Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-07-15


Is a trace in memory. Sill it is in" 'Ssib'e fo"
ne to refer TO it without mon,nlu feeling Of
reGrot that its beoutle aye faded, and at LIS
sonGs.rrs are no more.
These are trihng things to common, practical
business men; but to the they are lessons Of
much meaning. They teach too plainly that all
are passing away. Besides these changes have
rended from mt mlny lovely obj4ct to VHch
memory is linked with n,pnrishabIe cords. |
have recollection also of a beauful ash which
lowered in giant PRIDE, in the middle of NV IA
TIERS meadow. II is assoc d with earliest
childhood. lis tall, straight trunk and f5r-
soresdag branches save fine eiieC,, sfaniiag
in the middle, as it did, of a vast opening. 1t
afforded a beautiful resting place Tor the feath
cred tribe, being the only object Of the kind for
some distancc--and was frequently visited by
these voyasers of the wing : Al last it was Sc
ec,ed by an old hawk as summer resort You
might always see him pcrchod on his favore
Tree, or in its near vicinity. This caused it in
time, in great me1s ure, to be abando ned by the
better singing and more peaccable port on of hat
community. HoweN er, 1t vas not long before a
severe wind overpowered its sti myth and it vas
cast lao!lonf to the ground. The last that
remef Der Of this wonderful tree, (Go, to ne
there ever bls beel its eql, in beauty end
sse,) vas 'ht it lay moudering away year If.
ter ye r, till is huga trunk lad nearly llsop-
pearet.
But while | have seen the changes go1r On
about ny EARL banris, and ar. nnd the hol.9 Of
nv childhood, SO inn reesve with their less ms Of
sadness and decay, have also witnessed the
mou ntu bsel ice o friends. Old seats that
once were occupied by bright and beaming faces
are now unoccupied. 4 sad vacancy is rund
in the old school hoy So, and many other places
of youthful resort. All, yea and even the
school house Of nv first recollection has crumbed
10 decay. And few it deed of those earliest
friends remain. But 'nuoh better remember
the school housc and scaJui fellows of nv more
mature childhood. I well rec,M ct where many
of my Old associates Sat n ..I1t famiiilr old
school house. How busy We made ourselves
nt on books, end hoT eager tor the head. But
those old rivals have long ceased to act. Their
familiar faces are Y,oro seen 1T her accus.
toned desks, A tombstone in yonder grave.
'ard marks the que resting place of many.
Some are separated by hopeless distance
Thus have passed away many of the Iaveest
beings with whom | commenced the journey of
life.
Who would not weep Oh visiting these haunfs
oi yore, where have persisted so much of lowell
1ess md beauty? Is it strange, then, that
nourHIul icehogs fc down the tide of retro
pecnon? What woui not give to see those
intelligent sDea ng eyes aguin TO near the
weet Gu or lose voices which rang out
heir merrooaol a. clIdhood? BIZ may never
year l.em again. Thelr 3az: carnot pierce the
gloom of the grave, 10. i their lips break the
silence there.
Even my fathers cottage has felt tn ger 7ral
decay, and has been succeeded by another and
dlf.r dwelling. STU. remember it, as 1t
vas. A plain domicii, erected when my father
first emlgrated to Vermont The moss at last
gathered on It's roof arl It's crambIog and di
lapIdatel walls told unuistakably that it had
seen time. There was hung 10 its walls rude
old clock, which lad much worn its cugs by
ticking out the seconi5 aud minutes Of other
days. 1t WIS fast getting ont Of repair, and IN
quite early childhood was laId osde Us a thing
which had doEe its service.
The old family Bible, though badly worn aud
much to pieces, has buffeued most successfully
times Wondering wave. My grandmother's
name is sui to be seen upon its page-and the
marks left by her fingers (perhaps while she was
III lne morning of hfe) are evidences that she
read the rood Book well remember the good
Old lady, tor she called me her black eyed boy.
often seem atral ger in the very vicinity Of
my birh place; so m-ny are the changes uat
have tonspir3d 10 rob II Of torner objects, CON
panlon and interest. Laut, FAR remote are /
spjonrn og p|a &c Of many Of NJ early riend /;
and th' grave the resting place of about as
many II ore. The old school hoqse has rome 10
decay, nj the seats If its successor are not or
cuped q in M lUve liilty-thc Old cottage his
crumbItd, nnl moulI;re to ru n-whols wool
lands al i groves have disappear d d-and scarcely
an old tn'ior object remains. Even the b-ool
that bab3led by the dwelling of yore, has cj.,n.
ged its course, and does not see } of half its for
meE SIG and euty. The old water-spon, has
long age fallen o pieces, and the UNDISCOVERED
bncke:" ha; deserted its place.
The old puritan fth IS and mothers, With
their srict nloraIily aIl plain dress, have left
their aces to a more gay and worldly-mnded
aro, who know little Of their purity and excel
lenoe of chlracter The old spinning wheel
and massive loom, which we're common house
ho'd furniture, have been euppIsnted by the
sofa and piano, The buxom girl with her rosy
cheek and expansive chest o that day, clad in
the durable aud protecting apparel Of her own
industry, Is succeeded by pale sickly looking
mad, with a waSpish waist and Ainsy skirts.
The hearty boy witt Iis sturdy snews, and clad
in his mohoi's k"rs' "a succeeded by pimp.
ing lad w'.h degenerate LIMB, and fashionably
dressed in broad1nh a. doaskin.
rhe present race bagam mn into the ornamental
and lost The durable Little of the vigorous and
nd 5lbstanla character Of the people of my
early acquaintance is found in the present race.
Indeed, it would be amusing, if it were not ton
serious for Amusement, to hear this conceited
race boast of their improvements. How for the
rude log hut, they had erected beautiful cottages
end stately mans0us; and fer the smoking old
fire poca ,F'g h." constructed the elegant stove.
Bot whore r do "a hale and hearty boys