Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-01-04
MOUNTAIN FREtlNIAN MONTPEIER VERMONT, 1919

< ever cries; "givel givew Little did hi
y dream that he was kindling still more
dangerous fire, that she was learning les
sons more mysterious than those he taught
: that as she read to him the glowing page
; OF Ivanhoe, and listened to his comments
"the book and teacher both were lover
purveyors." Little did she know this her
self; she only felt that she was happy, anC
this was enough for her young heart. She
watched the changes of his face until she
learned to read its emotions with woman's
accuracy, and she was troubled to sec thai
often an expression of pain and melancholy
overspread his countenance.
One bright evening, when the air was
redolent with springs first flowers, and all
things spoke of hope, they walked down to
the rivulet, and as they looked into its clear
shining waters, Jessie felt it was an emblem
OF the current of her own life; so quiet
so full of low music; she was aroused from
this reverie by the voice of her companion
who said, "Jessie, I have grown strono
now, thanks to your care, and to- morrow
muSL leave you.
"Leave US! Whyl" she exclaimed. and
her face turned very pale; the thought Of
separation seemed never to have crossed
her mind any more than if she had been in
Heaven; poor thing she had not lived
long in the world.
"Oh!" he replied, "there are manv rea-
sons why | should leave: Won know I could
not remain here always, my business de-
mands my presence. and-my wife expocts
me-"
At the mention of "his wife," had a
thunderbolt fallen at her feet she could not
have been more astounded; yet she only
turned slight shade the paler, and betray-
ed by no word or sign her agony--like the
Spartan boy she Rugged to her heart the
secret that was gnawing it out After a few
moments, she observed in tone of appa-
rent indifference, 81 am sorry you leave,
but if your wife expects you, you ought to
go; have you been long married."
eyes," he answered, while low sigh
escaped him, "several years; l was married
young"
"And your wife-describe her to me"
"She is very beautilul-but let me break
you this cluster of plumb-blossoms," and re.
turning to the house, they talked only Of
the blossoms.
That night Jessie retired to the little
room, or rather closet that was set aside fol
her use, and long and fervent was the pray
er she put up, interrupted by bursting sob'
and gushing tears, while she knelt BY
the side Of her bed, and buried her face il
its snowy covering; she arose serene, hav
ing, as had ever been her wont, committed
herself and her fate to Him who can never
err; and though she was sometimes tempt
ed to say-"why have I been made so tt
suffer-" she hushed it by repeating, "Hi
thoughts are not as my thoughts, nor Hi
ways as my ways; but as the Heavens arr
} higher than the earth, so are His thought
, and His ways higher than NINE"
The next morning their guest departed
and she said nothing to stay him, bidding
him farewell calmly, and expressing sue
wishes for his happiness as she might hav
! used for any other who had passed week
under the same roof.
He knew, although they were poor an
e humble, they would disdain to receive re
y compense for the trouble he had given then
, but he presented the old lady very hant
l some pocket Bible he had with him, and a
e he was leaving, he placed upon Jessie
; finger a ring containing a single damon
: of the frf water, hut of whose value sh
d was ignd ssnt saying, "J@ssie, you wi
+ wear this Swill you not, 10 remind you c
j, the many pleasant days l have spent wit
I you! Be a good girl, and may you be haE
py!" he added, as he kindly laid his han
upon her smooth brown hair.
And thus farewell was spoken, and as tn
young girl looked after him while he wenc
ed his way down through the valley an
, was lost in the distance, feeling of desc
lation fell upon her heart that she had neye
known before; that dream which had com
over her as soft and beautiful as the light O
alunar rainbow, faded away, and nothin
was left but the dull gray night; yet sh
was not one to yield to useless regrets; t
indulge in feelings which would lead to uu
happiness, if not to sin. Hers was tn
q principle SO happily expressed by our gifte
:, poet, to
}. "'Act act in the living present.
# Heart within and God o'erhead"
|, So with halfsuppressed sigh she turne
y into the house, and after TAKING the rinr nj
t and laying it away in little casket9fo
d she felt it would be dangerous to wear
IS then-she went about her daily duties, an
S, she was resigned if not consoled;" for i
t. the stern path Of rectitude is gathered thos
W flowers whose bloom is unfading whose hue
1t are immortal; which breathe to us the 4
RI vine aroma of Heaven.
" COnclNdsd nert gesk
Antt- 5louGrp.