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

the wind harp to the passing breeze--and
and as the melody of the water aud wild
bird found their way to his ear, his mood
changed to one Of human interest; and
then it was that he felt the vigorous pulsa-
tions Of his own heart, and how strong was
life within him; then arose that instructive
love of the latter, which we lose, perhaps,
never-or only when the tolls aud evils OF
the world have filled us with WEAKNESS and
! disgust, and its hollowness have made us,
God forgive us long in impotence of spir-
it, for the true and the eternal.
What wonder, then, that Blanch looked
upon the earth, beholding new beauty
therein that his own nature felt anew its
capacity for enjoyment, aud its terrible
counterpart for suffering What wonder
that his nerves recoilcd from the trial before
him, and he grasped at life as thing he
could not resign; he in the flush of youth
and vigor, with hope, and love, and honor
before him! Ay the last--honor--h
ground his teeth at the thought--a gorge
Gus bauble, understood only by few, and
graced always with the funeral garlands of
its victims Idle as it seemed to him now,
the world did its spell of power, and car
ried him beyond the momentary weakness ;
again he lost himself in the urgencies of
life-again he felt his own subordination to
the good of others
1t must be- he said, that the few will
be sacrificed to the many. The poor fell
lows who are fighting our battles die, and
are forgotten-what does it matter so long
as fair inheritance is preserved for the
many, who shall come after u.s.
He rode on in silence, as he thought, and
now became subject to one of those pecu-
liar operations OF the mind, by which it
carries on double process ofthinking, one
of which is distinct and tangible, and the
other a deeper under current, betraying the
secret reality of an engrosslng subject, the
first being the mere mechanical train of
thought by which we try to escape from the
latter.
,,,Ay but to die, to go we know not where;
This sensible warm emotion to become
kneaded clod-and the delighted SOUP
He turned sharply round, supposing some
one was repeating the passage, and shud-
dered to find himself alone. Again he rode
on, thinking as before, and again the start
ling language came back to his ear, and it
was not till his senses had tricked him in
this way several times, that he became fully
aware that the words proceeded from his
own lips.
Startled and ashamed he now fully rous-
ed himself. 1T must be that am con-
temptibe coward--a coward at heart, act
ing manluly only when upheld by the I'M
defined influence of others, but sinking
from peril when left to myself 1t is but
death that brave-death that must come
to all at some time, and what does it matter
whether we meet it on the battle field, in
the full companionship of blood and car
mage, or fall a solitary mark for the destroy
ern
Such were portion ofthe many thoughts
which stirred in the bosom of the youth as
he entered West Point. Here he was de-
| layed longer than he had anticipated, so
that the day was fast wearing when he again
| found himself on his route. He had not
proceeded many miles when he became a
ware of horseman somewhat in advance,
who kept the road he was travelling, but at
such distance he could not determine the
character of the stranger, though convin-
ced he was himself an object of scrutiny
At length, reaching part of the way where
the hills presented narrow de6le, open fol
miles in front, he put spurs to his horse anC
confronted the rider, who, astride of mis-
cradle, stumbling rosinante, could not com
pete with the better mounted Blanch.
He was thin, pale youth, ragged ant
barefoot, and having no saddle, the marve
was how he contrved to keep his sitting up
on the back of the animal at the pace il
which he moved. Indeed it would seem a.
if both horse and rider were at that precise
point of emaciation which establish an en-
tire mesmeric sympathy between them, thu
bones of the two mechanically swinging il
concert, and the yellow locks of the ont
tossing just as did the name of the other
: so that at distance they not unapty sug
gested the idea of the waving, shadowy out
line of the last of the Centaurs.
My poor Jamie = exclaimed Blanch, a
he drew near enough to see who il was. T.
his surprise the boy rode suddenly onwar
without reply urging his feet into the side
of the beast to increase his speed as if h
would avoid the speaker. Blanch hurrie
=, on, and looking in his face, found him i
tears. Alas it is for the beautiful to wee
and awaken sympathy in the human breast
and they do so conidng in their power, bu
the poor, the aged and the ugly turn asid
to screen the anguish of the heart, we
: knowing that the tenderness of response
not for them. Too truly they awaken BIT
. distressing pity, and we give them silence
u or the coincidence of the lips while tn
impulsve arm, and the answering tear,
the warm pressure of the hands is withho
den.
u My poor jamie what do you here, $
. far from the camp ? said Blauch.
u The boy sank his head into his bosom
u and the tears showered from his eyes, b'
n he was silent.
CHAPTER VI.
His simple love of duty and of right
1, Oneness of soul in action, thought nnd feeling;