Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-07-28
From ATthuf'a Home gtzetie.
ELLEN DANE;
Or, the Daughters Vow.
TALE OF NEW HAMpsuIRE
BY MARY GRACE HaLrINE.

B1 MARI nhAtb HALPlNE.
The following touching ADD affecting in
stance Of sisters devotion occurred in a
manufacturing town in New Hampshire,
not many years ago. IL was related to the
author by the brother Of the girl alluded to,
now minister in an adjoining state, and is
~sF~-..--.
Ellen Dane was the 0ui, daughter of
once fourshlag merchant; tbs idol OF
large circle Of admi'ng f-iends, the priue
Of fond father, who suffered not even the
winds Of heaven TO visit the cheek of his
darling too roughly.
While he lived his strong arm protected
her from all sorrow, his kind hand surround
ed her with every blessing that parental
love could devise, or money procure But
she had misfortune to lose him at the ear
/ ly age of thirteen.
Colonel Dane was supposed at the lime
/ of his death to be IN aiiluent circumstances
/ But his estate was found to be heavily mort
gagged, and after paying the debts incurred
by his long expensive sickness, there was
nothing but bare piitance left for the Wild
ow aud her children.
Alas, for human nature There were
few of the many friends who hutered around
them in their prosperity, willing now to step
forward to their assistance aud after
struggling on for three years under the
pressure Of cares and bur,hens she was i'll
fitted to sustain, Mrs. Dane sank ia,o the
grave, leaving her Two fatherless children to
the cold mercy OF strangers.
short time before her death she called
her children to her. and placing the tiny
fingers Of her son in the hand of her daugh-
ter, she solemnly committed him to her care
Be mother to him. Ellen, she said lay
ing her trembling hand upon the bowed
head Of the weeping girl be mother to
him he will now have no one 10 love
him but YOU. Promise me that you will
never iorsake him. BY the bedside of
his dying mother, amid tears and sobs, FL
len gave the required promise. you will
not forget, Ellen, repeated Mrs Dane, earn
estly; you will not forget
III | do 50, may God forget me ia my
last hour, mother, returned Ellen, solemn
ly.
God bless you ! my daughter was the
faint response of Mrs. Dane; YOU have
: made my last hour happy the Almighl,
bless YOU -
T6a, blessing sank deep into the he ar
! o. Ellen
. Pale and fearful, Ellen Dane turned ava
from her mothers graye---Ho longer a child
D but woman, with a wOman's duties an
: responsibilities resting upon her but unac
e customed to struggle with the world, wha
e could she do Whitber could she direc
her steps Her fathers brother offered hei
5 home in his family, but he didn't wan
The boy, he bad qulIe enough of his own
: Another relative, IN distant State, propos
: ed adopting his brother, but Ellen declined
! knowing but to well he would be TO hin
: not a kind protector, bat harsh and cru
] ell master.
r Ellen had heard of far-off place, wher,
r many of her own sex gained humble but
e honest livelihood, by the labor of thel
z hands, aud she resolved to seek it, She
J, therefore, sold the wreck Of their property
: and taking with her her brother, then bu
= nine years of age, she bent her way to the
5 Granite State entering the noteo manu-
e featuring town OF -
). There, with a strong, hopeful heart
1t though feeble hand, she toied day after day
e week after week, feeling well repaid 70
e every pain, every prIyatlon, by the Increas
:, ing strength aud healhfol bloom of be
e youthful charge who early eynced unu
} sual intelligence, and thirst for know
, edge, which she resolved should be graft
&c fed
A year passed slowly by, aud found he
j. still toillng on. Not even the voice of love
1t so dear TO her woman's heart, could lur
o her from that lowly path. A manly forr
a. sought her yet, though her loving hear
;, plead strongly IN his favor, she swerye
Z, not.
d i cannot leave my brother, was her FRI
n reply as he warmly urged his suit. No
ie can consent 10 bring to my husband dot
he Bile burthen'
N Vainy he argued that she had done he
i, duty by him; that 1t was not right for her ,
as sacrifice her health and every hope OF hal
ID piness to his advancement. yaInly did /
he portray, in glowing colors, the light OF
IL happy home, the comforts with which
IL would surround her she was firm.
o. Blu, your health is failing, Ellen, he sale
IN earnestly. Your feeble frame will sink Vi
u. der such unremltIing toni. You will d.
E. and then what will become Of him 2
u A slight flush passed over her pale chez
IN aud then her eyes beamed with pure, h'
al ly light, as she raised them to Heaven
ne God will temper the wind TO the shoi
idtuOt sue hO athIt VI vi
< falheress will be with him. ] will not 10
,e sake Lin as long as | live
vi In the selhshness of his soul he spoke {
III his own bllghted hopes, reProachlng b.
IN for giving pam to a heart so devoted
of her.
ne Ellen was strongly moTed-the teal
H. sprang to her eyes. But firmly repressln
FL her emotion, she calmly said, You have
e, strong arm, a pleasant home, and maj
he friends. He has only mel will not lea
u him. And so they parted.
Sc She is incapable OF loving, he exclaln
u ed bitterly, to himself as he turned away
~ utterly heartless.'
he Heariless Had he seen that pale bro
ed heard that low wall of anguish-Ihe touc
CHI ing prayer that assembled. from her lips
he the Great Father. during the still watch
ie, of that night, would he have deemed b
OF hearless
as, Al last, by the most rigid economy, |
Ell len gained the summit Of her aInbiIlo
be which was to place her brother at school,
IA a neighboring State. Allowing herself
ie- rest mo relaxation, she surrounded him W
en- : every comfort her slender means would