The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-10-06

ted them into great many new ones.
| The children almost all worshipr,cd her,
and never thought any enjoyment com
plcte without their dear Miss Hendcr-
son. There was no occasion for punish
ment in the school that summer for the
scholars loved their teacher so dearly
that they would do onythingn the world
for her.
Lizzic's first appearance in public was
at the village church She wore n sim
pie straw bonnet and calico dress, which
unpretending costume was fully as be-
coming to her us the silks and satns she
had all her life sportcd. At least if we
may Judge so by the eloquent and admi-
ring looks which were lavished upon her
by all the village swains She soon turn
ed their heads. and one and all bowed at
her shrine. The bellies regarded her for
IA while with jealous cyes-shc was look
ed upon as formidable rival-but they
could not long resist her attractive man
ners with her it was rcjii, riolj, rtci y
with old and young it was the same she
made herself general favorite. To be
sure. the minister's wife pronounced her
hoydcnish," and the dcacons wife said
she was "sad romp" who she feared
would do nobody any good Lizzie call
ed upon both these good ladies' asked
the minister's wife to teach her to knit,
and listened patiently to long account
from the deacon's wife. about the best
way of growing herbs; and after this,
both of these excellent danes viewed
her with more complacency, and were
heard to remark that she had = somehow
kind o come round thcm.n
One day quite startling placard was
posted about the village, announcing in
imposing characters that Mr.. Augustus
Sumner, professor of music, would open
a singing school in Stanton on the next
Saturday evening. This was a great G.
vent, and much curiosity was felt among
the villagers as to who this Mr. Angus
tus Sumner could possibly be. On the
afternoon in question, about the time of
the arrival of the stage coach, the inhab-
itants were all to be seen at their win
dows. Even Miss Henderson partook
of the general excitement. and the bright
face of the village schoolmistrcss might
be distinguished peeping through her
lattice At last the distant rumbling of
the vehicle was heard The stage drew
near. All eyes were strained to catch
a glimpse of the new conner, but he had
bafflcd their curiosity by closely drawing
the curtain The coach rolled up to the
hotel, the steps were let down, and a gen
tleman alightcd. but so muflled that no
information could be gathered respecting
his appearance. His cap was far over
his face, and cloak that he wore, al
though it was summer, ohectually con
cealed his figure But all in the vicini-
/ ty agreed that he was tall and slim and
from the agility exhibited in springing
up the hotel steps, undoubtedly young.
In the evening there was full and
punctual attendance at the singing
school The beaux and bellies were there
cn mdSSe. As the moment drew near
for the commencing, there was general
hush of expectation. At length the door
opened, and Mr.. Augustus Sumner, di-
vested of hat and cloak, walked into the
room. All mystery was now solved con-
ccrning his appearance He was, as
previously decided. tall and slender and
young. He came forward and bowed
most gracefully to the assembled compa-
ny before him He scanned their fea-
lures rapidly; his eye glanced from one
blooming face to annother and rested a
moment on the animated countenancc Of
Lizzie Leslie Then passing his hand o.
yer his large dark eyes, as if dazzled by
the combination of charms before him.
he tossed back the chestnut masses from
his brow. and in most musical voice
expressed his pleasure in meeting so ma
ny of the inhabitants of Stanton, and his
hopes of their musical improvement un-
der his instruction He then launched
into the business of the evening His
voice in singing was rich and powerful: !:
one so highly cultivated had never be-
fore been heard in Stanton, and the pu-
pills sang with an energy that made the
walls resound, and woke the echoes far
and near.
Lizzie eXcellcd in music and was a
most accomplished singer. but managed
to suppress her fine voice, so that it
could not be distinguished above the
others; but once, warmed up with the in
spiration Of the moment, she forgot her
self, and poured forth few notes of most
delicious sweetness and finish. Those
around her stared in astonishment, and
Mr. Sumner looked about to discover
/ from whom these sweet sounds omana-
/ ted Lizzie was careful not commit her
self again her voice was pianiSsiW0
for the remainder of tho evening,
and the circumstance was soon for
gotten, Nine o'clock arrived, and
the scholars departed for their re-
spcctiyc homes,
The girls were all delighted with
their new teacher, who looked most ad-
miringly after Lizzie as she passed out,
and enyiously at the young lawyer, Abel
Sampson, Esq. on whose arm she was so
comfortably leaning. 1t was strange
how popular the singing school was this
season. Even those with the most inflex-
ible voices attended with the greatest
regularity and ifperseverance can make
good singers, Stanton ought to have con-
tanned more musicians than any town for
miles around
A few days after, one pleasant after
noon Lizzie, having dismissed her school,
wandered into grove near by, favor
ite resort Of hers, to enjoy the refreshing
coolness of the shady retreat She was
seated in beautifully romantic spot, by
the side of running brook, when who
should appear before her but no less a
parsonage than the singing master, his
e. co.o Q,ebo1 I'LL ,.-o..,;., -. 81.