Volcano weekly ledger., 1855-11-03
From Baliou's Pictorial.
Jealousy and Patriotism.
LEGEND OF THE CHARTER OAK OF CONNECT
IcUT

Der day, in the year 1866, that young man
approached the town of Hartford, in Con-
necticut, by the road leading from New Ha-
ven. At that time, the valley Of the Con-
necticut was densely wooded, affording, at
that golden season Of the year, every variety
Of tint that nature can display The maple
was gorgeousy beautiful the chestnuts were
OF deep yellow other species Of trees had
put on motley livery, and the elms that
bordered the highway were clothed in foliage
of varied hues, from lively green to the
deepest orange, all mingling, by the incest
gradations of shades, like the prismatic col
ors. As he entered the main street, the
western waves of ebbing day poured a flood
of glistcning light upon the diamondpaned
easements in the eastern fronts of the houses
while beyond was the broad Connecticut
sparkling like a mirror The overhanging
arch was Of lovely azure; studded here and
there with heecy clouds while high in zenith
was the silver moon only awaiting the retreat
of her eclipsng orb to she'd a more chaste
light upon loyelyy scene
The young man was fine specimen of the
sturdy colonist Of those days. Born in Deer
field, his infant slumbers had often been dis
turbed by the preparations Of his father for
defence, when the war-whoop Of the savage
resounded through the forests. The rifle was
| familiar to him in boyhood, and although he
now carried on farm at Middetown, he had
not entirely relinquished his fondness for for
est sports We have said that he was young,
but his electric black eye, compressed lip, and
gallant horsemanship, showed that Eyerard
Waltham could both think and act for him
self and was therefore, well qualified TO rep
resent his townsmen in the General Assem-
/ bly,, then in session.
Entering the main street, even then beau
tiful avenue, Eyerard Waltham rode slowly
along, occasionally bowling to some acquain-
tance or speaking to one Of the lads who
were driving home the cows, kept at nearly
every house, aud mingling their shrill cries
with the musical tinkle Of the bells. At
/ last, however his gaze encountered a couple,
which drew halfsuppressed oath from his
pouting lips. Applying the spur to his horse,
the high-nettled animal sprang to the other
| side of the road, and he thus had good pre-
4 tence for neglecting TO salute them. In a
few momei & more he had reached the famed
hostelrie near the site of the present State
House. and disnounting, threw bis bride to
/
"Ahlp exclaimed an elderly gentleman,
who was pacing the porch, with pipe in his
mouth, the member from Mddletown has
arrived just in time to see the SPORT
''It matters not, replied Waltham. with a
frown, for he thoght the alusion was aimed
at the couple he had met Perhaps, that we
may start more fairly, we should explain who
that couple were.
The gentleman was Lieutenant Coffin,
pert coxcomb who has been sent from the
Massachusetts Bay, few weeks previous, in
command Of detachment Of Royal FuSi-
leers, destined as a bodyguard for the new
Governor. Insufferably naughty, he kept
aloof from every one, until, by chance, he
met Henrietta Morley, with whom he had be-
come so intimate that, on the evening in ques-
tion, he had invited her 10 take q social ram
BILE And Henrietta--how can we describe
her? Tall and gracefully formed, she was
not what an artist would call strictly beaut'
full, but the absence of classical features is
often more than compensated for by that
sparkling vivaeity which clothes the plainest
countenancc with radiant beauty. Her eyes
were Of light blue, profuson Of golden
locks shading her clear red aud white com
plexion, and pleasant smile ever fingered
about her young lips. Passions always leave
their wrinkles early in life, but over such fa-
ces as that Of Henrietta Morley years pass
| ed like the fight Of dove, the surface look
ing softer from the touch Of its wing. Add
/ to this thefact that she was his afIanced bride,
and you will not wonder that Everard Wal
than regarded her with jealous interest.
j But his tavern friend never OWNED what
prompted bis reply, and said, in sharp voice,
"It does matter, though. Do you,
pledged republican,, intend TO let this scarlet
coated popinjay to carry off this coveted
prize y
Not | = and as he spoke, Everard's right
hand instinctiyely clutched at the hilt of his
heavy sword--it was one that his father had
used valiantIy in the cavalry of Cromwell
/ That's the spirit Why fear the light
steel Of the kings minion, when there is such
precious charges at stake Rather apply
the torch, and leave him but heap Of ashes
for his prey"
What p exclaimed Eyerard "Why,
that would be borrowing from the Iroqnoisv
/ care not but would rather hear the
skin craekle in the flames than see it profaned
by his haad."
No, mol He can, perhaps, make her
hapy,r replied Eyerard, in choked tone of
voice, as the couple approached, apparently
| in earnest conversation.
Happy n repeated the old man, gazing
after Everard with doubling expression.
" Is the young man sane Surely | do not
see what happiness the royal governor can
confer on parchment charter Y and putting