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

"All are merry, all are happy, all are low
ed, IN this greg. city, but one unfortunate
=, Al }.-,,p,., ali gay AID !, with n spirit
loylag alt thlng7 beautiful longing for COM
partnership VITA the gentle and refined, with
the knowledge burning within that | might
adorn the circle of intelligence, so distant
from the sphere | move in, must live and
grieve, and die, in this pent-up atmosphere,
with no name in the worlds history, no
place in any mortal's memory?"
Oh the bitterness of that gifted mind
lhe crushing hopelessness of that lonely
lot Worse than the bed of languishing
was the sickness that filled the soul worse
than death, far worse, the GOODNESS that was
creeping over that rich heart
A young girl sat by the window of low
dwelling, i'll crowded street. She was
foreigner, with the dark rich beauty of her
Asrutnphant through the gloom of heavy
sadness which rested on her eloquent face.
She sat with her head dropping, and her
beautiful hands clasped-a picture of hope
lessness, lovely even in its coloring of abaE-
donment to the bitter hour.
Lonely and touching was that sorrowing
one; and when voice from bed in one
corner, of the room family called CORN
me-" the struggle she made to overcome the
oppression of her spirit, so she might an
swer the call composedy, gave her high
brow boiler charm, and made her seem, In
that poor dwelling, like the mortal type of
those who are the invisible agents of heav-
enlv mercy.
That was indeed an humble room--a We
ny humble room for genius and beauty to
make home of! No birds were there, no
flowers, no music from hearts or lips Sick
ness was there, and gloom old age, aud
fretfuIuess; shadows and signs The on
ly sunshine there, was the young girl, in her
patient care of her sick mother she never
complained of that The greatest shadow
on the hearth was that of an old man, sui
lenly brooding over by-gone days; an old
man, withered by the going out of fiery
youth, when.there was no other inner life,
to give charm and freshness to the aged
Throw. That shadow was ever on the hearth
her mothers wandering words ever in her
naIr Why wonder that the lonely girl gave
"A sometimes TO the bitter tide flooding
hs.~-neatt; that she pinned for sympathy, a.
weary aud fainting traveller i'll a strange
land
The morning upon which that sad sollo
NY was breathed, when the heart of the
spiritually-longing girl seemed weighed
down with a new heavlness, was New Yea
-" happy New Year !" and size had felt a
new how little she was cared for-how lit
lie the world possessed of gladness to her
as she heard the noisy greeting OF children
in the street, and saw the little gifts show
proudly around. She passed from childis
10y to. the proudly pleasure of older minds
rejoicing IN tokens of affection on this da
If festival; and, in her solitude and sadness
anvied all slnlessly the bessedness of thos
remembered by the loving.
Yes. it was New Years day in N. York
'Che air was clear and cold--the heavens i
a most favorable state for communication
the bright morning greeting of gay, genel
Gus Old Sol, to our fair Mother Earth. Th
streets of the famed Gotham rested from th
constant pressure of loaded drays upo
thersiony breasts, ,(forgive me that shout
make them SO cold hearted,) and the close
shutters of the "legion" merchants Q
Broadway gave silent notice, that your
clerks dealt with more animate things tn
day than measuring sticks and silks, al
not " at home" 10 never so anxious custor
ers.
All over the great city, creations lori
looked in their mirrors anxiously, and p
the finishing grace to whiskers. as careful
turned as lady's curl.