The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-10
CHAPTER III.


Some months previous to Governor Cranfeld's
arrival in the Province, young man, bearing the
name of Frederic Vane, had arrived at Ports
mouth, from the colony Of New York, with pri-
vatc letters of Importance for that gentleman
As the Governor was not expected to arrive until
October and the mansion chosen for his residence
was undergoing extensive alterations, the youth
took up his quarters at the principal inn. The
settlement suffered much from an epidemic fever
that season, and, among others, the landlord and
the young stranger were both seized with 1t. As
was then the custom, the minister and his family
were everywhere among the sufferers not only to
sympathize and advise, but to nip
Mr. Moody, seeing that both the patients could
not have the necessary care bestowed upon them
at the inn, had the young stranger removed to
his own house As was usual with the members
Of his profession at that time, he possessed con-
siderable knowledge of medicine, and aided by
the excellent nursing of Aunt Menta, to say moth
ing Of her wonderful sirups, prepared after a
receipt given to her saintcd mother by one OF the
BoIrchier family, and used in the family of the
Lord Protector himself, according to the good
dame together with the gentle ministry of Sybil,
what wonder, the crisis once passed. that the
youth grew rapidly convalescentl What won
der that the gentle stranger, patient In his ILL
ness, so eloquent in his gratitude, grew rapidly
dear to the minister's family =
Mr.. Moody was a scholar--a graduate Of one
Of Englands universities. The members Of his
flock were men Of sound sense and respectable
attanments, but they cared little for the classic
lore Of the schools therefore, the good man the
more -seeniy enjoyed this daiiy ipte-eoarse wish
a mind so val cultured 40 INGENIOUS, so full Of
noble aspirations as that Of his young friend aud
guest,
lila stranger in strange lnd-this was, as,
thank HeaveI, il ever has been with woman, suf-
fcient reason for the interest with which Aunt
Menta and Sybl watched over him But, as the
weeks went on, and the flush of health deepened
on his cheek and lit up his proud, dark eyes, was
it still only this that gave the sudden impetus to
the young blood Of the maiden at the scnnd OF
his step, and sent il blushing like rosy dawn
over neck and cheek whenever he stole upon her
unawares
Or, as he read, with his clear, low voice and dis
tnct enunciation, those works which hear fruit
for all time, the glorious essays of John Milton,
to the delighted old minister, was il mere graft
tude, and nothing more, that led him. at each d.
vine truth and sublime thought, to invariably
turn to her, as if he sought to gather from her
sweet face double harvest Of pleasure
SO they thought, and, perhaps, the whole expe-
rience Of life does not contain hours Of purer
more unalloyed happiness, than this unconscious
growth of love--this slow unfolding of the hearts
flower, ere Passion hath breathed upon its leaves
for fruition or decay.
But we cannot dream forever, and the hours
which lirger only In the presence of sorrow soon
brought the awakening
The business which had brought him to Ports
mouth, was arranged, and on the evening which
preceded his departure for England, Sybil and he
found themselves alone in the large old sitting
room Of the Parsonage The minister had been
suddenly called forth on some errand Of mercy
and Aunt Menta was still busy with her house.
hold labors in the kitchen. The night was darh
and clustering, but bright FIRE blased In the wide
Fireplace, giving a cheerful aspect to the room
near which sat Syhil gazing intently at the glow
ing embers, while Frederic Vane paced restless
ly the oaken floor.
The maiden started suddenly rs gust Of wind