The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-05-19
From Pcterson's Magazine.
1 Know It.


wore long tailed coat and boots ito
which the appurtenancc of spurs was gen
orally added), a moustache was quite Wis
ible on my upper lip. and Consciousness
of ripe maturity never left my mind
was studying for the legal profession, but
at the time of which | write. was spend
ing my vacation at my fathers house in
the country.
Though so manly, almost soldicr-like,
as fanclcd, in my appearance, my inner
was by no means as stern as my outer
man. | loved my mother with childish
tenderness. and sooner than pain her pi-
Gus heart, | unmurmuringly accompani-
ed her every Sunday to the village church.
to listen to long sermons of which | could
not hear a word, for the tremulous ac-
cents Of the very aged minister, who
conducted the services, were 50 faint as
to be inaudiLle where we sat Though
melted by love and duty to submit my
self to this week of penance, (well dcserv-
ed by my weekly sins, )my conscience yet
did not prevent me from willing away
the time by such amusement as lay at
hand-that. namely, of observing and
speculating on the countenanccs of my
neighbors, an occupation Of which | was
fond
The physiognomy which interested me
more than all others, was that of young
girl who sat not far from us and who was
accompanied by an aged lady. probably
her grandmother-the object of her ever
watchful care This girls face. from
first clictng my careless observation,
gradually absorbed my whole attention.
1t was very beautiful, but apart from
that. it possessed the greatest possible
interest for me Never had | seen Il
countenance which denoted so much SEN
sibility; each motion Of her mind was
plainly written upon it. by its quick. del
icate changes. Nothing was wanted but
the key Of corresponding degree in the
bcholder to read her tender innocent
soul, like an open book For hours | gaz-
ed and speculatcd on that fair facc--I
thought how sad would be the lot of 50
sensitive a being should fate unite her to
one who would not know how to read
Alright what was so dclicately written
to whom the varying expression of that
sweet coumtenance would be but blank
who would be able to sec in it only its
coarscr part-beauty of feature. There
was no end to the reveries into which
those swift coming bushes led me
Sometimes by chance. the fair object
of my busy fancies would catch my eye,
or. without looking at me, seem to know
or feel that | was gazing at her, and |
wickedly delighted in noting the blush
which docpened ON her check till | with
drew my eyes.
One Sunday, happened, in coming out
of the church, to be close to my lovely
ncghbor-immediately behind her--my
hand actually touched her unconscious
garments | felt an irresistible desire
to force her in some way to notice me, to
speak to me, to occasion one of those
charming bushes, any thing, | knew not
what In short, like an impcrtinent
coxcomb as | was, stepped forward
and with an insuiierable insolence, which
| blush now to remember, | whispered
in her ear,
:" You are very pretty !"
Never was | more surprised than when
she calmly replied,
:" | know it p
| was absolutely startled | had OK
pected silent conscious blush, an indig-
nant glance, anything rather than this
cold know it"
| was puzzled, but had plenty Of
time to turn the matter in my mind for
in few days ! returned to college
can truly say it was the main problem
which throughout the term gave me the
most trouble to solve, and cost me most
thought
Another year elapsed ere returned
home, and again sat in the little village
church My personal appearance was,
meanwhile, somewhat altered ! still
wore my moustache, it is true, but my
coat tails were not. and did not seem.
quite 50 long, and had left off my spurs
My mother and | were early seated in
our pew, and | impatiently awaited for
the arrival Of my lovely enigma. | tri
ed to prepare myselffor disappointment
e have been thinking and dreaming a.
bout an deal," | said to myself-doubt-
less when the young lady herself appears
all my fine imaginings will vanish there
can be no doubt my fancy has been play
ing tricks with me, investing mere
country maiden with transcendent gra-
ces and charms While l was reason
ing thus with myself, the young lady APP
peared, leading her old relative with ten
der care
Worshipping an "ideal" indeed My
most charming remembrance did not be-
gin to do justice to the beautiful reality
A soul full of tenderness and sensibility
seemed to have found fitting home in
a person and face of loyeliness and grace.
She blushed when, looking round, she
Glanced to see me, and again the play of
expression on her features, which had so
interested me formerly, charmed me
The more | studied her face the more /
seemed to see into the pure depths of her
soul. could have staked my life on her
noble purity of thought and deed
As we returned home, described my
fair neighbor, and asked my mother who
she was.
" Her name," my mother said, lis
Grace Denuey and she is the loycliest,
the most superior young woman | have
ever in my life met with 1t is too soon
to think of snch things yet" she contin-
ued, smiling, but some years hence, it
would make me happy to see my dear son
married to just such a woman"
" Not quite so fast, mother" said |,
laughing deal to hide little boyish
embarrassment which ! was most anxious