Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-03-10


pavement, and some rusted iron ratings
half uproo,ed, whence an ugly oui-building
that had once been dssccting-room (n
the time ofihe great surgeon who had mort
gagged the house to my uncle, stared at it.
We rose so early always, that at that time
Of the year we breaklasted by cande-llght.
When | went into the ROOM my uncle was
so contracted by the cold, and so huddled
together IN his chair behind the one dim can
die, that | did not see HIM until | was close
to the table.
As held out my hand to him, he caught
up his stick (being infrm, he always walk
ed about the house with stick, and made
a blow at me, aud said, You fool IT.
Uncle, returned, didn't expect you
to be so angry at this Nor had | expect
ed 1t, though he was hard aud angry old
man.
You didn't expectp said he when
did YOU ever expectl When did YOU ever
calculate, or look forward, you contempti-
bic dog ?
These are hard words, uncep
Hard words Feathers, to pelt such
an idiot as you with said he. Here Bet
sey Snap Loot at him =
Betsey Snap was wnhered, hard-avor-
ed, yellow old MOZAMBIQUE only domestic
always employed at this hour OF the morn
ing in rubbing my uncle legs. As my un-
Gle ablured her to look at me, he put his
lean grip on the crown of her head, she
kneelnI beside him, and turned her face
toward me. An involuntary thought con-
a.,
as ii must often have been in the surgeons
time, passed across my mind in the midst
of my anxiety.
Look at the Swelling milkshop' said
my uncle. Look at the baby This is
the gentleman who, people say, is uobody's
enemy but his own. This is the gentleman
who was making such large profits in his
business that he must needs take partner
rother day. This is the gentleman who is
going to marry wife without a penny, and
who falls INTO the hands of Jezebels who
are specializing on my death ?
knew, now, how great my uncle's rage
was; Tor nothing short of his being beside
himself would have induced him to utter
that concluding word, which he held in such
lrepugnance that it was never spoken or hln-
ted at before him on any account.
On my death, he repeated, as if he were
deiying me by defying his own adherence
of the word. On my death-death-
Death Eat your last under this roof, you
feeble wretch, and may II choke you
You may suppose that | had not much
appetite for the breakfast to which | was
hidden in these terms; but, took my ac-
custoIned seat. saw thatl was repudiated
hence.orth by my uncle s:ill could bear
that very well, possessing Chrstiana's heart.
lie emp,ied his basin OF bread and milk
as usual, only that he took 1t on his knees
with his char turned away from the table
where sat. When he had done he care
fully snuaed out the candle; and the cold,
sate-colored, miserable day looked IN upon
us
Now, Mr.. Michael, said he, before we
part should like to have a word with these
ladies' in your presence
As you viii, SIR returned; bat you
deceive yourself and wrong us, cruelty, if
you suppose there is any feeling at stake in
this contract but pure, disinterested, faithful
love-
To this, he only replied, You lie ? and
not one other word.
We went, through half thawed snow and
half frozen rain, to the house where Chris
tiana and her mother lived My uncle knew
them very well. They were sitting at their
breakfast, aud we're surprised to see us that
hour
Your servant, ma'am,' said my uncle to
the mother. You divine the purpose of
my visit, | dare say, maam. | understand
there is a world of pure, dlsInterested, faith
full love cooped up here. | am happy TO
bring 1t all it wants to make it complete. |
bring you your son-ln-law, ma am-and you,
your husband, miss. The gentleman is a
perfect stranger to me, but | wish him Joy
OF his wise bargain
He snarled at me as he went out, and
never saw him again.
1t is altogether mistake Continued the
poor relaton) to suppose that nay dear
Christian, over persuaded and Influenced
10y her mother, married a rich man, the dirt
from whose carriage wheels is often in these
changed times, thrown upon me as she rides
by. No, no, she married me.
The way we came to be married rather
sooner than we intended, was this. | took
a frugal lodging and was saving aud plan
ming for her sake when, one day, she spoke
to me with great earneslness, aud said
My dear Michael, have given you my
heart. have said that loved you, aud
have pledged myself to be your wife. am
as much yours through all changes of good
and'eyI as If we had been married on the
dag when such words passed between u.s.
! know you well, and know that if we
should be separated and our union broken
of, your whole life would be shadowed, aud
all that might, even now, be stronger IN
your character for the conflict with the
world would then be weakened to the shad-
ow of what il Is =
God help me, Christlana 7 said |. you
speak the truth
Michael ? SAID she, putting her hand in
mine, IN all maldenly devotion, 'let US keep
apart no longer, II Is but for me TO say
that can live conlen.ed upon such means
as you have, aud | well know YOU are hap
.py. say so from my heart Strive no
more alone; let us strive together. My dear
Michael, II IS no. right that | should keep
secret from you what you do not suspect,
but what dlsresses my whole life. My moth
er, without considering that what you have
lost you have lost for me, and on the assur-
aura of nv faith safs har laart On cbac