Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-03-27

]
rebuilt.
/ Madelne's husband was n lawyer. Tho
Of noble birth he diu not think II beneath
him to marry the danginer Of a shopkeeper,
with but small doary. He found IN Mad
cline excellent qualities, her gentlcness and
/ beauty, irresistible attractions and who
that knew her could disapproye Of her
choice Madeline possessed, in an emf
nent degree, that natural refinement of
mind and manner which education aud a
knowledge of the world so often fail to give
while II seems intuitive in some. She de-
voted herself entirely to the happiness of
[ her husband and her four sons Her hus-
bands income was quite sufficient for all
the expenses Of this happy family; for a
a truly happy family it was, I'LL It pleased
God to lay heavy trial upon them. He fell
/ III, aud for a whole year was obliged to give
up the profits Of his situation to provide a
substitute; and he had scarcely begun, az
ter his recovery, to endeavor To repair the
losses he had suffered, when fresh mislor-
tune occurred.
One night, as Madeline was qnieny lying
( in bed, with her four little cubs around her,
she was awakened by an unusual noise to
behold the house wrapped in fumes, which
had already almost reached the room Ia
which they were At this moment the IA
ther appeared and took the eldest child in
his arms, while Madeline had charge Of the
two Youngest The flames cracked aud
Kissed around them, casting a livid hue
over the pale faces OF the father and moth
er, who boldly advanced through the fire.
With great difficulty they gained the starr
case. The father dashed brayey forward.
Nicholas, whom Madeline held by the hand
screamed violently, and refused to go a step
further. She caught him up in her arms ;
but during the short struggle The staircase
bad given way, and, for a few moments,
Madeline stood paraiN zed 10y despair. But
soon the imminent danger reused all the
energy of her heroic nature. She Immedi-
ately retraced her steps, and, firmly, knot
ting the bed clothes together. fastened her
two children TO them, and, letting them
down through the window, the father re-
ceVed them 40 his arms Her children
once saved. Madeline thought but lille OF
danger to herself, aud she waited IN calm
self-possession, ull a ladder being brought,
she was rescued.
This triaI was but prelude to many 9TH
ers The loss of the house completed the
rum Of which her husbands illness was the
beginning. lie was Obliged l. dispose II
has situation, and take refuge IN small lodg-
inrs at Challiot, and there set To work
steadily aud cheerfuIiy, to suppor, his iami-
", opening kind of pleader's iiice f,r lie.
gal students bat hls health soon failed,
L 4 l..
struggied hard 10 ward III The want that now
seemed inevitable, but what ayaied the ef'
forts Of one woman To support sick hus-
baud and four children One night came
when they had literally nothing TO eat,
She now resolved 10 apply tor help to the
nuns of Chslhot; step winch, to her indie
pendent spirit, was a far greater trial than
to brave the threats of the mob or the fury
of the flames But what is there too hard
for mother who has heard her children ask
for food, which she had not to give them
With sinking heart aGd cheek now pale
now crimson, from the struggle within her
she presented herself at the convent, and
umidly made known her desire TO speak
with the superior. Her we'll known charac-
ter procured her instant admission, aud her
tale once told, obtained for her kindly sym
patty aud some relief As she was passing
through the cloIsters on her way back, she
was startled by a voice suddenly demanding
" Art thou not Madeline PerraultW
! Madeline startled the tone of that voice
: found an echo in her memory, and though
= thirteen years had elapsed since she had
heard IL, she recognized 1t to be that of the
being whom her husband was wont To cal
: her " FAIRY" She turned round, and a.
the pale moon beams, that were now strug
} Cling through the long dim aisle, fell upor
the well remembered stately form, in IL
black garb and flowing mantle, it seemed
10 Madelne's excited Imagination to be in.
deed being Ct some other world
: Il made thee a promise" said the un
, known. D'd'sl thou doubt my power, tina
= thou hast never invoked my aid"
I Madeline crossed herself deyoutly, nov
, convinced tina, she was dealing with su
: peinaiural being. The phantom smiled a
! her awe-slruck look, and resumed
: Yet fear not; you have but to nam,
4 three wishes aud my promise is still sure
= they shall be granted" O. My husband--oh
] if he were bu: once more well !" " sa
7 not to give life or healing is within m
e power To bestow God alone holds in IN
! hand, the issues of life and death. Sa.
( what else lies near Thy heart"
= Bread for my husband aud children
Save them aud me from beggary aud want !
:, "This is but one wish, aud would gran
}. two more"
e ask not-wlsh not for more"
d f." Be 1t So then, Madeline Perrault; hol
, yourself IN readiness To obey the orders tina
d shall reach YOU before twelve hours sha
o have passed over your head" And she d.:
: appeared from Madelne's sight as SUDDEN
II as she hsdsappeared To her.
= Madeline returned home, IN considerable
s. agitation, and told her husband all that ha
= occurred He tried To persuade her TIL
II the whole scene had been conJured up b
i her own excited ImaglnatIun. Bat Made
n line persisted IN repeating that nolhin
!. could be real if this was but fancy an
e they passed sleepless night IN bewllderln
e coujectures.
p Erly the next day a carriage stopped
~ the door, and a foOiinan announced TO MAJ
cline that 1t was sent 10 convey her and h,
10 family to place appointed by one who's
8 summons there was good reason she shou
obey. No questioning could extract fro