Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-01-18
miscellaneous.
From the American Metropolitan Magazine.
THE JURYMAN.
A SKETCH.
BY L. MARIA CHILD.

Peter Barker belonged to that numerous
class, who are neither better nor worse than
other men. Left an orphan IN his infancy,
the paths of life were rough and lonely at
the outset. He had a violent temper and a |
good heart The first was often reused into
activity, and punished with energy kindred
to its Own; the last remained almost unde-
veloped, for want of genial circumstances
and reciprocated affection. One soilening
CLEAN fell uponahis early path, and he loved
it like the sunshine, without comprehend
ing the great law of attraction that made
it so very pleasant When he attended
school in the winter months, he always
walked home with little girl named Mary
Williams. On the playground he was with
her, always ready to do battle with any body
who disoblged her. Their comrades laugh
cd, and called him Marys beau; and they
blushed and felt awkward, though they had
no idea what counting meant. Things had
arrived at this state of halfrevealed con-,
seriousness, 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 of her,
wondering where she was, and whether she
remembered him. When he drove his
cows home from pasture, the blackberry
bushes on the way brought up visions of his
favorite school-mate, with her clean cape
bonnet thrown back, her glossy brown hair
playing with the winds, and her innocent
face smiling upon him with friendly greet
inn &C She ,poc tho haet and rret,;aet Oh; 4
ever saw" he often said TO HIMSELF 81
wonder whether she would be as pleasant
now" Sometimes he thought of going to
the West and seeking her out. But he
knew not where to find her; his funds were
small and his courage fell at the thought
On, is many years ago since we were
children '0gether Perhaps should find
her married = Gradually this one ray OF
poetry faded out Of his soul, and all his
thoughts fell into the Common prosaic mould
His lot was cast with rough people, who re-
CURED much work, and gave little sympa
thy The image Of his little mate ioatec
farther and farther away, and more and more
seldom her clear blue eyes smiled upon him
through the ralnbow-mists of the past, OF
rom the air castles Of the future. In pro
Cess OF time he married, after the same fash
ION that large proportion of men do; be
cause 1t was convenient to have a wife, AM
there was woman of good character il
the nelghborhood, willing to marry whoeve
hrst ohere3 her a respectable home. He
character bore the stamp of harmless me
diocrity' She was industrious and patient
put ignorant dull, and quietly Obstinate
Inc neighbors said she was well suited t,
MN, lie was SO rough and passionate; ant
IN the main ne thought so himself; though
her mperturbable calmness sometimes fret
ted him as a rock chales the lashing ocear
into foam. The child that was born to then
they both loved better than they had eve
loved; and according to their light, the,
sincerely strove to do their duty. His bod
NY Wants were we'll supplied, often at III,