The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-09-21
From Fp.er's Magazine
THE GOOD DAME BERTHA.

~
wild f. the soruw, and deep the woIl.
We were examining some quaint old pic
lures IN our chamber IN au old country inn,
when wc-came 10 one representing the good
Queen Bcrtha"-ridinG forth on her palfrey,
and knitting hy the way. The inscription he-
nrath notified this C,rt, and reminded me Of
namcsaLc of the royal lady who had also re-
ioiccd in the familiar appcllaton of good,
Nv Dame Bertha was two score and ten year
old when We were first known 10 each other
circumstances inducing friendship between
us. which led her 10 narratc the singular cN-
pcricncc of her life, Dame Bertha resided
in River Alill Cottage with her hali-brother,
Mr. Simon, the miller, who was rather more
than ten wears her junior. Imagine the low
rooted, gray-gablcd dwelling, the perfection
OF well oflorcd noalnrss, with its trinity kept
flower garden sloping down 10 tho wa'or-sidc
the sparkling, beautiful river dear 10 cycry
honest anglor's heart
loved the brimminr wave that swnm
Through quiet meadows round the mill
The sleepy pool above the dam,
The puul beneath " mover siill'
The meal sncia on The whiirncd floor
thU JiUrt ruuti ~ tlrT- 'isft'iitrr = i''is','.
The very air about the dunr
Made Jnisty with thc floating meat
The whole scene pcrqnGcd peace, plenty,
and contcntmcut nor was the pcrsoniiiration
false--thc sister and brother, with their meek
affection aud universal bencyolcucc, adding
TO it, tranquil charms.
Mr. Simon the miller, was n small, we'll
made tidy bachelor with clcan-shavtd'round
face, aud bright blue eyes very particular in
lis personal appointments, and in all the mi
nutim of life, was Simon, both relative to bu-
sincss or pleasure, The former namely, the
mill and its thriving trade, he inherited from
z trtirr-f lsla tha laiiGr GnnsiSied solely Of a
passion for piscatorial pursuits, cnRrossing all
spare time which Mr. Simon could give from
tho concerns of his mill. IIcucvcr read any
books save the Bible and Izaac Walton; and
there WAS a strong resemblance between that
worthy piscator and his humble disciple, IN
prti and singlcncss of heart, and also in
quaint manncrsms, seeming TO belong 10 a
former age, and making the comcly, middle
aged miller appear far more ancient per
sonagc than his two score years warranted.
And the good Dame Bcrtha-she, too erode
forth ON her palircy knitting 10y the wayN'
for her hands were never idle. She ordered
her humble household with perfect rcgulari-
IS. and taught the poor childrcn but to emu
mcratc the countless hose she manufactured
meanwhile were impossible. Teaching she
knitted; talking, she kuitied riding, she kit
ted; think she could have knitted sleeping
rs we'll; and the memory of the good dame
Bertha is ever assqciaicd in my mind with
that feminine and useful occupation. She
was a tall lady like woman far above her sta
ton, both in manners and appearance, mt
though she never aspircd to anything beyond
it. She impressed me with the idea Of one
whom early sorrow had caused to find refuge
in everlasting knitting, rs a kind Of C.edative
for her pleasant though serious con'-tenance
was prcmaturely aged and it was easy to dis.
Germ that she had not passed through life
. without thought or without care. Dame Bcr
tina and Mr. Simon were the children of thi
same mother by different fathers, Mr. Simor
as | have already said, being the deceased
mllprs son. ymcrc chance had learnee
that Dame Bertha's paternal, relatives were
OF class tar removed from that to which sh,
belonged; there was, indeed, both "blooc
and breeding" dscernibc about her, and il
after times, when | knew hbw devoted
daughter and sister she had proved, | though
the oPithet of good" well bestowed -.,
1t has often been affirmed that fiction stop
short of reality, and Dame Bcrthas rcminis
ccnccs most fully corroboratcd this truth; he
words nearly as can remember, ran thus
(she knitting all the while)
MY mother was IN orphan, and very younl
when she became nursery-govcrncss in no
blemau's family. The third son rcturne,
from sea---a Wild and thoughtless youth, bu
unfortunately too handsome and insinuatin,
- for my mother Ia withstand -lhe-p -persuaSinn
he uSedto induce. her to become his wife
They were married, and my ihther was N
outcasC from his family in coascqueaee,= Al
most the first thing can remember is my fa
young mother in hrr widows weeds, workiu.
at her needle, and weeping as she worl, al
We lived in a village few miles from hence
and lodged at a bakers, my mother support
ing herself and child 10y teaching any pupil
she might get Sorrow had dinlmucd he