Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-02-08

not allude to the distressing and melancholy
theme; and having thus interdicted the onlv
things which really occupied all their thoughts
the natural consequence was that silent contem-
patlon took the place of dismal discourse; and
they separated long before midnight.
Some fifteen years had now gided away since
the fate of Rowland, and the ten remained bnt
the stealing hand of time had written supdrv
changes in most legbe characters. Raven locks
had become grizzled, two or three heads had not
as many locks altogether as may be reckoned in
walk of halfa mile along the Regents canal
one was actually covered with brown wig, the
crows feet were visible in the corner of the eve
goodold port and warm madeira carried it against
hook, claret, and red burgundy, and champagne,
stews, hashes, and ragouts grew into favor
crusts were rarely called for to relish the cheese
after dinner-conversation grew less boisterous,
&C. fsn, ~ the vas "oatics and the state of
pologies were made for coming in thick SHOES
and war stockings-the doors and windows were
most carefully provide with list and sand bags
the fire more in request-and quiet game of
whist filled up the hours that were wont to be
devoted to drinking, singing, and riotous merri-
ment. The rubbers, a cup of coffee, and at home
by II o'clock, was the usual cry, when the fifth
or sixth glass had gone round after the removal
of the cloth. At parting, too, there was long
ceremony in the hall, buttoning up great coats,
tying on wooden comforters, fixing silk llandker-
chiefs over the mouth and up to the ears, and
grasping sturdy walking canes to support un.
steady feet.
Their fifteth anniversary came, and death had
indeed been busy.
Four little old men of withered appearance
and decripit walk, with cracked voices, and dim
rayless eyes, sat down by the mercy of heaven,
las they themselves tremulously declared,) to
celebrate for the fifteth time, the first day Of the
year, to observe the frolic compact which, half a
century before they had entered into at the Star
and Garter at Richmond, Eight were in their
graves The four that remained stood upon its
confines. Yet they chirped cheerfully over their
glass, though they could scarcely carry it 10 their
lips, if more than half full and cracked theil
jokes, though they articulated their words with
difficulty, and heard each other with still greater
difficulty; mumbled, they chartered, they
laughed if a sort of strange wheeling might be
called laugh; and when the wine sent theil
lli ~ in warmer pulses through their veins
d of the past as if it were but yester
ad slipped by theul-and of the future
Fere busy century that lay before
wThey were Just the number for quiet rub
a Der of whist and for three successive years the
sat down to one. The fourth came, aud the
= their rubber was played with an open dummy
aAr and whial- .ses no longer pToct,cahle tw
: the game. But it was little more than mocker
of play. Their palsied hands could hardly hell
t or their faded sight distinguish their cards, Will
c their torpid faculties made them dose each dea
e At length came the last dinner, and the SUI
n vivor of the twelve, upon whose head four scor
y and ten winters had showercd their snow, ate h
Is solitary meal. 1t so CHANGED that it was in h
a own house, and at his table, they celebrated tt
b first In his cellar, too, had remained for fit!
1t eight years the bottle they had uncorcked, IT
$, corcked, and which he was that day to uncorc
e again. 1t stood beside him; with feeble al
lie reluctant grasp he took the frail memorial of
:; Youthful vow, and for moment memory wi
nj faithful to her office. She threw open her lol
y vista of buried years and his heart trave
re through them ALL Their lusty and blithsor
cd spring-their bright and fcrvid SUMMERTIME
ne ripe and temperate autumn-their chill but
too frozen winter. He saw, as in mirror, he
l' one by one the laughing companions OF the mi
"' ry hour at Richmond had dropped into eternl
He felt all the loneliness of his condition, I
0u lie had eschewed marriage and as he draine'
glass which he filled "to the memory OF the
g who were gone,'' The tears slowly trickled do
y the deep burrows of his aged face.
~ He had thus fulfilled one part of his VOW, a
u he prepared himself to discharge the other,
~ sitting the usual number of hours at his desol
~ table. With heavy heart he resigned him'
''' to the gloom of his own thoughts-a lethar
w sleep stole sver hm-his head fell upon his
8om-confused images crowded into his mi
'1' he babbIed by himseE-was silent--and wi
~ his servant entered the room, alarmed by nc
which he heard, he found his master stretcl
Is, upon the carpet at the foot Ofthe easy chair,
I"e out of which he had slipped in an apoplectlc
@'' He never spoke again, nor once opened his e1
~, though tho vital spark was not extinct till
Ivy following day. And this was the last dinner