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

]
Gus rains, had brought every product
of the earth to IFS fullest perfection
and beauty the rich stores Of the
vegetables world wed with the glo-
ries of the animal kingdom aud
while trees and shrubs and plants
put forth their great powers, insects
Innumerable, and birds of gayesi plu-
mage, hummed and sang Their rich
est notes in gentle harmony, through
grove. and wood, and mossy dell
and this on New-year's eve.
The day had been a gIorions time
of sunshiue-ihe sky all clear and
radiant, like a sea OF liquid blue,
seemed welded to the ocean. No
cloud was there 10 dim the lus.re OF
/ the one. no breath of air to stir the
CLASSY face of the other Fruits,
flowers, and leaves, thick as they
were over field aud garden, hung
lisilesslv and even busy man forgot
10 toll, lost IN his admiration of that
golden eve. All nature seemed al
rest, as though the world had wllled
the year should die so brilliantly, 50
/ peacefully, that not one sound or
sight unwelcome might cross lis la
test hours.
The sun was sinking fast, trans
forming, as it did so, the lovely azure
Of the sky to rich golden hue, TINT
ed with soficsl bushes. A gentle
breeze was spIlnging up, and played,
as though Ia very wanionness, among
the broad leaves of the green baua-
uas, the feaihery foliage Of The lofty
palms, and the thick groves of or
auge-lrees. Many a wide and cool
veranda ia Port Louis was filed
with fair aud youthful forms, listen
ing to the idle gossip Of the day /;
many wealthy merchant leaned
back on downy ottoman, enjoying his
pipe, and casting up the profits OF
the year; many sun-burned plant
er reposed on matted couch with
long-necked bottles in his company,
listening 10 his neighbours tales Of
sugar-canes, slaves aud rum.
Within a nile Of the PORT, on the
road leading toward the Pamplemous-
SEES. stood, aud, for aughl know to
4 The contrary, stands al this moment,
a most pIcIuresque-looklng villa, de-
lisht'ully placed among palm-lrees
aud mango-groves, with perfect
paradise OF a garden and lawn, stud
ded with the richest lrult-beaIing
trees and Towering shrubs As is
The case with ali tropical dwellings,,
on ample yeranda enclrcled the house
and to render The place still more en-
! Inyable, shady avenue Of bananas,
figs, ana rose apples. led the way to
"A pretty bridge, over which the pas
seneer found himself conducted to a
miniature island, land OUT, like the
garden, win lawn aad towering
I plants, aud round winch ran rip-
/ PIN stream, washing lis messy
banks
In the vicinity Of this abode were
clusters of neat matched cottages,
each with IT. knot of palms and ba-
nanas, and a small patch Of garden
IA the rear. These were the dwell
lings of the slaves, who cultivated the
many fields Of sugar canes that
stretched for miles along the skirts of
/ the mounlaln-land Ia the rear OF the
road-,he property of one of the
Nealthles, plar,ers of the island, NJ.
I Durant.
This enchanting spot, seen on
such a lovely evening as have at
tempted 10 describe, may well have
bee deemed the resting place of
happy morlals. IL seemed the home
Of tranquil happy hearts, where moth
ing sorrowlul might find n corner /;
where men might have been content
10 end ia If days on earth. Yet this
was not so. The apple Of the desert,
all beauty 10 the eve, was not
more butter a; the core than tins same
planters homestead. Watching the
parting sunlight from the front ve-
randa, sat the young wife Of the pro-
prleior Reclining on couch of
ebony ,garnlshed with richest drapery,
with the incense of sweetest flowers
about her, with a crowd Of slaves TO
obey her every wish, with all that
ply steal life could demand, this wife
was unhappy.
Alas the one thing needed TO
make a joyful home Was wanting
domestic sympathy. Ne man could
be more thoughtful for his wife
comfort, no one more liberal in his
arrangements for her household but
his heart, though mol against her, was
not with her. Ambition was his
bane, recSless speculation his sole
enjoyment. For such he seemed TO
live. and wondered why his Florence
dropped, and plncd, and wept, while
he was wrapped in giant schemes of
wealth. Warm hearted as woman
can truly be, yearning yainly for a
return of the love that dwell in her
own breast, Florence Durant cared
little for the Eastern splendor that
encircled her in this little earthly
paradise, while she saw her husband
giving up his whole heart and soul to
business, with but seldom word OF
look for herself.
The disappointed wife was pom
as-:-p ---- n AL. "a, tho apaninu
in question, casting her eyes aliern-
ately from the setting sun TO the in