Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-05-09
VOLUME VII. NO. 10.

N N'u viii reward you for il -.
give my CONSENT be my son."
GustaVus covered the hands Of his ann, with
KISSES The invalid continued;
- Now, my dear Gustavus, have opo ro,,o..
to make, and it is that you should not Io,e anv
','ne IN having your marriage celebrated and
''a' iof many reason. First, shall die mora
oohteh'ed when know that have a kind and
Auectonate guardian for my daughter who in.
''cao Of the love which he cannot be expectod
10 nave Tor her, will provide for her with Iafhor,
ly care Then, if should die before Won ora
united, you might encounter many dificult,es
and---n
81 will not lose minute. But NV ami,
"ny mus speak continually of dying? told
you Yesterday and repeat now"
" men am not to die. Enough said on that
subject and do as bid YOU"
"Yesyes, l will. But would it not be pron,
er at least to consult my cousin?n
"Oh she will consent to anything without
knowing what is asked of her. Just see.-
Clara come near me, my daughter"
The idiot obeyed and her mother continued
"My child will you be married?"
"Yes mothcr," replied the poor creature.
"WilI you MARY your cousin;"
eyes mother"
"Wel, you will marry him. We hate lust
arranged the matter between our selves. Gus.
tavus and /"
Clara waited few minutes and perceiving
that her mother was no longer speaking to her,
she smiled and resumed her seat and her accus-
toned immobility
Gustavus Immediately took the necessary
measures to hasten the day of his marriage.
On the appointed day, the mother Of the bride
was at the last extremity, but as she retained
her senses to the last, she insisted upon the GER
emony being performed, notwithstanding her
precaFious situation, and they obeyed her.
Clara allowed herself to be clothed in her bril-
dial dress, without manifesting any surprise or
tcmoion, and did not even inquire what was GO
ing to be done with Ter. With feeble hand
her mother blessed her darling child, aad an old
friend of the family, who was to give her away,
having arrived the party repaired to church
where the ceremony was performed, and they
were united just at the moment when the moth
er was breathing her last.
Gustavus took his wife home with him, and
entrusted her to the care of an old widow, who
was henceforth to live with them. Clara ex-
ho. -
iis.- -t,rutsfng the
slightest observation, and noticing an armchair
by the window, she sat down and remained mo-
tionless.
After fulfilling the sad duties imposed upon
him by the death of his aunt. Gustavus devoted
himself entirely to the cares which the unfotu-
nate situation of his wife required. lie began
to study carefully the singular mind of his young
bride, to see if there were no means to rouse
her from the melancholy in which she had so
long been buried, and as it was evident to him
that this state did not proceed from any malfor-
nation which might render it rremidable, some
remedy, according to his conviction, ought to
exist the problem wasyet to be solved. He
observed, read and consulted all the ancient
masters he tried upon Clara many experiments
to which she patiently submitted, but all to no
success.
In the first days Of her marriage, the young
wife appeared uneasy, as if she was searching
for her mother, but seeing continually at her side
woman Of the same age, she looked upon her
as her mother, and gave her the name In short
she remained in the same state as before.
Convinced that it was the mind alone which
demanded his closest attention, Gustavus accom-
panied his wife to every place, where her stron-
gest emotions would be most likely to be excited
but neither the lveliest paintings nor the most
animated dramas had the least impression upon
her. She remained cold and insensible.
The young doctor was completely at a loss;
and almost discouraged, he determined TO leave
the future to its own results.
A few months rolled on, and Clara, in the
same state of idiotism, gave birth to an infant
When the child was placed by her side, she
received it with feeling which surprised all,
and pressed it to her bosom with inexpe.sible
transports of joy. During eight days which she
kept her bed, the young mother spoke no more
than usual, but all perceived by the unusual
briliancy of her eyes, and by the expression Of
her features that something extraordinary was
going on within her, and that the revolution so
anxously awaited by her husband was, if it had
not already, about to take place.
| When she had sufficiently recovered to leave
her apartment, no one recognized her. Her
countenance, although little worn, was radiant
with intelligence and happiness. Her carriage
was unsteady and full of nobleness, and every
gesture expressed a sentiment or thought
She at first spoke with hesitation and timidity,
but all those who listened 10 her, her husband
especially, were struck with the choice of ex-
preston and the beauty of her ideas Maternal
love had effected this glorious change!
The faculties till then sleeping within the
young IDIOT were suddenly awakened in the
breast of the young mother and frightened from
day to day. The past TO Clara, seemed dim
and obscure, but she remembered perfectly her
marriage and her mother. She inquired for her,
and when Gustavus Informed her, with The great.
est caution, that she was no more, she abandon
ed herself to most lively grief. He accompa-
MED her to the tomb Of her mother, where she
prayed with great fervor and shed many tears.
The lessons which so many years had proved
useless to the young idiot, now brought forth
their fruits. Various talents Appeared at the
same time and in the same degree as intelli.
gence and aensibility. She seated herself at
her desk and wrote in style full of naturaness
and grace.
She took her harp, and executed beautiful
music, her pencils, and sketched like an artist.
A. Il L L IL