The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-11-04
THE EvERETTs OF GREEN GROVE
AN ENGLISH STORY

lie was the saint of the family, and the
moicl man Of the ncighborhood There was
not charity he did not subscribe to, not a
deputation that he did not entertain and
they were hungry fellows generally, who did
know the comforting virtues of his choice
Madeira - he founded Sunday schools and
chapcls of ease, as other men would build
barns, and he was the public purse of all the
ten parishes around. The poor called him a
real gentleman, and the ungodIy a fine fellow
while the elect spoke of that pious man
Jacob Everett; through their noses for the
most part. No one had an ill-word for him
except the landlord of the Grapes, who de-
clared with mighty oath that he was the
pest of the place, and would ruin all Green
Grove if he was left to do as he liked Not.
withstanding this Bacchic Judgment Jacob
Everett was good man weak perhaps, bu,
lovcabc in his very weakness; sincere, gen.
tie, generous, merciful puritanical in princii.
PIE, but AS his younger brother, the arch.
deacon, once said in full vcstry when Jacot
opposed him about the pcnancc of Hannah
B.'own-'sadIy latitulinarian in practice. ia.
cob, iowcver, who loved mercy and hated
condcmna zion, went on his own way, opening
wide door to all sinners; closin. to mar
row chink the va wnins gates of destruction
which his brother sw uns back wide enough
for all mankind, saving the small band of
elect to which he and his belonged.
The family was proud Of Jacob. lie was
an old bachelor and rich and the Evcretts-
albeit Of the richest-iiked wealth and hon
orcd ped grccs. They were grand people,
who practlrcd humility i'll coaches. AMI self
aha>cmcnt in velvet, who Denounced the lust>
OF the flesh at state dinner p:r''c>, over
champagne and pine apples but WI. belle
we'd that eternal punishment was IT, pcn,'t.
of all who entered a theatre or hall-room.-
They went to morning concerts of serious
nus. ",am: patronizcd oratorios. They thought
it sinfu, to be in love, and called it making
idols t.."v married their children COM
fortably amon.- Gool families with money.
and told them that c>::""m was better than ro-
nance. Miss Tabitha Everett was once s,,>-
pccted of a tender partia'ity for young Mr..
Allridye Park but the family hHshcd it up
as scandal, for unconve,,cd Mr. .,idrIdge
kept pack of hounds Afterwards t.:ey
M, rr;...' - e .'.~ 'vvU"i VI ''rccn 'roVe'
the Honorable and Reverend lTumdrummcl
HILBERT the eldest son of the Dean, and heir
to an apostolic fortune. The Everctts were
exceedingly undcmon>trativc. Miss Tabtha
accepted her husband and concealing her
feelings, made very good wife. For mar
riagc was not their forte. Not an Everett
was ever known to stoop down to kiss a hus-
bands forehead as he sat before the fire read
ing; not an Everett was ever known to talk
nonsense in the nursery neither to ride a
Dumrtv, neither to rock baby, on a tree
top, nor TO perform monody in \ minor, all
about 'kid''le, Coosic, COosic, Goa son.
once heard from a dear mother, and which
| thought the most beautiful of songs. The
Eycrctts were not given to any such tollics :
excepting Jacob, who loved children as they
would be loved, and who used to play at bo
peep with the cottagers' babies.
Some years aso-just at the time when
pretty Anna Fay, the Sunday school mistress
so suddenly left Green Grove d strange al
tcra,lon took place in Jacob Everett His
chccrfulncsS, which had been his strongest
characteristic, was exchanged for the most
painful depression. lie talked frequently of
his sins, and gave more literally than ever to
missions and charities. Ills friends could rot
understand this depression, which at last, be-
came hatitual lie gave them no clue to it :;
but with scarcely days warning. he left
home TO travel in the south Of Europe. He
had been looking i'll and more than ever har-
rasscd of late; and every one said it was the
bcs: thing he could do, great as would bc cv
cry bOdy's loss. His sister Tabtha alone ob-
jcctcd, on the score of the .Jcsuts.
However, Jacob went discharginS all his
servants and shutting up the beautiful old
hall. To the infinite surprise of everybody.
he openly and unhlushinSly took from the
ne. .hboring village certain Betty Thorne a
fine, handsome, Roman looking woman, a far
mcr's sister, aged about forty. And Betty
Thornc travelled with him in his own car
riagc.
Five years passed away, and Jacobs letters
became rarcr and more rare. lie wrote ever
in the same depressed condition of mind
spoke often of Good Betty Thornc, who had
been such blessed comfort to him. and him
ted vaguely at some unforgivcn sin. Then
for two years more no letters came, even in
answer to business inquiries; and all trace
of the traveller was lost. His very bankers
did not know his address, and SARDINIA left
wide margins. Mrs. HILBERT one day grew
quite warm when she spoke of bis neglect
with Paul and Jessie, her two children; al.
most agreeing that Paul, poor child-who by
the way was three and twenty destined fo'
the church, but preierrins the army, and SC
making compromise by studying for the
bar-that Paul should 20 to Italy ia search
of their uncle Jacob. But the Jesuits and
the Signoras frightened her. And as :EciI