Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-06-06


world a moonlight island amid dusky ocean,
the air of which was ever whispering like
sea-shell. The field before US sent up an end
less chorus OF insect sounds every blade Of
grass was tongue signing all manner of drow-
siness, yet so as to provoke the most intensely
waketul spirit in the listener, whose every fac
ulty became keenly alive to the dreamy delight
Of that music.
l was soothed into holy feeling, a sense Of
pleasant mystery and of bonndless, thrilling
life, such as we are subject to in childhood, but
which was novel and refreshing to confirmed
bachelor who had seen the world. was pen
etrated by consciousness Of the purity and
sweetness which enveloped my companion like
a halo. The stars flickered like torches in the
open air, on a still night.
There" said |. "is constellation 10 which
you should often turn. | could believe that
you had been born under its influences. There
close together on their phantom steeds, ride
Castor and Polux, who approved themselves
such friends on earth that they were thought
worthy to be translated and their NAMES are
written side by side in the armament. Nova
days, in this uncasscal age, male friendship
generally consists in mutual agreement to do
in company what each party would be ashamed
10 do alone so as to double the excitement and
divide the shame of excess, and have each 9TH
er's counienances in youthful wckedness
81 do not know the nature Of your friend
ships. 1t must be very difficult for gentlemen
to be really and at all times friends, since they
are forced to be rivals so often We are capa-
BILE Of friendship in which there can be no
jealousy. You know that woman seems born
TO be sympaihizing with something or somebody.
Indeed, although il is not natterng to believe
il, am sure that some men seek our society
merely for the sake of the repose they find in
our companionshp. There is no trial of the
strength of different minds permitted among us,
and there is boundess power of appreciation
which we delight in exercising, for it lie our in
stinct 10 find out and take TO heart whatever is
excellent. Beside all this, we never lie, friend
ship lang guish-because we do not happen TO be
in the mood"
Across the fields from the black forest which
skirted the fading distance came the breaihings
of the night wind ever and anon heavily tossing
back the waving hair which lay, damp with the
dew, upon her temples.
Sill with her sweet voice and child-like
manner she pleaded for the beauty and holiness
Of a friendship between the sexes. She spoke
Of the elevating influence of woman an inHu-
ence which could not help conceding. although
resolved not to be the object of its particular ex-
ercise. She seemed to think that it worked
the miracle which we see it performing through
sJ 9s sa wSd aSl SS sdIse' End hs
each individual man was, more or less, in love
with some one woman, but because every man
grew accustomed 10 respect all women. | had
the strength OF mind to insist that the respect
which we pretend for the whole sex is merely
the kindly effect Of our vanity; our conviction
that by taking little pains, we can inspire any
one Of them with a consuming affection. We
look benevolently upon these gentle creatures
whe are liable at word 10 become victims of
a hopeless passion for us; we strive to make
their lives pleasant to them ere they are blight
ed forever; we are tender OF our worshippers
as we are Of flowers; for the sake of the in
cense which they send up before the lord of
creation the numberless graces which they lay
at his feet.
"The teachings of La Rochefoucaut have
ruined you, perceive" she answered, laugh
ing merrily.
"They told me that you were odd and cyni-
cal, and were hurrying 10 become misan-
thrope in your youth. But you shall not spoil
the whole race Of men, because one man has
good opinion of himself and bad opinion of
the rest Of his fellow creatures. Yet am sure
you have not bad heart"
And her bright eyes, fixed on me, shone in
to my soul; lighting up the dark recesses there
in which had put away the good in me, be-
cause it was commonplace, and casting into
shadow my worse nature, which ! generally
made prominent. i was seized with wild
impulse to throw myself on her mercy and beg
her 10 be my friend, my counsellor, and beacon
of my life, pure, steadfast, and high as the
northern star above US. A sudden recollection
of that elderly gentlemans fate, which she had
by good fortune described in the early part of
our interview, benumbed my soul The moon
light kissed her hands, which were clasped to-
gether, and wrapping each arm in its shining
folds, crept with warmer CLEAN under the
wide oriental sleeve. The same cold light gilt
'S'Ss 80 "S' SJSo' A'o oPOCtdi uIIRHtHtso anu
black SHADOW gave her form an indstinct, un-
earthly look.
"Will you grant me favori' whispered
in spite of myself: 81 have no sister, There
is no woman in the world upon whose sympa-
thies ] have the slightest claim have not a
male friend whom l would trust with single
strong feeling. Let the kindness of your heart,
and the faith which you must have in my sin
cerity and my respect for you, let our inter-
course hitherto plead for me. Will you think
me presumpious, if ask your friendships
will exert every faculty to become worthy oil
it,"
"Perhaps," added, very earnestly, "the
future course Of my life depends on your an.
swer.''
81 think can trust YOU" she replied grave.
ly, after thoughtful silence; IL grant your
request, frankly and truly, as believe it tc
have been made"
The moon, remember, shone cold as ever
but the stars twinkled mschievously, and the
night wind sighed around me, as it sighs around
a solitary frost-bitten leaf which is about TO be
swept from its high estate of single blessed
ness, and be trodden, as its fellows we're into
common mould.