Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-06-05

i0u' 10 'ie ueIhulous voice unexpectedly recOV-
ers strength and fullness, and breaks forth in
into some wild or pathetic meludy--the ballad
or patriotic stanza of former days. The young
auditor listens with rapt delight and now, as the
scene changes, with light breath and glowing
aspect, she sits attentive to the minute and lively
details of some domestic tale of truth, or strik-
ing episode of our national history --treasuring
up the diamond dust, to be fused hereafter. AS
night closes round, and the light from /" the two
stately candlestcks" glimmers through the room,
the lady takes the cushioned seat in the corner,
and the young inmate spreads out upon the table
some well-kept ancient book, often perused, yet
never found wearisome; and begues, with in
cessant reading, all too mature for her years, the
long and lonely knitting hours of her aged
friend.
These glimpses into the parlor of Madam
Lathrop are not fancy sketches. The evening
was usually closed by the singing of devotional
hymns, and the repetition, from memory, of ia.
vorite psalms, or choice specimens of serious
verse. The readings were mostly devotional
works. Young's Night Thoughts stood highest
upon the list, and had several times been read
aloud, from beginning to end, by the young stu
dent, at an age which most children can scarce
ly read, intelligibIy, the simplest verse. Othel
times and some heavy and sombrous, were also
made familiar to her young mind, by repeated
perusal; but as the upper shelves of the lady's
library contained some volumes Of lighter
character, the curiosity of childhood would rem
der it pardonable, if now and then those shelves
were furively explored, or some old play or ro
nance withdrawn, to be read by stealth in the
solitary chamber.
The chamber, to the young student, is sa.
cred precinct. There, not only is the evening
problem and morning recitatation faithfully pre-
pared for the school, and the borrowed book
pored over in delightful secrecy, with 10 ntru
sive eye to note the smiles and tears and uncon
scious gesticulation, that respond to the moving
incidents of the tale-but there, too, in silen
and solitary hours, the light-footed muse slip
in, and makes her earliest visits, leaving behinC
those first family dotted notes Of music, which
are for long time bashfully kept concealed
from every eye.
Madam Latllrop watched with entire compla
cency the dawning genius Of her young favor
ite. The simple, poetic efusion occasionall,
brought from that solitary chamber and timidl,
submitted to her inspection, was sure to be re
ceived with encouraging praise, and to kindl
in the face of her aged friend, that glow Of ap
probation which was then the highest reward
which the Imagination of the young aspiran
had conceived.
The death of this venerable benefactress
which took place when she was fourteen year
of age, was the first deep sorrow which he
young heart had known. 1t was disruption o
very tender ties, the breaking up of pecuha
intimacy between youth and age, and she coul'
not be easily solaced for the bereavement. No
has her mind ever lost the influence of this earl
association. 1t has kept with her through life
and runs like fine vein through all her wrl
tings. The memory, the image, the teaching
of this sainted friend, seem to accompany he
like an invisible presence, and wherever tn
scene may be, she turns aside to commune wit
her spirit. or to cast fresh flower upon he
grave. In the lines upon planting slips of Co,
Stancy on the grave of friend, found in he
first publication of poems, she says
"sev'n times the sun with swn career,
Has marked the circle of the year,
Since first she pressed the lowly bier
And sewn times sorrowing have come,
Alone and wandering through the gloom,
To breathe my lays upon her tomb"
1t is to this guide of her early youth, that sh
refers in "Character of departed friend" go
a friends singing at midnight in her last il
ness"-Anniversary of the death a venerab
friend" and in beautiful piece entitled "TI
Benefactress."
Among the coevals of Mrs. Sgourney, the
was no one to whom she was so tenderly attac
ed as to Ann Maria Hyde-ay young lady who
sterling worth, and fine mental powers we
graced and rendered winning by uncommon v
vacity and sweetness Of disposition, unaffectt
modesty, and varied requirements. The frien
ship of these two young persons for each 9th
was intimate and endearing. They were cor
panions in long rural walks, they sat side
side at their studies, visited at each others dive
Iings, read together, wrought the same needl
work pattern, or, with paint and pencil, shad
the same flower. The neigbors regarded the
as inseparable the names of Hyde and HUI
ley were wreathed together, and one was seldc
mentioned without the otken Youthful frien
ships are, however, SO common, and usually
transient, that this would scarcely demand n
tice, but for the strength of its foundation.
appeared to be based upon a mutual, strong q
sire to do good to others fixed purpose to e.
ploy the talents which God had given them,
the benefit of the world upon which they h
, entered. In pursuance of this object, they I
only addressed themselves to the assduous cul
walton of their mental powers, but they engag
with alacrity in domestic affairs and househC
) duties; and they found time, also to make Q,
ments for the poor, to instruct INDECENT childr
: to visit the old and infrm, read with them, a
administer to their temporal comfort, and
3 watch with the sick and dying
> Among the plans Tor future usefulness VIII
d these young friends revolved, none seemed
feasible, or SO congenial to their tastes, as t
l. of devoting themselves to the office of instr
e ton. This, therefore, they adopted as tn
!" province, their chosen sphere Of action, and Il
y resolutely kept this object in view, through
at course of their education. The books d
G. read, the studies they peruseJ, and the acc,
Us pishments they sought all had a reference