Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-05-24

The young lady was in the parlor before the
last words escaped her mothers lips and ia
moment more was deeply engaged in bew Itch
ing fiction.
CHAPTER III.
Ts thrs'tis ever thus, when hope has built at
bower,
Like tina; of Eden, wreathed about il every thore-
less flower,
To dwell therein securely the selfd, cevers trust,
A whirwind from the desert comes-and all is in
| the dust CAROLINE BowLES.
Catherine Grey, Eliza Ardwel, and Edith
Nelson, had been schholmates together, and al
though the latter had only entered two years
before the others left, and although she was
mere ch ld yet her sweet disposition, and loye-
y, though sad face, won the hearts of all her
-choonates, particularly that of Catherine
Grey. Both had wept over the graves of dear
parents; but while GATHERINGS loss had been
almost repaired by the love of an uncle who
took her to his own chlldless home, Edth's
young heart had known no friend since the
death of her mother. A very small fortune was
! left her, barely sufficient to educate her for a
teacher, and child of ten years she entered
Mrs.-'s seminary Evelyn, how
ever, became acquainted with the young girl
during the last year of her school lite, and won
the heart which had SO long felt the need OF
something to love so when Edith, at the aye
of seventeen, left school, it was only to become
the almost idolized wife of man in every res =
pect worthy of her. Evelyn took her 10 their
home-a little cottage in country town, with
tall trees overshadowing it, from whose branches
the birds sang all summer long. 1t was an
humble dwelling, for Evelyn was poor law
yer; but the young couple were contented, and
all in al! to each other.
Meanwhile, Eliz, Ardwe had married a
cousin of Walter Evelyn, an anable, but rather
weak-nnded man, who, Tor the sake of peace
allowed his wife to take her own course in
every respect. If she was conteIted aud happy,
| Mr. Wllloughby was satisfied and SO long as
she was caressed and tiattered, sh0 was happy
Catherine had also III trred in two years af
ter she left school, AMI passed three short years
OF u.ialloyed happiness, when her husband was
stricken down in his early manhood and she
was lett with one sQn--a widow. Not until
then did she learn submission to the will of
her Heavenly Faher-not until chastisement
was laid heavily upon her, could she love the
kind hand that bestowed il, AMI say through
bitter tears. Thy will be done Her whole
attention and care was now layished upon her
son. Loving him as deeply as heart like
hers only could love, she yet allowed nc feeling
VI iidteIud dllSCtIOu W Interfere WIFI HeT gov
eminent over him. His character was one
which required more than ordinary watchtul-
ness and care, and Mrs. Vaughan knew that il
she humored his caprces in his boyhocd, she
should lay up in store sorrow fo: his manhood,
and for her own old ago.
Walter Evelyn and his young wife, we have
said were all in all 10 each other Through
clouds and sun shine-.iR sorrow and in 10y
they had loved each other Only more and more
devotedly. But there were dark clouds gath
erlpg over their peaceful home, alas for their
bright dreams of the future In little more
than eight years from the time Of their marriage,
the angel OF Death came, and the loving hus-
band, and tender father, was taken from his wie
& only child, the little Edith, and laid in the quiet
grave. Mrs. Evelyn could not long survive the
loss. He had been the sturdy oak, and she the
f fragile vine, and now that her earthly support
was fallen, she had nothing left to cling TO-
She knew that lie who had promised TO be the
: widowss God, had also promised to be the Faith.
or of the fatherless, and that what lie had prom
ised He was faithful to fulfil so when she fell
that she must soon bid farewell to her child
and when her step grew more feeble, and the
hectic morc-1right on her wan cheek, she GALL
ed MIR. WioughSy, Who was the nearest rela-
tive to whom she could apply, aud committed
to his charge her darling Edith, and although
his wife was the last woman whom she would
have chosen as her protector, yet she endeavor.
ed to feel resigned to the path which had seem
ed marked out for her. And SO she died, and
was laid beside her husband in the churca-y yard
u - they we're not long divided
Mr.. Willoughby, faithful to his promise tc
! his dying cousin, took the little Edith home
and while he lived fulfilled to the best of hi.
: ability his duty to tho child. Still she had
learned even then, in the six months that elaps-
ed before his death, that there is no love like a
: mothers. The very first night that she passed
in her new home, she cried herself to sleep on
. her little bed for when she came and held ~
her face for good night kiss, Mrs. Willough hby
merely touched her lips to the pure upturneC
| broY. Oh, it was SO different from the warn
l embrace that had always been ready for her
; and the tender blessing that had always fallen
last upon her ear, before she closed her eyes tc
sieep' 1t was a hard cruel lesson for a chile
? OF eght years to learn. 1t was hard to have o.
the generous affectonate impulses of her warm
: young heart crushed and discouraged-still all
, this she could have borne, and easily, compar-
ed with the trials of the years WHICH succeeded
j Mr.. Willoughby's death. 1t was then, when
4 the grave was fairly closed over the body OF her
/. only protector, that Edith learned gradually but
j surely what was TO be her future position IN the
Iamlly' tasks were assigned I0r edCH udy,
r which as she grew older, were increased, until
, she became servant-nay mOre-a slave to
l Mrs. Wlllopghby, and the beautiful FLORENCE,
who was her senior, by only three short years.
S Indeed the eight happy years of Edith's life
, seemed as she grew older, but as bright long
T dream, 80 accustomed had she become tc harsh
8 words, aud blows. Her name too was called
D Jane, for Florence thought Edith too arstocrat-
! lc for q servant girl, while Mrs, WlllOuIhby
Y consented willingly TO the chSnge for it shield
ed her injustice from the eyesol the world.