Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-01-11


| knock startled her. 1t was strange sound
in that dull place, and Corinne FASTENED to
answer it, as speedily as if it had been the
voice of an angel visitant, whispering, Let
Hope in 2"
There was no angel visitor upon the
threshold as she opened the door but Hope
did come in. A gift was handed her--her,
the lonely, the uncared for 2 New Years
gift of a valuable Italian work, elegantly
bound, " A tribute from friend, who re-
spected talent and great fidelity" And the
note which accompanied t-hDw kind, how
iOUing full of warm interest in her histo-
ny, limiting at a present necessity ofthe wri-
ter's remaining unknown to her; but breath
ing throughout half-veiled passion like "a
lovers.
The old man had raised his head anxious
ly at the sight Of the unexpected package !;
but had bent it again with something like a
groan, as a richly ornamented book alone
repaid him for the effort. lie thought it
might be gold.
Oh it ,oos gold to one poor heart there
1t was voice from human soul--a bright
link thrown to her from the social chain,
binding her anew to the outer world. 1t
was CLEAN of light dancing through all
the dark chambers of her soul, giving her
new life even in that Westinghouse of Death.
1t was true that she had on that New Years
day lost all sympathy Of blood with the race
her mother sprung from-but the long chill
led current of her heart had been warmed,
and began to flow as the Youthful tide ever
should. The icy crust at the fountain-head
ofjoy gave way at the warm touch of friend
illness. Even her eye was moistened with
the sweet waters, SO refreshing to her thirs-
ty soul
And when she sat down by her mothers
bed again, she almost trembled at the pow
er new hope had over her ; she almost sad
dened again i'll believing she was cruel to
her mothers memory, in filling her place so
soon with new image.
But her parent had been dead TO her for
months and the joy of being thought Of,
loved, had been born to her since the sun
rose, We cannot wonder that the day of
festival did not end in such tears as it had
opened with.
Passionate, gifted, spiritual Corinne Giet-
IT, gave the rich treasure of her unshared
thoughts to the author of the earnest note
lying close to her heart; and that New
Years evening, by the departed, remained
forever clear in the young girls memory
when time and happiness had faded the im-
pressions of her other lonely hours.
My poor, poor Karl What gladness
can all this wealth and brightness give me,
when my only son, my darling boy, is losing
all his loveliness in the love of wine !"
Was there any cause for sorrow on this
New Years evening in the rich dwelling OF
) Peter Van Schenck Was the heart of q
/, millionaire troubled as one crushed by pow.
! erty?
Brilliant were the rooms, and gay the
meeting of young friends, in the mansion
of a father greving for his first-born. The
New Years tables were loaded with deli
> cate confections; the fanciful Chinese anC
antique stands were burdened with cost,
gifts; dazzling light fell all araund, ilumi.
mating curtalned recesses, rich in cunning
! bijouterie; and music was there with flow
! ers, smiles and their mother-Hope.
But ShaaOw was there; and although
the blaze of light might fall directly OF
that fathers brow, it could not take the
e shadow off And though the mothers eye
sparkIed sometimes at one JOY left, the ligh
! could no. put out the glimmering of tear
which trembled on the lashes, dropping oft
en- and heavily upon the cheek. And atho
: the sister shone agem of beauty beneath thu
: brilliant ray, it could not pierce the inne
' temple, where lay the ruins of strong allec
|, ton, and gid them joyfully.
u A son, an only SOMA brother, an onl
brother-with warm heart, and intellec
refined by students life, had given idol
= zing friends a taste of sorrow more bite
than that the death-call brings. For man
years young Karl Van Schenck had love,
the wine cup better than the peace of heart
and on this annual festival occasion ha,
ever returned at late hour, and with
= polluted brow, 10 his aristocratlc home.-
: The anxious ear of father mother and sis
ter had ever caught the well known SCUM,
. OF his uneven step, as it approached thei
= door, and listened, as it slowly, stumbIing
= passed over the stairs which led to the or
. ring ones ROOM The New Years nigh
I was sure TO bring the trembling form, tn
:, wandering eye; for the many calls durin,
: the exciting day brought many a draught q
= poison to Karl's lips.
. Oh away with this red snare of wine
which evil turks in, because it cannot lin
> ger amid the fruits and flowers which limo
:, cence loves SO well Let it no longer las
. clnate with its glowing eye and biting tongu
: the sons and brothers, who pass from hous
: to house with the New Years congratula
:. tons Let Natures unpolluted gifts, tn
- varied confectionery of ingenious Art, an
+, the cheering contents of the smoking urn
4 be enough of hospitality. without the luxu
n ry which mistaken generosity offers t
- easily excited lips
But what light stronger than the brigh
ii ness of that artificial day-what Joy create
s. than the youthful hope upon the faces of tn;
er gay company-has cast suddenly away tn
he shadow from the fathers brow-has quencl
I'd ed the tear in the mothers eye--has glide
of the ruins in the sisters hearth Nothin
IL more bright than tile presence of youn
man, who, presenting beautiful boquet
I'd Kate Van Schenck, kissed her cheek lo
i'd ingy.
/, II woc tho sOn-thn hrnthar HE n,