Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-02-23
MISCELLANE. Z
Dickens Christmas story.
The Seven Poor Travellers.
[From Household Words
THE SIXTH POOR TRAVELLER,


Was the little widow She had been sit
ting by herself in the darkest corner Of the
room all the time ; her pale face often turned
anxousy toward the door, and her hollow
eyes Watching restlessly, as if she expected
some one to appear. She was very quiet,
very grateful for any little kindness, very
| meek in the midst Of hcr wiiuness. Theic
was strained expression in her eyes, and
certain excited air about her altogether, that
was very near insanity it seemed as if she
had once been terrified by some sudden shock,
to the verge of madness.
| When her turn came to speak, she began
in a low voice--her eyes still slancng to the
! uuvr-und spoke as ii to herself rather than
to the rest of us speaking low but raridly-
somewhat like a somnambu!e repeating
! lesson:
They advised me not to marry him-(she
began1 They told me he was wild-un-
priincipled- but | did not care for what
| thev said loved him and disbelieved them.
| never thought about his goodness only
knew that he was beautiful and gifted be-
yond all that had ever met with i'll our mar
row society | loved him, with no passing
schoolgirl fancy, but with my whole heart
my whole soul. | had no life, no joy, no
hope without him. and heaven would have
been no heaven to me if he had not been
there. | say all this, simply to show what a
madness of devotion NINE was.
My dear mother was very kind to me
throughout. She had loved my father, be-
lieve. almost to the same extent SO that she
could sympathise with me even while dis
couraging. She told me that l was wrong
and foolish, and that | should repent but
kissed away the painful lines between hel
eyes, and made her smile whes | tried tC
prove to her that love was better than pru
dence. So we married not so much without
the consent as against the wish of my fami
ly; and even that wish withheld in sorrow
and in love. ] remember all this now anC
see the true proportions of everything ther
| was blinded by my passions, and under
stood nothing.
We went away to our pretty, bright home
in one OF the neghborhoods of London, neal
. a park We lived there for many months
in a state ofintoxcation rather than OF earth
. ly happiness, and he was happy, too, then
for am sure he was innocent, and know
he loved me. Oh dreams-dreams
| did not know my husbands profession
He was busy and often absent; but he neve
told Inc what he did. There had been no set
Elements either, when married. lie said h
had a conscientious scruple against them
that they were insulting to a mans homo
and degrading to any husband. This was on
of the reasons why, at home, they did no
s. wish me to marry him. But was only gla
to be able to show him how | trusted hin
). by meeting his wishes and refusing, on IN
own account to accept the legal protection {
settlements. 1t was such II pride to me I
sacrifice all to him. Thus knew nothing {
= his real life-his pursuits or his fortunes,
never asked HIM any questions, as much trol
ir Indifference to everything but his love u
e. from a wifely blindness Of trust When |
10 came home at night, sometimes very ga,
sin nd 10 :
Medora, as he used when in good humor,
was gay too, and grateful. And when |
came home moody and irritable-which |
used to do, often, after we had been Marie
about three months, once even threatening
strike me, with that fearful glare in his ey
remember 50 well, and used to see 50 oitt
Is afterwards-then | was patient and silen
and never attempted even to take his hand
kiss his forehead when he bade me be st
and not interrupt him. lie was my law, al
- his appreciation the sunshine of my lii,
so that my very obedience was selfshnes
NO for my only joy was to see him happy, al
10 my only duty to obey him
My sister came to visit us. Ny husbaI
had seen very little of her before our ma
riage; for she had often been from hor
~ when he was with us, down at Hurst Farm
that was the name of my dear mother pla
qn and had always iancied they had n
an, liked even the little they had seen ot ca
'f' other. Elem was never loud or importuna
IN her opposition. | knew that she did n
like the marriage, but she did not interior
| remember quite well the only time s
spoke openly to me on the subject, how $
flung herself at my knees, with passi
v very rare in her, beseeching me to pause a
reflect, as if had sold myself TO my ru
when promised to be Hauy's wife. ii,
she prayed Poor Ellen can see |
now, with her heavy, uncurled hair lalli
ON her neck as she knelt half undressed, h
large eyes full of agony and supplicatiC
like martyred saint praying Poor Ellie
! thought her prejudiced then and this u
. spoken injustice has lain like a heavy crii
on my heart ever since for know tina
Judged her wrongfully, and that was u
grateful for her love,
She came to see US. This was about
year and half after | was married. She "
luz more beautiful than ever, but somewi
Sin sterner, as well as sadder She was Ia
3" strong in person, and dignifed in mann,
f There was certain manly character in