Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-08-12

ACSCiNSO9 " hhC SUNK
post two letters from Marseiles. One was from
the manager of the theatre in that city, saying
that, to secure the better performance and con
Sequent success of my new piece, he desired
my personal aid at the rehearsala. The propri-
etOrs Of the theatre left the sum to be allowed
me for my counsel, time, and expenses, to be
named by myself, but must certainly 90, and
90 Immediately. The other letter was in these
vorda:==s
The widow and child Of your late brother
are in sickness, and nearly dying Of want. IA
few hundred francs would save sfbeir lives. and
your presence here would resttire them back TO
health. (Signed) VIcToR LAMBERT, M. d.
" said to you at first, and do not shrink
from repeating it, (fOr can now make the avow-
al wilhnut shsms,) that had the ainty heart of
the demon of avarice. The physicians letter
put me in rnge, and crushed and tore D 81
PieceS-for the proposal from the manager re-
quired an immediate answer, and started the
next day for MarSeilles. My journey was one
long sum in addition. noted down to ctntine
my expenses, estimated the value ofevery hour
OF my time, fixed upon the sum to be asked fer
my advice--each word was weighed and had ito
price, and nothing was omitted by which could
swell up my demands. My poor sister n.law |
thought of as little as possible, and when her
image, in sickness and in poverty, did force itself
upon my memory, quickly banished it. Oh it
was vile in me, it was infamous, for had long
ago intentionally illtreated my poor kinswoman.
I" Years before the period in question, had
received letter from my only BROTHER IA true
hearted sailor, now, alas buried in the ocean,
informing me that he was deeply in love with
and about to marry the daughter of fisherman,
who would bring him valuable dowry, made up
of an excellent heart, "a fine person, eyes of the
greatest beauty. and an entire absence Of ready
money. To thia letter replied as follows:-
You are in love, it appears, and you would
marry foolish girl who has the rare merit Of
being poorer than yourself Be happy with your
mermaid if you can, but, between ourselves, you
arc going to do very foolish thing-it not too
late, break it off Adieu.'
This letter was certainly short, but not sweet.
My sister in law was a native Of Norman
dy, which implies, as all we know, that"she was
extremely proud and she was, besides, ysitdous
resolute, and especially headstrong.
"She never forgot this unfeeling letter, and,
at heart, she nourished thorough and despsea-
ted contempt for the writer. When, therefore,
her husband perished at sea-when, without
support, without hope in the future, she found
herself reduced to penury, and in sickness, she
TO suffsr everything, even death itself
rather than seek my aid-and she might have
died without writing to me, without purdonlng
me-which would certainly have been very head
strong, not particularly wise, and not at all in
Christian like spirit but she was not alone in
her destituton--she had child, u lovely little
girl, who lay on the miserable bed with its dying
mother, daily wasting away, enduring the pangs
of hunger with the resignation of an Fngel.
Notwithstanding all her obstinacy, my sister-in.
law loved her child with a mothers doting fond,
ness, and she soon saw that if she would save
its life, an effort must be made to soften the heart
Of the cruel brother. She made the avowal to
her physician, kind hearted and charitable
man, who had already nscertained that poverty
was the first disease to be cured, and, to this en'
he had contributed his small but insufficient aid
for he was nearly as poor as his patient TIL,
physicians of the poor possess every talent bu
that of getting paid for their services.
"It was this excellent man who took upo
himself the task Of writing to me, and on n
arrival at Marseilles, he was waiting for me i
the coach office yard. As | had not replied t
his letter, he had presumed in the simplicity
his heart, that would of course come Genel
Gus hearts are always thus influenced ;they judg
from themselves and believe in goodness. H
hastened to meet me. saying, You have lost n
time, my dear sir ; you forsaw that delay woul
be equivalent 10 a sentence Of death. God wi
reward you for the good act.' This unmerite
praise was butter, but had not the magnanimit
to say it was undeserved-and what man eve
refused TO be Aattered ?-what ass but woul
pass for lion ?
"My first visit, which had determined shou1
be to the manager of TIE theatre, was made
my sister in law. found her in the miserab
garret of dilapidated house, situated in na
row street, with not even ray Of sunshine
cheer her lonely hours. Near tho bed, 'SSlslr-
scanty covering, was little girl--she had larg
and lustrous eyes, arched eyebrows already fin
y formed her hair profuse and in careless RIM
let's, so beautiful in childhood, encircled regul
features full of intelligence, and stamped wi
that serious resignation which early sufferiI
gives to the countenance. oh how sweet W
that child, even then, and how eloquentIy h
thin pale cheek pleaded for her! gazed up
her in silence began TO feel that there is
childhood an irresistible attraction, iascir
: ton which we feel and acknowledge, althou
our hearts may have been for lifetime clos,
to every benevolent or tender emotion.
III longed to clasp the dear child in my ara
r but sordid avarcO whispered, if you suffer 20
heart to be touched with pity you are lost
et that should incur obligations which, duri
=, my whole life, had studied to avoid, shot
= be compelled to relieve effectually the uccusi
misery which surrounded me. Like one W
sees an abyss at his feet, recoiled al the thoug
e The benevolent physician could not comprehe
Q my detestable sefshness, and he believed
strange dcmeancr the effect of pity. The CO
: hesitation of miser at the sight of su ffering
il would avoid, would fly from, he supposed
y emotion Of softened heart. A melaneh
smile irradiated his features. Approaching
d more closely, he pressed my hand III his "
nh