Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-04-05

ent and agonized mood wrought upon the
sympathes of some kind heart, and word
of gentleness, tone ofbenevolence, warm
ed the spirit of the unhappy youth into graf.
itnde and affection to the giver. 1t was a
: singular fact that Jamie intuitively attached
himself only to the finest and nobest ma
lures. Unlike many in his situation, his
passions we're of the most amiable kind, no
sensuality or grimace belonged to him,
and thence he wore an expression of touch
ing melancholy most painful to the behold
err.
jamie had grown up amid the disorders
of the time, seeing men suffering and hum
CRY, dying by bloodshed, living in tents.
watchlul, laborious and insecure. and he
naturally thought this the common order of
society; that men we're created to march
and counter-march, and hew each other
down, rank and file. For many years he
had followed the movements of the army
because of his extreme attachment to the
person of Washington, but the gravity and
Iprcoccupation of the great man were OPP
presslve to one so constitutionally reveren-
tlal, and of late he had devoted himself to
Wendall Blanch, whose more youthful i'm
pulses gave relief to the faculties of the
poor boy. He was thin and pale, not so
much from neglect as the exhausting activ-
ity of mind always perplexed, and always
on the alert to do some good to the object
OF its affection. Being of Il harmless, tact
turn nature, he was allowed free range of
the quarters of the Commander-in-C Chief
and there is no doubt in this way secrets of
the utmost Importance to the country found
a lodgment in his brain, without detriment
to any one, for his movements were regula-
ted solely by his affections, and these, as
we have said, were devoted for the present
to Washington and Wendal Blanch.
The latter was now both perplexed and
surprised at the manner in which Jamie
seemed determined to avoid HIM, but sup
posing this arose simply from wish to be
with him, and fear that he should be sent
back, might be the cause of his present
emotion, he soothed him by expressions of
kindness, and patted his hand upon his
shoulder after the manner he would caress
a mute iavorite in the shape of horse or
hound. jamie grew more tranquil, and at
last refining in his horse beside his friend
looked into his face SO long and steadily that
Banch felt supersticious dread creep over
him, as if the stony eyes of u Fate were fix
ed upon his face.
Well jamie speak out, he at length
said, and knowing that the boy was unable
to arrange his thoughts into words while in
motion, he also came to a stand.
jamie twisted himself round upon his
horse and replied
want to take the papers down to Re-
mapo.'
Blanch grew alarmed to find the secret so
well known, and gave him an evasve an-
swer.
Jamie dismounted by the roadside and
gave his bride into the hands of Blanch,
then seating himself upon the ground he
pressed both hands upon his temples, as was
his custom when trying to make an unusu-
al mental effort. Blanch, annoyed as he
was, and impatient of delay, was obliged to
place himself behind him. when Jamie sud-
denly poured out the contents of his brain
without pause, lest he should lose the con-
nection of events.
Il was under the table, half asleep, when
heard w ashington plan to go to Y Yorktown,
instead of New York, and send you to be
robbed and shot at Ramapo. | heard the
whole, you are to lose the papers and be xii.
led, killed, dear Mr.. Blanch, and the crows
! to feed on you, and leave poor jamie with
cut friend Oh! oh oh Give me the
papers, am going down to tell them not te
, fire, or fthey do to kill jamie and not you
The whole light now broke upon the
mind of Blanch, and he saw at once through
the mystery of his mission. He was not lonl
arranging the threads of thought, regardless
of the tears of the devoted boy, till he wa
reused by his taking the bride again from
his hands.
, mo, no, Jamie, you must go back h,
you must go back. | am going to Morris
9 town.
y The boy looked earnestly at him ant
4 shook his head well, am glad Of that
8 | will go too
q mo, jamie, must go alone. When
come back to Newburg you shall have new
+, clothes and hat, and live with me. No,
n go and tell my mother | said she must TAX
! good care of poor jamie.
!, The boy looked at his ragged habiliment
q as if the thought of them were an unaccus
II toned one, and then laid his hand first uE
e on his head and then upon his heart.
n ooh Mr.. Blanch, it is here and her
, that feel pain, and when they kill you, il
q ME must die too
~ Blanch was affected at this simple dev'
l. ton, and urged him to return Finding Ell
treaties of no avail, he resorted to a NOR
10 peremptory tone, and directed him instan
y to go back and Tell Washington what h
had learned, tell him, jamie, all you hay
y, told me, and tell him all is WE'LL
" The boy looked more perplexed than e,
err, but turned slowly away in obedience
his friend and it was not till Blanch saw h
figure recede in the opposite direction thi
he felt safe in pursuing his route, and as |
did so, the lesson which he had Just lear
from this poor imperfect creature sank dec
ly into his breast. Here was being reac
VS. to lay down his life in the singeness of a
es lection for one who had fed his yearnI
h, soul with crumbs, as it were, that fell fro
e, the table Of human sympathy-but VIII
by grateful for the piltance, lavished all his ia
On ulties, and courted death itself as a retur
lie He felt Inundated before him, and -four
n himself a sadder, but higher toned man fro
n what he had been. The frolicksome, bea
ell tilul Katrina faded in the mstiness of ia
cy before his more manly perceptions, al
mt one by one the noble and true-hearted arc