Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-04-07

I
this last addition TO his family but
Florence promised no pleasure to
herself from their meeting. She
knew too well, from past experience,
that he would look upon her new
born infant as he would on a piece
of furniture Just ADDED to their draw
ing-room. lie would show no un-
kindness. use no harsh words but
there would be the utter disregard,
that abstraction from all but business,
which sinks into the heart of wife
of sensitive mind almost as deeply as
actual wrong.
1t was in vain the slave girl chant
ed her preiiiest Indian loye-song /;
as vainly did the little infant by its
very muteness and helplessness, APP
pear to elicit sympathy and protec-
ton. Florence fel, that she world
gladly have exchanged her wealth
ana station for the humble lot of any
poor slave-girl Oh their estate, to
/ have enjoyed requited love.
The sun had sunk full deep below
the many tinted horizon the birds
had sought their lealy homes the
infant had been laid to rest on dow
ny pillows the moon had flung its
first soft rays upon The distant Hill
tops, aud on the waving leaves of
the lofty palms-yet Florence still
sat there, gazing in deep thought up
on The opening prospect of another
year so like the last that her heart
tainted within her, and forced out
bitter tears.
But let US look elsewhere. If we
turn our eyes towards the little
stream, that led 10y gurgling mountain
brooks, speeds merIly past the plan
talions of NJ. Durant, toward the
Port, we shall see how many cane
fields It relreshos, and how many SUI
gar works it supplies with water
Along this little river hight canoe
was floating, bali padded, hali-borue
upon the stream. seated IN the
stern OF the ltIle craft was a young
planter, who, with folded arms and
dirkeued brow, seemed lost TO all
that was passing arounc him. AS
the last rays of the sun disappeared,
the canoe touched the messy bank
Of the little island IN rear of the
house, and awaking TO consciousness,
Duraut--loT il was he--spfang to
shore.
Instead Of Fastening to his house,
as usual, the planter began 10 pace
the lawn in the island with rapid and
unsteady strides To and fro the
gloomy man walked in the deepest
excitement, us though uncertain or
careless of what his course should
be. The speculalions lac had been
so long engaged in, aud which had
accumulated about him until they
had assumed enormous magnitude,
had broken down in hopeless ruin,
aud now, crushed and oppressed be-
meath this sudden weight, the ambi-
lIous man felt maddened with disap-
poIntment. What he might have
determined upon, or whittier he
might have bent his steps had he
buen left TO has own medltallons,
matters not TO our present purpose.
But the sound OF many merry voices
came floating down the rose-apple
avenue toward the bridge nearer
and nearer the bolslerous throng APP
preached louder aud quicker the
burst oil laughter fell upon his ear.
They were the voices OF hls own
chlldyen, whum he could see APP
proachlng IN company with one or
two ol The children, and gray
headed negro IN charge Of The par
ty. la no mood 10 encounter all tins
merry-making, the planter turned
aside from the hllle Lawn, and div
ing into a mass OF evergreen behind
a sort OF grassy mound, he flung him
self upon The ground among rushes
and lotus-leaves, compelled, however
unwilllngly, 10 listen TO the childish
Talk OF the merry gaoup.
Such happy party they were -
There was Rose, a dark-eyed girl of
eleven, full OF thought aud kindness
Edward, The eldest boy of nine, with
Ernest and litlle Minnie, aud old
Pierre, negro of sixty years, who
had IN his early days nursed their
mother and, besides these, there
were Peio, and Caspar, and Lugo-
young slaves born and bred on the
estate. There was also Brulus, the
old brown goat, with ms long sIivery
hair, aud his great hard horns, and
his quiet gentle eyes. Why, bless
you he would not have hurl one
of those dear little children-though
they did climb on his back, aud stick
all SORTS of odd things on his horns
he would not have trodden on one
Of their dear toes Tor any quantity of
green sugar-cane, and he was re-
markably fond Of 1t too
How delighted they were to romp
and dance on that nice green lawn,
and tumble the old negro among the
pomegranales, and make the goat
quite giddy with dancing waltz on
his hind legs, while lillle Minnie
stuck his horns full Of garlands and
green boughs Happy children =
The world was as yet all sunshine TO
them. The New Year that was a
bout TO visit them had no cares or
grleis for their young hearts. They
could see nothing but flowers in
their path, aud needed not the
thorns.
| " hon thox lo1