The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-03-13
MISCELLANY.
From Godcy's Lady, Book
JOHN THO N E.

vour emotions would be strangely monot-
onous were you moved by the exit of ev-
cry stranger.
And vet there were hearts 10 which
that news brought sorrow-there was one,
at least, that grieved deeply.
II ad it come ten years earlier, larger
circle would have been saddened, and the
news-prints would have scattered unstlnt>
ed eulogy of his promise. Now it is
simply noticed in brief line, Died,
June 10, a. Lima, S. A, JOHN THoRNE,
aged "a.
have, it may be, singular notions of
life. had known John from his seven~
teenth year. We were students together.
His career fell sadly short of the expec>
tations of his friends, but cannot per>
suade myself that his life was, in compar>
son with that of the mass of men, mis-,
spent. And yet no one thing that he pur
posed to accomplish, did he do. His soul
was one of high aims, and what was per-
haps singular, attainable aims. No one
of them did he reach.
But am wcarying you with moralities.
| sat down to write his obituary. A his
tory of little incident, perhaps, in all its
character commonplace. You know
how common things and incidents may be
colored with richer lights than even glo>
rify romance. The simple story would
tell, sacred in my eyes, and rich in deep
emotions, may derive all its attractions TO
me from my intimate acquaintance and
warm attachment to the subject.
But to my plain obituary.
John Thorne was native of Vermont.
The little village where his infancy and
= boyhood were nurtured, was a quiet, I'M
r assuming hamlet. His father was a law
yer. man Of considerable intelligence,
respectable in his profession, living com-
), lortably but frugal!y upon narrow in~
come. His mother belonged to family
somewhat decayed, but of the highest re-
:. spectability. She traced her line directly
TO one of the chief of those great men
who for nded the New England States
lie had served with distinction in the
Netherlands, and numbered Pym among
his friends.
Mrs. Thorne was an amiable. intelli.
gent woman. She was not given to
Boosting, but when occasion naturally in
Iroduced the subject, her faded check
would glow and her mild eve kindle, as
she spoke of the American founder of her
family.
John had brothers and sisters his elders,
men of talent, and interesting women,
who Low fill respectable stations in the
country.
He graduated at-College, at the age
of 81, with honor. He had pursued his
class studies thoroughly, and had extend
ed his researches into wide range of
various literature. After an interval of
four or five years, found him settled in
the practice of the law. in the thriving
village Of. N. Y. By the aid of some
slight patronage in the way of petty Off
ces, he was enabled for few years to
earn meagre support. He discovered,
however, in these years, what his friends
had earlier prophesied-he had no talent
at money-making.
His habits W re good. lie had no fash,
ionable vices, but he had inherited spe-
cies of faStidiousness that untitled him for
success in his profession, in the place and
circumstances into which he was thrown.
He avoided vulgar society. He had no
taste for vulgar conversation.
There was Difference in his manner, a
pains-taking notice Of those inferior TO
him in position, that gave him Il kind of
popuIarity-but the same manner to his
equals and superiors in position, while
it quoted envy and rivalry, detracted
from his influence. He came by degrees
to be looked upon as a man unsuited TO
lis place, who could not rise.
Such was his position when he COM
mitted great error He married. Yet
shrewder and colder man than he might
have been pardoned the error.
will not attempt description of his
wife. She was said to be beautiful
that was her least attraction. l knew OF
their attachment. saw how, day by day,
it engrcssed the whole soul of my friend.
| saw that the woman he loved apprecia>
ted his rare endowments. They married.
The wedding day was blessed to them by
the approval offriends, and the hest wish
es of large circle. Yet years after,
when he had known sorrow, and his hair
was streaked with grey, he told me it was
the saddest day of his life. That he saw.
as in glass, while the mirth and gladness
were at their full, the coming years of
sorrow
Thorne labored On in his profession;
but it would not support him. In despair
of success, he left ii and engaged in trade.
His habits of mind we're utterly unSuifed
to his new position, and bankruptcy came
heard of his misfortunes, aud fortu>
nately was able to visit hlm. The sher-
if had been before me, and with mind
sensitiyely alive to any stain UPON his
honor, he had surrendered everything,
even the furniture his wife had brought
into his house, and was the occupant. only
till the day of sale. This learned.
when l entered the village. l learned.