Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-06-16


objectionable SIM"
"What is the objectionable Sin7' asked the
lme-burner, and then he shrank further from
his companion, trembling lest his question should
be answered
aIt is sin that grew within my own breast,n
replied Ethan Brand, standing erect, with a
pride that distinguishes all enthusiasts of his
stamp; ga sin that grew no where else The
sin of an intellect that triumphed over the sense
of brotherhood with man and reverence for God
and sacrificed everything 10 its own mighty
claims The only SIN that deserves recon-
pense of immortal agony! Freely, we're it to do
again, would incur the guilt. Unstrinkpgly
accept the retribution. " &
"The mans head is turDed,n m,ttered the
lime burner TO himself. s'Ile may be a sinner
like the rest of us. nothing mere hkfly, but I'll
be sworn he's madman too"
Nevertheless, he felt svrrs atsst tstostable at
his situation, alone with Ethan Brand on tho
wild mountain side, and was righ; glad to hear
the rough murmur of tongues, and footsteps
of what seemed pretty numerous party STUN
bling over the stones and rustlng through the
under brush Soon appeared the whole lazy
regiment that was wont to invest the village tav-
ern comprehending three individuals who had
drank flip beside the bar room fire through all
the winters, and smoked their pipes beneath the
stoop through all the summers since Ethan
Brands departure. Laughing boisterously, and
mingling their voices together in unceremonious
talk, they now burst into the moonshine and
narrow streaks of fire light that Illuminated the
open space before the lime.kin, Bertram set
the door jar again, flooding the spot with light,
that the whole company might get fair view of
Ethan Brand, and he of them.
There, among old acquaintance, was once
ubiquitous man, now almost extinct, but whom
we were formerly sure to encounter at the hotel
Of every thriving village throughout the country.
1t was the stage agent. The present specimen
of the genus was wilted and smoke dried man,
wrnked ard red nosed, in a smarty cut brown
bob tailed coat, with brass buttons, who for
length Of time unknown, had kept his desk and
corner in the bar-room, ard was still putting
what seemed to be the same cigar that lie had
lighted twenty years ago. He had great fame
as dry joker, though, perhaps, less on account
of an intrinsic humor, than from certain favor
of brandy toddy and tobacco smoke which i'm
all his ideas and expressions, as we'll
as his person.
Another well remembered, though strangely
altered face was that of Lawyer Giles, as people
still call him in courtesy-au elderly ragamutfin,
in his soiled shirt sleeves and tow-linen trousers
The poor fellow had been attorney in what he
called his better days-a sharp practitioner, and
in great vogue among the village litigaufs; but
Ap and sling, and toddy, and cocktails irnbibed
at all yorning hoon md MI, ii -bHd
caused him to slide from intellectual to various
kinds and degrees of bodily labor, till at last, to
adopt his own phrase, he slid into soap vat. In
other words, Giles was now soap boiler in q
small way. He had come to be but the frag.
ment Of human being-a part Of one foo, hav-
ing been chopped off by an axe, and an entire
hand torn away by the devilish grip of a steam
engine. Yet,though the corporeal hand was gone,
a spiritual member remained for stretching forth
the stump, Giles steadfastIy averred that he felt
an invisible thumb and finger with as vivid
sensation as before the real one was amputated.
manned and miserable wretch he was; but
one nevertheless when the world could not tram.
pie, and had no right to scorp, either in this or
any previous stage of his misfortunes, since he
had still kept up the courage and spirit of man,
asked nothing in charity, and with one hand
and that the left one-fought in stern battle
against want and hostile circumstances.
Among the throng, too, came another person.
age, who, with certain points of similarity to
Lawyer Giles, had many more Of difference. 1t
was the village doctor, man of some fifty
years, whom, at an earlier period of his life, we
should have introduced as paying professional
visit to Ethan Brand during the atter's supposed
insanity. He was now purped visaged, rude
and brutal,yet half gentIemany figure, with some
thing Wild ruined and desperate in his talk, and
in all the details of his gesture and manners.
Brandy possessed this man like an evil spirit and
made him as surly and savage as wild beast,
and as miserable as lost soul +; but there was
supposed to be in him such wonderful skill, such
native gifts of healing, beyond any which medi-
cal science could impart, that society caught
hold of him, and would not let him sink out of Its
reach. So, swaying to and fro on his horse, and
grumbling thick accents at the bedside, he visit
ed all the sick chambers for miles about among
the mountain towns, and sometimes raised dy-
ing man, as it were by miracle, or quite as of.
ten, no doubt, sent his patient to a grave thai
was dug many year too soon. The doctor had
an everlasting pipe in his mouth; and as some
body said in alusion to his habit of swearing, il
was always light with hell fire.
These three worthless pressed forward, and
greeted Ethan Brand each after bis own fashion
earnestly inviting him to partakc of the contents
of certain black bottle, in which, as they aver
red, he would find something far better worth
seeking for than the objectionable Sin. NJ
mind which has wrought itself by intense ant
solitary meditation into high state of enthusi
asm, can endure this kind Of contact with low
and vulgar modes of thought and feeling TO which
Ethan Brand was now subjected. 1t made hin
doubt, and, strange to say, it was painful
doubt, whether he had indeed found the Unpar.
douable Sin, and found ii with himself. Th'
whole question on which he had exhausted life
and more than life, looked like delusion.
"Leave me-" he said, bitterly, aye brut
beasts, that have made yourselves so, shrvelln
up your souls with fiery liquors! have don
| .;,L ,o, Voors nd vears AGO | prOped int