Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-02-19
NliSCcllancous.
THE UNEDUCATED BRIDE.

Aib " ~ GiJ u = ~ LII . RIDE.
The Chambellans were an Old Yorkshire
family which bad once held high place
among the lnded gentry Of the county
knight of that family had been cruso-
der 10 the army of Richard Cwur-de-Lon.
and now De lay, sikh 80 his ms gnia about
him, IN the parish church, while others of
his race reposed IN the same chaucel under
monuments and brasses which spoke of
their name and fame during their genera
ton In the lapse Of time the family had
become impoverished, and gradually merg-
ed into the class of yeoman, retaining only
remnant Of the broad lands winch bad
once belonged to them In HIS, The
elder branch olthe family, consisting olthe
father TWO sons, and daughter, resided at
what had once been the mansion house II
bad been buiit originally 20 the reign of
Stephen, and was curious specimen Of
different kuds of architecture, bearing tra-
ces al as gradual transformation from tie
stronghold Of the DAYS when il was no met
aphor 20 say that every mans house was his
castle, down to the peaceful dwelling oi
lawful and orderly times Ii had now be-
come little more than a better sort Of farm
house. What had been the tlt-yard was
filled with row of comfortable barns, cart
sheds, hay-stacks; low wall of rough
gray stone enclosed small garden; mar
row gravel walk edged with currant trees
aud gooseberry bushes, led up to lhe fine
old porch, emhowered in the ivy and creep
ers Which covered nearly the whole Of the
building with It's luXuuant growth The
old gateway at the entrance of tie spa
cIous yard was still surrounded with the
coat armor" Of the family, carved 10
stone; but the gates themselves had long
ago disappeared, and been replaced by "a
common wooden iarm-yard gate. The
" coat armor' itself was covered wltl moss,
and fine crop Of grass and house Ieeks
grew among the stones Of The walls, To-
which 1t would have communicated q desc
late appearance If the farm-yard arrange
menls had been less orderly
Halstead Hall, as it was called, was six
miles from the city of York, and stood d.
bout a mile from the main road. The on
ly approach to 1t was by a rough lane, so
much cut up by the carts and cattle that it
was almost impossible to foot passengers,
except IN the height Of summer or depth of
winter, when the mud had been dned up
by the sumo the frost.
The father and brothers attended the DIFF
ierenl fairs and markets, IN the ordinary
course of business their sister, Mary
Chambellan, managed the affairs of the
house and dairy She led very secluded
life, for they had no neighbors, and of gen
eral society there was none nearer than the
city itself Mary, however, had plenty of
occupation, aud was quite contenIed with
her lot. She was nearly seventeen, tall,
well-iormed, and with an air of position
which Was of great responsibility for so
Young person. Her mother, who had been
dead rather more than year, had been a
woman of superior education and strong
character. TO her Mary owed all the in
s'rneilon she had ever received, aud the
'nge of refinement which made her man
her very superior to those of her father or
brothers. She, however, was quite uncon-
sclous OF this, and they all lived very hap
py together in the old out-of-the-way place.
" happened that, in the spring eff l145, an
uncle OF her mothers who resided atty ork,
was about to celebrate the marriage of one
81 ms daughters Mary Chambelan, with
nef father and brothers, were invited to the
festivities. The father would have sent an
eAcuse for himself and Mary he was get
ing old, and die not like TO be put out OF
MS usual way. The brothers, however,
"eau earnestly that their sister might have
niue recreation Finally consent was
obtained, and she went with her brothers.
1t was very fine wedding, and a bal