The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-06-15
al istrllanp.
Sleepers Awakened.
Victoria Cottage, !
Sunday Morning !

The phenomenon of trance is a sub
ject almost equally interesting to the
imaginative and the scientific. The
world when in its infancy recorded the
marvel in the myths of the Seven Cham
pions of Cbrstendom, and the hundred
years rcpose of the Beauty of Faery.
dom and as these dreams of imagina-
tion faded before the awakening power
of knowledge, philosophers and grave
physicians took up the tale and sought
to explain mystery still full of dark
ness and awe.
Now, although of late the pLilosoph-
ic public have appeared more interested
in sending people to sleep than in wax
ing them up-as in mesmerism and cleo
tro-biology-it is possible that two or
three incidents Of the natural resurrec-
tion of the supposed dead, may not be
void of interest to the general reader.
We will begin with a winters tale, to
which we listened, under a most favora-
BILE conjunction of domestic and friendly
planets, this last Christmas the narra-
+ tor being grandson to the heroine, and
of course able to vouch for its authentic
ity.
Once upon time-somewhere in the
reign of George Ia certain German
colonel, in the service of the house of
Hanover, married a young English lady
of great beauty and little fortune. In
accordance with a courteous modern
fashion, not common, however, in those
days, some noble friends of the bride Of
fered the young couple a home during
the honeymoon, in their ancient and
splendid castle in the north of England.
The hospitality was accepted and, as
at the end of that period the soldier was
suddenly compelled to rejoin his regi-
nent, aud embark for Germany, then the
scene of war, the lady's stay was to be
prolonged, at the request of her hostess,
till his return. That period never came.
He fell in battle few months after his
departure, and his wife did not long sur
vive him. She died after giving birth
to a daughter, whom on her death-bed
she commended to the guardianship and
care of Lady P.
) The trust was accepted. The orphan
!. thus cast upon their protection was rear
cd by Lord and Lady Pas theil
| own child in all things save one They
t were Romanists but her mother hav
= ing been of the Church of England, thci
sense of honor prevailed, and they had
her educated in the reformed faith, send
ing her every Sunday to the clergyman
of tho parish for religious instruction
1 She grew up beautiful woman, accom-
plishod also beyond her sex in thos
days and so it chanced that Lor,
P-'s third son, returning from hi
!, continental tour, was struck by tn
change time had wrought in his hereto
fore playmate, and forthwith fell in Low
with the portionless but bewitching iii
tie hereto. Now, it might fairly be i'm
l agined, that they who had loved an
reared the young girl as their ow
daughter, and who had proved then
selves so generous, just, and honorabl'
would have gladly sanctioned this union
n but it was not SO. Her religion-albe
she owed it to themselycs--was an ol
lection not to be overcome, even althoug
she offered to change her faith, whiel
taught only at intervals, and contradi
ted by the habits and tone Of thought