The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-01-30
MISCELLANY.
From the American Metropolitan Magazine
T II E J L r Y NJ A n
BY l. MARIA CHILD.

Peter Barker belonged 10 that numerous
class, who are neither better or worse Than
other men. Left an orphan in his infancy,
The paths of life we're rough and lonely at the
outset. He had a violent temper and good
heart. The first was often reused into ac>
ivity, and punished with energy kindred 10
lis own; the last remained almost undevel-
oped, for want of genial circumstances and
rcciprocaied affection. One softeping CLEAN
fell upon his early path, and he lovedit like
the sunshine, without comprehending The
great law Of att action that made it so very
pleasant When he attended school in the
winter months, he always walked lone with
little girl named Mary Williams. On the
playground heIvas with her, always ready
10 do battle with anybody who disoblged
her. Their comrads laughed, and called
him Mary's beau; and they blushed and felt
awkward though they had no idea what
counting meant. Things had arrived al
this state Of half-rerealed consciousness, he
being fourteen years old and Mary twelve,
when her friends removed TO the West, and
the warm, bright influence passed out Of his
life. He never rightly knew whether he was
in love with Mary,but years afterwards, when
people talked TO him about marrying he
thought ether, wondering where she was,
and whether she remembered him. When
he d. owe his COWS home from pasture, the
blackberry bushes on the way, brought up
visions OF his favorite schoeIaaate, with her
clean cape-bonnet thrown back, her glossy
brown haiz playing with the winds and her
innocent face smiling upon him with friendly
greeting. She was the best and preitiest
child ever saw" he often said 10 himself;
81 wonder whether she would be as pleas
an. now Sometimes he thought of going
10 the West and seeking her out But he
knew not where TO find her; his funds were
small. and his courage Tell at the thought.
.'Oh, il is many years ago since we were
children ogether.-Perhaps l should find
her married." Gradually this one ray of
poetry faded out of his soul, and all has
thoughts Tell into the common prosaic mould.
His lot was cast with rough people. who re-
CURED much work, and gave little sympe-
thy. The image of his little mate Hoated
farther and farther away, ard more and more
seldom her clear blue eyes smiled upon him
through The rainbow mis:s Of the past, or
fom the air-castles Of The future. In process
of time he married, after the same fashion
that a large proportion Of men do; because
il was convenient TO have wife. and there
was woman of good character in The neigh
borhcod arilling 10 marry whoever first offer
ed her a respectable home.-Her character
bore the stamp Of harmless mediocrliy She
was industrious and patient. but ignorant,
dull. and quietly obstinate. The neighbors
said she was well suited 10 him, he was so
rough and passionate: and in the main he
thought 81 himself though her ilIperturable
calmness sometimes ireted him as rock
chafes the flashing ocean into foam. The
child that was born to them they both loved
better thau they had ever loved; and ac-
cording to their light, they sincerely strove
to do their duty. His bodily wants were well
supplied, often TO the cost Of great WEAKNESS
and seif;sacri6ce; but their own rude tram
ing had given them few good ideas concern
ing the culture of an immortal soul. The IN
FAINT did more for them than they for him.
Angelic influences, unseen and unheard