hardships, and little of its grief, till broth.
err Robin went away Robin continued in
his boyhood's resolve of a life on the
ocean wave He used to be whsting that
and other songs of the wild wave, as he
swung the axe by the open door; and Lu-
cy from her spinning wheel, would join her
mellow voice for a while. But when she
found how muchin earnest her brother was,
she had no heart for those songs, and the
tears would start to her eyes whenever she
caught the strain. Robin would look half
regrttfuIly on her, and hush his vocal pow
ers; but out of the abundance Of the heart
the mouth whisleth, al we'll as speaketh /;
and soon again all involuntary trill would
call up his sisters heart to the words, am
a sailor boy, my home is on the deep
One day they stood in the noon sunshine
beside the old well curb. Lucy had gone
to fill the pitcher for dinner, and Robin,
resting from his tolls in the fields, was lean.
ing thoughtfully there, and dropping pebbles
upon the clear surface. They we're older
than when we saw them last Lucy was a
slender girl of fourteen, with slight frame
dropping like an ozler twig; and Robin
was tall, sunburnt farmers boy He look
ed sorely dissatisfied, as he scowled upon
the autumn scenery around him. Nature
had been lavish of her colors there, and the
rich blending hues that flushed tree and
grove were most beautiful
whats the matter, Robin (? said his
sister, tenderly are you sick! 2
He shook his head. No; but, hang it,
Lucy he stamped his foot impaticntIy, Il
cannot stay here, TO be moped up all my
life
'Oh, don't say so, BROTHER replied she,
family; you know our good minister told
US, last Sunday, that the devil puts discon,
tented feelings in our hearts.
{ 1t is not all feelings, Lucy;' and he
earnestly raised his head. 1t is thoughts
and reasonable ones, that have, beside
Lucy! our father and mother have lived
here a long lifetime. They have been iu.
dustrous and patient; they have ploughed,
and planted, and spun, toiled in every way,
and grubbed for a living on these hard rough
hills; and what is their reward! A few
acres of worne-out land, an old tumble down
house; don't sigh, LUCY love home for
all its looks-but, Lucy, I'll tell you the
truth. They have hard work to make both
ends meet noW /; and what will it be when
they are both laid up with sickness and old
age? My arm is strong, sister; but it is
no stronger than my fathers was and what
have you and before us but Just such u
life--il possible, harder one, Lucy2 He
looked full into her eye tell you what,
something must be done, for our fathers
and mothers sake, as well as ours IL
saw any other way but that of going to sea
for few years, would give up my wish for
your sake. But now, as it is, want you,
darling, to promise, that you, at least, will
not oppose it any longer, Will your
But Lucy made no answer. She grasped
tightly in one trembling hand the pitcher
and pressed the other against her heart As
she leaned over the curb, it shook with her
sobs, and the hot tears rolled down fast in
to the cool spring. But the girl had al
ready woman's quick-hearted PERCEPTION
Robins words had given her clear insigh
into matters which she had vaguely dreamed
before, and she saw that their prospects
were, at best, very dark She did not know
but it might really be best for her to max
the sacrifice, for Robin togo; and her natiy
conscientousness strengthened her heart
She wiped her eyes at last, with an effor
at calmness: I'll think of what you say
, brother, and pray over it everynight; AM
, if it be that it must be so, if it is the bes
way-why, then, III try not to feel bad
That's my own brave Lucy. my ow
darling cried Robert trnmphantIy; an
kissing the girls very pale cheek, he snatch
ed up The full pitcher, and ran for the hous
followed by a sad step.
, From that hour, Lucy said nothing, bu
the mothers opposition was warm. 'Ol
f Robin that should live to see my bo
| tempting Providence in this kind Of way
, she replied to his train Of arguments, ON
evening; haven't you always had enoug
, to eat and to drink, and doesn't the ScriE
[ ture bid US take no thought for the morrow
And what good is to come of this notion {
} striking out ventersome path for YOU
n self"
v Plenty of good, I hope, for you and fail
& er, dear mother
| No, boy, there will come no good of
l you may depend-leaving your poor o.
S father alone in his tolls, and bringing dow
e your mothers heirs with sorrow to Il
Y grave
>; Oh, mother, don't, whispered Luc
It through her tears, and Robins cheek WI
= flushed to purple, as he looked up.
!. Mother, was it anything but Providenc
d as you call it, that cut off our wheat harve
:, this year, with all our care and pains w
+, it anything but providence that struck IL
l. old elm with tightening, and killed OF
= steers under it 7!
l. Would you rail at the Almighty, Ro
D ert
d No, mother; but believe the pro,
l. dence that did these will not frown on n
n for seeking, in another kind of way, Il
J. luck it will not give me in farming.
there's anything in Providence, and dor
h say but what there is, believe It's drvir
If me away to the seas, as fast as ever it car
and it's only you that are keeping me bach