Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-03-01

spirt-hers was, indeed soft, redeeming
presence in that hard family circle" a
light in dark place )" and her frank and
unworldly countenance sight of gladness
aud relreshmeut there.
At length, and not far distant from the
time of the greatest exutation and rejoicing,
a terrible change came " DER the spirit of
the dream" of speculators-or rather there
was a sudden and sad awakening of thou
sands as from fairy dream of eXhaustless
wealth, to find themselves beggars. Among
those utterly and irretrieyaby ruined was
William Mason, a man much respected and
beloved in W. He was a man of NOR
al worth, great kindness of heart, gentle
man and scholar He unfortunately pos
sessed a sanguine aud adventurous spirit,
and was thus led to stake his moderate for
tune on one fatal die, and lost all. Unusu-
al sympathy was felt for him in his misi0r-
tune for his own sake, and the sakes of his
interesting wife and family of children
Mrs. Mason, though great beauty and
belle at the time of her marriage, had prov
cd perfect wife and mother, and a most
energetic and admirable housekeeper; but
she was now a wasted aud feeble invalid in
slow decline, it was feared. Her oldest
son, George, a lad of sixteen, was youth
of glorious promise. ] would that | could
present him to my reader as lie appeared to
those who knew him well at that period of
his life. Beautiful as the old sculptors
would have repr. scented Hylas, the beloved
friend of Hercules-ardent, frank, truthful,
brave, yet modest and sensitive as a girl, he
was the light, and pride, and hope of his
home, while winning unconscously the adj
miration of all who looked upon his fine
glowing face, and tall symmetrical FORM
Julia, his sister, two years older than him
self, was most alfectionate, yet strong
hearted girl-plain in person, but beautiful
in splrlt-careful, staid, and industrious be-
You'd her yelrs-growing up to take her
mothers place motherly-souled creature
already, and a neat and prudent housekeep.
err Then there was Nellie, pretty child
of nine years, and Theodore, or Dory, a
merry boy of six years, laughing on all oc-
casions, and on the very best terms with all
the world and last, there was Fanny, a
chubby little threc-ycar-old-th pet and
the baby.
A year or two before their pecuniary re-
verses came upon them, Mr.. and Mrs. Ma
son had lost their oldest daughter, lovely
young woman, an angel of goodness aud
gentleness. She had died of consumption.
They had also buried Il noble boy, the twin
of Nellie. SO they were not unused to sor.
row, and rebelled not with unchastened
| hearts against " the wholesome discipline oil
pain"
William Mason was man of sterling in
tegri'v He was now filed witlA regret fo
the folly of which he had been guilty, bu
he did not seek to evade the consequence =
to preserve his own interests, aud ALLOW
others to suffer for him. He gave mp hi
entire property to his creditors, reservin.
only, by their consent, sufficient of hi
household goods to furnish plainly small
cottage which he rented for his family a
l., small town about ten miles from
W.
Soon after establishing his family in thei
humble home, Mr.. Mason obtained for him
self mercantile agency, which would com
pei him to travel through the Western
States, and be long absent but it was tn
best he could do.
Before leaving, however, he procured
situation for George, as clerk i'll MIR. llar
toms store, which he thought advantageous
for, though the lad would receive but a tri
fling salary, he might there obtain a thor
ough misunderstanding, and a good know
edge of trade.
The reception Of the new inmate into tn
domestic circle of her fathers family was
memorable event in the life of Caroline Hal
ton. With father entirely absorbed in hi
: numerous and complicated business rel;
tons, mother almost wholly given up t
the lrlvolites of fashion, and brothe
who only noticed her to annoy and troubl
, her with hit coarse witticlsms and senst
= less practical jokes, what wonder that ne
life broke around her with the Acquaintance
of that gifted and generous-heartcd yout
! that his ready and delicate sympathy wit
: her best and highest feelings-his respec
! full deierence-hs gentle and considerat
kindness, in time, bound her heart to hi
t Yes indssolubly bound her heart to hin
S mere child as she was, with strong, trut
/, nnselish love, OF which many woman
>, incapable.
, And George-removed for the first tin
, from his happy home, where the very a
+, mosphere of love had ever surrounded hi
C deprived of the intellectual companion
: ship of his mother and sister, what wondt
n that he contemplated with growing intere
: the fresh, truthful nature Of Caroline, an
was strengthened and comforted great
t with the morning greeting and evening col
!, versatlon OF the amiable and intelligent cir
e Had it not been for her, his lot would ha,
S been weary one; for Stephen Harton WI
y hard master, and more was often laid q
: the young clerk than he was well able
bear But he was a conscientious and an
e bilious boy, and though no word of appr
: baton or encouragement was ever spoke
+ to him, he hoped that he gave satisfactc
e to his employer.
e Soon after George Mason went to M
i Harton's James Alexander returned to &C
lege, giving many pledges of better beha
d Tor. His absence was an inexpressibe r.
l. lief to his poor vlctlmized sister, wi
e breathed more freely, and lived in the qu
e she loved.
It During the winter and spring thar folio,
b ed, George and Caroline became best
e friends, and, somehow, loved one anoth'
IS quite as well as though they had fully unde
n stood, from reading poetry and studyiu
IS metaphysics, the mysterious nature of ii
IS sentiment they cherished. To them it W;
l. no mystery to fathom, no folly of which