Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-11-29
From Chaml ers's journal.
Fortunes OF the Gardeners Daughter

Between Passy and Auteui were still TO be
seen, some few years ago. the remains Of what
had been gentleman residence. The resi-
dencc and tie 'ami'y to WI Om il had belonged
had both fallen during the first Revolution.
The EoIe ot once ma guiEcrnt tree, stag
headed, owing lo tie n'icIboring buildings
having burt the roots. was all the evidence that
rriaaacd Of a pa;,i but bits of old mos, gown
wail-Lrokcn steps that led to nothiug--ncads
and hca lcss Trunks Of statues that once
adj rned the edges Of what, now mash, had
formerly Loen piece o, orHa,;;antG water
title ihickc's of Stunted trees stopped in their
growth bv want OF carc-all hintcd Of what bad
been, although they could give no idea Of the
beauty which had once made Is uloinyiprs
the plde Of the ne ghborhood and it, po-ses~ur.
Such was the aspect OF the place recently :
but when the following anccdolc begins,
France was To- eS'ernal arp arancc PROSPEROUS,
and BuuiUiuvllicrs was still in its bloom.
A. cottage within the gate which entered
the grounds, lived the gardener and his wife,
They lad bcon long married, bad lost all their
children, ard were considered hy cvcrybodv
3taid elderly couple, wien. To tie Gstonishment
of all girl was bIrn. This precious plant.
the child ftheir old age, WAS tn delight e.
pecia'ly OF pierre's life lie brcathcd but in lii.
tie n .rc; and tended her with The utmost care
Altho' gh atl!rcd in the costume appropriate to
her station, her clothes were tf fine materials {;
every indulgence in their power was lavisheL
upon her, and every wish gratiicd, except the
very uetural one OF going outside the ground,
that was never permitted 10 her whom they
had dedicated to the blessed Virgin and detr,-
mined TO keep 'unSpotted from the world
Pie :. himself taught her to read very we'll
aud to write little CeciIon to KNIT sew. and
prepare the pot-Iu fen and rmp-cmrut she
easily found for herself She lived am lnu green
ltavcs and bio SONS she loved ,hem as 5 .,er ::
all her Thoughts turned towards the f1wers that
surrounded her on every side; they Were her
sole companions, and she never weared play.
ing " III them. An old lime, the branches of
which dropped round like tent, and where
| the bees sought honey as long as there was any
ngering on its swcety ordoruus branches wa,
her house, as she termed it large acorn
formed IA cotftcpot; lis cups, her cups, plates.
porringerS, and stucers. according to their size
and ntiness; and bits Of broken porcelain rub
bed bright, eulivened the knotted stump, which
serl C for shelves, chimney, and all water
lily was her marmte; tir-cuneS her COWS; a
large mushroom her tab,e, when mushrooms
were in season, at other times a bit of wool
covered 9Th green moss of wild sOrrel. Her
dolls even were made of tluwers-buucLes of
lilies and roses formed the faces, a bundle of
long beech prlngs the bodies and for hours
would she SIT rocking them, her Flow song
Ginning in with the drowsy hum Of the in
! sects.
! When grown Older, and become more al
venturous, she used 10 weave little boats from
rushes upon bits of cork, and freight them will
| flowers. These she launched on the lake
where the fresh air and fresh w4uer kept then
sometimes longer from fading than would have
Otherwise been their fate, during the hot DIR,
days Of July and August, on their native beds
Thus passed her happy childhood often AM
often she dreamed over il in alter-life, pleasing
herself with the fancy, that perhaps as Col
when he made sinlcss man in his own image
gave him gartcn as his home, 50 for thost
who entered INTO The joy Of our Lo,d a garder
might be prepared in heaven, sweeter far thar
even that Of Bou.pinyiiers-one where sul
never scorchcd, cold never pinched, flower
never faded, birds never del. The death of {
bird was tie greatest grief she had known,
cat the most ierocious animal she had as We
encountered. She attended the private chape
on Sundays and saints day. The day she mad
hpr first communion was The first Of her entrl
into the world and much distraction Of min
did The unwonted sight o! houses, shops, an
crowds OF people, cause TO our little reCluse
which served for reflection, conversations, an,
J curious questioning for many day after. o.
whtc-Palnted table with drawer there stou
II plasler-cast of the Virgin Mary, much ad
mired by its innocent namesake, and assoc:al
in her mind with praises and sugar.plums-fu
whenever she had been particularly y good sh
found some there for her 1t was her Office [
dast it with feather brush, supply water t
t the flowers amid which the little figure stoc
: and replace them with fresh ones when iadet
I, Whenever she was petu'ant, back scree
> was placed before the table, ard Marie was II,
suffered t. approach it. This was her onl
punishment: indeed The only ono she require