The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-04-14
VOL. IS---,NO. 40.
THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS.
trcmhe tJtra Christmas No.ot' Hms,LoM Words
CONDUCTED BY CHARLES DICKENS.

CONDrCTED by CHARLES DICKENS.
THE SEVENTH 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
anxiouslv towards the door, and her hollow
eyes watching rcstcssly, as if she expected
some one to appear. She was quiet.
very quiet very gr ,teful for any little kind
ness, very meek in the midst of her wildncss.
There 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 low vocc-her eyes still gIancng to the
'.loor-and spoke as if to herself rather than
TO the rest Of us; speaking low but rapidly
somewhat like a somnanbule repeating a les
son
They advised me not to marry him-(she
oegan) They told me he was wild-unprin
cipled-bad but ! did not care for what the,
said. loved him and lisbclevel them-
never thought about his goodness-I only
knew that he was beautiful and gifted beyond
all that had ever met with in our narrow So
cety. loved him with no passing school
girl fancy, but with my whole hcart-my
whole soul. had no life. no iov no hope
without him, and heaven would have been NO
heaven to me, if he had not been there |
all this, simply to show what a madness of
"a IN mine was
o''o'' 'othcr was very kind to me through
w! 'e"' loved my father. believe. al
on' " xtcnt; that she could
most to the same all. ,
.mypa,hi>e with NEE ~, ,n, e,o,;.h 49,,
tha, should repent but XII
painful lines between her eyes. am.
smile when tried to prove to her tina.
was better than prudence. SO W marr''''
not so much without the consent As a-.a:nS'
She wish of nv family; and even that wish
was withheld in sorrow and in love. rcncm-
Der all this now. and see the true proportions
OF everything: then was blinded by NV
passions. and understood nothing.
We went away TO our pretty. bright home
in one of the neishborhools of London, near
park. We lived there for many months
IS ,rto ratEnr than
earthly happiness. and he was happy .too.'hen
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 never
told me what he did There had been no
settlements either, when married. He said
he had conscientious scruple against them :;
that ti,.v were insulting to mans honor and
DEGRADING TO anv husband. This is one of
the reasons why. at home. they did not wish
me to marry him But was only glad to be
able to show him how | trusted him. by meet
inr his wishes and refusing. on my own ac-
count to accept the legal protection OF settle
mnts 1t was such pride to me to sacrifice
all TO him. Thus knew nothing of his real
life-his purIitS or his fortunes. Incver ask
ell him any questions, As much from Ind'iier-
ence to every thing but his love as from a
wifeIv blindness Of trust. When he came
home at night. sometimes very gay, singing
opera sor Us and calling me his little Medora.
as he used when in goo,i humor, was gay too
and cl .,efu And when he came home moody
and irritable which he used to do, often. al
ter we had been married about three months
once even threatening to strike me, with
that fearful glare in his eyes | remember SC
we'll. and used to see so often Afterwards
then | was patient and silent, and never az
tempted either to take his hand or kiss hi
forehead when he babe me- be still and not in
terrupt him. lie was my law, and his appro
baton the sunshine of my life so that my
very obedience was sclfshness; for my onl,
JOY was to see him happy and my only duty
=. TO obey him.
wv SISltt CdiIic III NISll uN WV uu>bdi'
lad seen very little of her before our mar
.aiae; for she had often been from home wher
he was with US. down at Hurst Farn,-tha
was the name of my dear mothers place
and I had always fanciet that they had mo-
liked even the little they had see Of each 9th
er. Ellen was never loud or impor'unate r
her opposition. knew that she did not like
the marraiye. but she did not interfere. Ire
member quite well the only time she spoke
openly to me on the subject. how she flung
herself at my knees, with passion very rare
in her, bcsceching me to pause and reflect a>
if | had sold myself to my ruin when prom
ised to be lIarry's wife How she PRAYED
Poor Ellen, ! car see her now. with her
heavy. uncurled hair falling on her neck as
she knelt half undressed, her large eyes full
Of agony and supplication, like a martyred
s,int praying Poor Ellen. thought her
prejudced them and this unspoken Unjust
ice has lain like a heavy crime on my heart
ever since; for | know that Judged her
wrongfully, and that was ungrateful for her
love.
She came to see US. This was about year
and half after was married She was
more beautiful than ever.but somewhat stern
er, as well as sadder. She was tall, strong in
person, and dignifed in manner. There was
A certain c,a pl, ,.baract.r IN bor 1,nartr &c