Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-08-18

grove Of cedars, where the road winds BY the
pleasa nj brooksde. Hdw erect his form How
elastic his step What a light is thrown back
from his bare and ample forehead !.
Yonder, where the valley seems to close, but
in reality, only bends around mountain spur,
to open in new and varied beauty, stands neat
cottage. its doors and windows vine wrea,hed
and flower gemmed. Above This home of love
and peace, are spread the leafy branches of "a
century cid elm. In summer, this guardian tree
receives into its ample bosom The fierce sunrays,
and tcmpers them with cooness. In winter.
though shorn OF its verdnre. II breaks the fury Of
the strong northwest, go that II falls moi too rude.
ly upon the nesting cottage benesth.
In this sweet and sheltered spot, ate tho houses
hold treasures Of Henry Erskine. He has gath
cred them here, because his love seeks for them
all external blessings his hand c,n'giye. Years
agone, this cottage was the home Of his gentle
wife, Here he had wooed her, and mere won
her trusting heart. Time wore on--death, and
misfortune scattered the old household. and the
pleasant homestead passed .int the hands of
strangers. On the day it was sold Erskine,
coming suddenly upon his younawite, found her
in tears. He pressed to know he cause. Half
was revealed and halt but guessed. Love prcmp-
ted the resolution that was insanity. formed.
Three years afterwards Erskin, through untir-
ing labor and self denial, had svcd enough to
purchase back the c. ttage, inc which, with
new and higher sense of enjoyment, he gathered
his fruitful vine, and the olive branches already
bending above and around him
The best husband the kind,st father, the tru
est man in all that pleasan, valley, was Henry
Erskine. He had been absent few days on
business, and now returning to his home treas.
ures, it was from the fuIness oil hs heart that he
sung
st Home home-sweet sweet ONE! .r
BE it ever 50 humble, there's no plac, like home"
And, as he sung on, and strobe forward, quick,
eager listening ears caught tle music If his
well known voice, and ere he had reached, by
many hundred yurds, the little white gate that
opened from the road to his dwelling tiny arms
were tightly claspDg his neck, and soft lips
pressing his cheek and forebeae.
Oh! what gushing gladness vasin his heart
How large it seemed nhs bosom! How full Of
good desires and bounteous wishes for the love d
4, 40
"Dear Anua!' How many tines he sid this,
as with both hands laid upou the fair temples of
his happy wife, he smooned back her raven hair,
and gazed into tho loving depths Of her dark
bright eyes. 5
The sunniest day in the whole calendnr of
lives was this. As Erskine sat amid h's child
rem, with their gentle hearted mother at his side
he felt that the cup of his happiness was full to
overlooking.
And ye'-ah! why are we forced to write i,
ere the evening of that glad reunion closed, a
faint shad dow had fallen on the heart of Mrs EI-
sklne. She had been aware of an unusual ae
gree Of elalon on the part OF hel husband IN re
joining them afier his brief ABSENCE, but thought
Of 1t only as an excess of gladness at getting
home again. Two or'three neighbors called in
later in the evening when in agreement with a
very bad custom then prevailing, something to
drink was brought forth and befo e the neiehbor.
retired, the undue elevation of spirits noticed BY
the wife of Nj. Erskno had increased to de-
gree that left her in no doubt as to its source.
"How sober you look, Anna dear" said Mr.
Ersklne, with his usual tenderness of manner. or
the next morning. care you not we'll 7"
"Oh, yes. But what strange and terrible
dream had can't shake Of the effects And
yet know it was only dream"
"a dream lis that all ?" said Erskine, with
smile But what was it, dear? 1t mus,
have been some hing terrible, indeed, to leave a
shadow upon our spirits"
"a very strange dream, Henry. Though, we
were sitting at the table just as we 0ele sitting
last evening, with our pleasant neighbors around
us. You had just taken glass from your lips,
after drinking my health, as you did ten. You
placed it near me- so that could see into it TO
the bottom, where still remained snaI portion
of liquor. Something fixed my gaze, md, pres
emily saw in miniature, perfect imsse OF your
face. Surprised, looked up; but yol and all
the company were gone! was aone, in
strange, desoate, meagery furnished rom. The
table was still befure me, and on it renamed the
glass towards which my eyes turned -glh a fas-
cInation could not resist. Into the louor at
the bottom gazed, and there, more distinct than
at first, saw your face but now the eyes had
sharp, eager look, that seemed to 90 through
me with sense of pain. The tender archlne of
your lips was gone, and at this very moment
they were drawn against The teeth with cruel
EXPRESSION. feel the shudder still which then
ran through my heart. On, Henry look such
as then saw on your face, would kill mel,
And the wife of Henry Erskine, overcome
with feeling, lu'd her head upon his shoulder
and sobbed
DcdI p'SS' INV "iOtCieu ure0m
said Elskine. as he drew his arm tightly around
her. 6 wonder that mere phantom If the
night can have such power to move you"
but that was not all" resumed Mrs. Erskue.
as suon as she had grown calm enough TO sneak.
" The face now began to rise up from the ton Of
the glass, rounding as it rose, until head and
we'll defined neck stood above the vessel and
all the while malignant change was progress.
ing on the counlenance. More horrible still
The glass suddenly enlarged, enormously, It's d
menslons, and in 1t now saw in fearful coils
the body of a serpent, bearing up higher ant
higher the face and head of man. Another
instant, and horrid, slmy folds were around m,
neck and body In their tightening, spffocatine
clasp, awoke. Oh, iienry was il not terrible
What cuuld have excited such a phsntasy n