The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-08-13

| 1t. was too conscious OF my plain, ,thlT
face and tall uniformed figure to have be
lieved declaration. There was q shield
ing tenderness in his manner, a loving
interest in his care, that was far more
convincing than words.
Soon after this, I was sent away with
an older brother for a change of climate
and thence to school During my ab.
sencc, our correspondence, through the
Influence of this brother, very suddenly
terminated, because from his representa-.
tioDs, l saw the 2ropriety of my never
replying to Mr.. Everton's last episte
Many stories were told me, many mis-
representations made, and / knew that
he had left our house. OF this, I own 1
was glad, for l had heard many things
that made it desirable. When | return.
cd, [ met him coldly, indiffefently, care
lessly ; for though but sixteen, pride is a
finished teacher, and there never was a
spoken word of love between us. At
this time Mr.. Everton met lady whom
the following spring be married. twas
not love-ma,ch but grew out of flrt-
alton so Kindly fostered, so tcnderly
tended, so anxiously watched by cousin
Of the lady, and herself, that ere so long
1t blossomcd into matrmouy OF this
woman l own I was never Jealous. She
was a mark beneath jcalousy-too in-
fcrior to excite the feeling. She was
very snowy, but she was not genuine.
She bad pretty face, and much cultiva-
ton, but her mind was poor, her heart
barren, by nature. Nothing boomed
spontaneously on that soil. No enforced
fruit delighted by it freshness. She was
not good she was not original. She
used to repeat sounding phrases from
books: she never offered nor had an
opinion of her own. She advocated a
high tone of sentiment but she did not
knew the sensations of sympathy and
pity Tenderness and truth were not 10
her (Jane Eyre.) 1 knew she was
not beloved as had been and still was.
| cared but little that she was lis wife.
| was too young to know how strong the
laws Of God aud man make that tie: |
was too young to know how long life is
That | suffered, DO one knew; that |
lived on, proudly calm and quiet, is not
to be wondered at: hundreds do the
same.
In time. found there was child
coming to my old lover, and | began to
dream and work busily for the little one,
till 1t became mine. Little clothes, such
as woman loves to fashion, grew be-
meath my busy fingers Nothing could
ha ~ q, 4 A.
ing Satisfied me. At last it camc-a
boy; not pretty, but SO dear. | held
him in my arms before his fathers re
turn (for he had left Mrs Everton alone
among strangers, and did not return for
some time
Oh! how I petted and dreamed of
that dear baby AS he grew older, ne
came to love me. aud kiss me, and there
was heavenly tenderness between US.
l went every week to see him and once
of winter evening, as he lay in my
arms with his little head upon my shout
der. his father entered, and saw fash
of love unuttcrable,as his eyes rested up.
on us both. While my dream-child liv-
ed. was very happy I thought of him,
l loved him and it made very holy the
love l bore his father. r.
One night remember | went to soc
his aunt, in very pretty costume, ready
to attend fancy bali. My dream child
was Ill he had high fever, and hard,
dry cough. Mrs. Everton, too, was dress.
ed for the ball l wondered at her leav.
ing her child and after they were gone,
| sat down with his grandmother by his
cradle, aud silently held the little burn
ing hand, kissed tho hot lips, and pitied
his poor father, who was many miles az
way, and little dreaming how i'll his baby
was or who was tending him. ! feared
then he would die, but hc did not
Fonder and yet moro fond grew we
OF each other, my aream.child and !, till
the summer of tho pitiloss cholera. At
early dawn it struck my darling, and We
went to him, to see him struggle with
his disease. not like baby, but man.
CUngins to tho rungs of his little crib,
ho would raise himself up, and then sink
back in agony, utteriDg no moan, no ory,
till death came. ....
Oh how desolate all became then
The little spirit that gave life to that
cold, inaninatc clay had flown. All gave
way to their grief, aud Mr.. Everton was
hopeless but it was part of my sorrow
not to show what was within my heart.
We dressed him in his deathclothes,and
sat down. All night l stayed with my
child. In the morning smoothed the
soft, fair hair and kissed the noble brow
of my dream child that was dead. In
the clothes had wrought for him had
laid him in bis coffin, strewing flowers
white aud pure as my dream.child him.
self around him. went about prepar.
ing for the funeral, aud when all was
done, awaited quietly the end
The minister came. The ceremony
was soon over. Mr.. Everton was fear
fully stricken, for to the child he had
cluug despaIrlngly He was the fathers
only comfort on earth.
: ! staid and watched until the clods
we're piled high upon his little breast,
aud where but little before had been
laid the object of the most unselfsh af-
fection of which was capable, there re.
NAMED now but mound Of earth, which
every passerby saw to be ohild's grave
How much was buried there How bit.
terly. yet how una7ailiDgly l wcpt. AZ