Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-01-25

every crack and shelf where grain Of earth
could harbor, sprung innumerable colum-
bincs Of the brightest scarlet and gold sway
ing and dancing and tossing their iowclc1
heads like vcritable fairy princessos, so full
of laughter and delight, that you waited in
voluntarily to hear the gay peal Of musical
mirth from their tiny bells. and fancied, on
each new sigh of the fragrant air, u far-olf
echo from their tinkling in some distant field.
Here my tack began. and in few mlnutee
Lizzy's basket was filed to the brim with
roots, and her hands with blossoms fit rep
rcsentatives of her gay, brilliant, graceful
self, as she stood poised on ledge OF the
rock-hor sun-bonnet hanging by one string,
her face burning with the warm flush Of youth
and health, her blue eyes glowing dccry in
the sunlight, and her soft chestnut hair
roiling in lustrous rings about her throat.
lifted bv tho light wind and melted to living
gold wherever n eunbeam kissed it,
! know stood there with mouth un1 crrs
wide open, like the sun struck fool was,
'gloworing' at lizzY, who must have had some
idea Of my condition, for suddenly she began
to descend the rock with free hrm steps, like
a chamois, (at least suppose 80, vide i'uf-
foon,) and | remembered altcrwdrl. a one
does remember things seen and not perceived,
that there was furtive smile glltterirs III
the corner. Of her eyes - for me, ! vas
altogether in a maze, fpl Tie idea had suddenly
taken possession of me-, that VAS in love.
actually, in good earnest Ia love with my
cousin Lizzy Everything had the presence
Of mind to recoll ct, favored that idea Did
| not obey her like bond slave was | not
always so lonely at Uncle povness when she
went away I admired her beauty more
than that Of any other woman | admired
her mind in its active, earnest and noble de
eelopment
Her character had faults. to be suIe,
need OF come small feminine, ,vrtues but love
would teach her those. All did she love M.
Tom are you asleep realed from the lips
Of which had been dreaming
No, Lizzy. was thinking
Come few steps further, then. and will
find you a better place to think, for ii you
had eyes to sec, there is hornets nest yisi.
bic about foot from your head. in that ma
PIE sapling, and you are in what the news
papers call precarlous situation
So | am y thought | to myself, ald!n.
aloud 4 am bound TO follow you, madomol-
selle, only lead mc
\ brief walk Over the green field brought
ua to its upper corner, where the brook ledped
and chattered over a stony bed before it sung
itself to sleep in the silent channel, below.
trees rosy with bloom, filing the air with
their delicate and peculiar odor, and all MUIR
murous with honey-bees, whose loving labor
song only heightened the cool silence of the
shadow and the perfume; while the little
brooks laugh toned itself To hobolink
voice that echoed it, mad mirth back again
from the nearest fence post
Sit down said my liego lady, 1T is too
pleasant here not to he eniUyed
seated myself on the turf, still in dream.
while Iixzy bathed her hands and face III the
cool water, and anchored her flowers to a
stone on the edge of the stream to keep them
from fading, She came back to me looking
as fresh aud lovely us the spray of pink
arrle-hlossoms she held in her hand. and,
seating herself beside me, began to talk about
them. Her entirely unemharra-scd air gave
me a sort OF sInvcr, but listened.
Aren't these blossoms very pretty, Tom
There is something specially fascinating to
me about "appie-blows, as uncle Asa calls
them, they are so refined, 50 gracious. So
home like; withal softly and warmly tinted
and OF such delicate scent, little bitterness
about it, just enough to make it Jiquant,
not insipid sort of common sense, do YOU
understand And then they are 50 full Of
promise for future winter iircsidcs: ! have
a vision Of a whole cider barrel and ten apple
pies in the very cluster hold but really
am serious about their beauty and expressions
my flowers will do well to mate the wild
pigeons, won't they
As She spoke an oriole flashed across the
meadow and her own comparison for herself
made like fash across my thoughts, how
beautiful, how pquant she wds and OH
Thomas Petition Stevens, what fool you
were dyed in tho grain numbered on to
my knees before her, don remember how
and without one word Of warning gasped out
'oh Llzzy loy" You to distraction, can't
you love me
Her face was absolutely pale with surprlse,
then wild and fitting fear swept over 1t.
could see she thought me suddenly crazy, aud
the hot tears began TO FIJI my eyes, man that
was suppose she saw then that was
IN earnest, for she blushed most beautifully,
then bent her face down in both her little
hands, and began (oh reader pity me y actu-
ally to laugh-laugh till the red blush spread
to the very parting of her hair. colored the
slender throat, the small ear, and at length
the white fingers. 1t was too much could
not bear it, became a man again, and some
thing very like thrill Of anger brought me
| can only hope YOU may never know by
experience how to sympa,hiis with such
misery"
Poor Lil,y she had to bite her scarlet lips
full minute before she could speak
Really, Tom, | do not think you either
know me or yourself, or you would not have
fancied-what you neem to have Nav ask
how long you have been IN this desperate
stater
Oh, tbs wicked little witch that question
was uttered in the simplest, gravest tone. but
felt the satire to it's full extent grew
all-over-ish tno other phrase expresses it
Why" ssid / | diI not know it GER
ta!h.y H., this morning, but have felt 1t
unconsciously, this long time
Tom, Tom don't be metaphysically alb
suri, If you must be absurd, keep this side
to my feet. At this Lizzy looked Up, her
eyes full OF tears from long laughing and her
taco radiant with dimpling mirth, and vet
sweet shadow Of pity and surprise upon
1t. She held out her hand to mellow
could help taking it or sitting quietly
down by Lor side, very much IN the state
OF q waier-curc patient after his fret douche'
Dear Tom, said she, in the gentlest,
laughter weariod voice. do forgive mo. but
really could not help it, what does all you
this morning >
Nothing but what just told YOU, said |,
in suIky-dgniied manner
That was too much for Iizzy's seriousness.
49," Va "a" E'lN'i >ll''h IltI uRtlll,
and brought new tears, which she wiped
away sohcrly, and claspins her hands over
the handkerchief looked round at mc with a
grave face through which the comic air still
nckercd and discomposed ne.
Tom, you are very queer; | cannot believe
you really thought you were in earnest =
Hut wos, said |, having by this time
become disposed to high tragedy; i love you
dcsperatel y-deyotedly and if you choose to
laugh at the lifelong misery OLA fellow being
Of terms Now ! can tell you something that
you hare been "feeing uuconsciously, this
long time, -you not only do not love mo,
but you do love somebody else =
| drew long breath, and said lie 50 good
as to explain
i mean to- replied Lilzy, only t1ru round
50 can see you; for must catcchiso littlo,
! never can haranguo without interludcs, for
ten minutes together First, | am to prove