Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-01-17
BEGINN MING LIFE:
or, ROLLING OVER WITH PRETTY Girl
STREAM OF WATER.

DOlleau, we are lolu, was uGlVen lntO MS ca
reer by the hand of fate and the peck Of tur-
key. Atilla started in life with no other cause
and capital than an old sword which he was !
adroit enough to palm of for the divine weap- !
on of Mars; and Robespierre owed his polt
cal career to wetting his stockings, and there
"heard the words which burn" which fred his
soul, aud determined his course in life. My
running away from home came from minor
modification. caused by carrying a pretty girl
over the brook
Donald Leon and myself were good friends
at fourteen years OF age, aud we both regard
ed, with little more than friendship, pretty Hell
en- Graham, tour eldest girl" at school. We
romped and danced together, and this lasted for
such length Of time that it is with feelings Of
bew ildcrment that | look back upon the myste-
ry Of two lovers continuing friends But the
time came, as come it must, when jealousy lit
her spark in my boysh bosom, and blew it in-
to a consuming flame.
Well do | remember how aud when the
"green eyed perpetraled this incendiary deed.
1t was on a cold October evening. when Helen,
Donald and myself were returning with our
parents from neighborng hamlet. As we ap-
preached ford where the water ran somewhat
higher than ankle deep, we prepared 10 carry
Helen across, as we were accustomed TO do,
with hands interwOven, "chalr fashion, and
then carried our pretty passenger over the
brook Just as we were in the middle of the
water-which was cold enough at that time To
have frozen anything like feeling out of boys
less hardy than ourselves-a faint pang Of jeal-
ousy nipped my heart Why it was know
not, for we had carried Helen fifty times across
the brook ere now, without emotion, but this
evening thought or iancied that Helen gave
Donald an undue preference by casting her pret-
y arm around his neck, while she steadied her
self on my side by holding the cuff of my
jacket.
No fame can burn so quickly or with so lit
tie fuel as jealousy. Before we reached the
opposite bank, was wishing Donald a, the
"boltom Of the sea- Being naturally mpet-
uous, burst out with
"Yo need ma hand sac gingerly, Helen, as
il We feared fa | can aye carry ye lighter
than Donald can half Of ye.
Surprised a, the vehemence of my tone, our
queen iuterposed with an admission thai We
sparing my powers But Donad's ire was kin
died, and he utterly denied that | was at all
qualified To compete with him in feats of car
riage. On such topics boys generally en-
ulous. and by the time we reached iha onisS;' =
bank, ii was settled that that point should be
determined by our singly bearing Helen across
the ford in our arms.
Helen was 10 determine who had carried her
most easily, and settled with myself private
~ in advance, that the one who obtained the
preference would really be the person who stood
highest in her affections. The reflection slim
ulaied me 10 exert every effort, ard verify be
lieve to this day, that | could have carried
Donald and Helen on either arm like feathers
But | must not anticipate.
We suffered all the rest Of the party to pas
quietly along, and then returned 10 the ford
| lifted Helen with the utmost care, and car
rled her like an infant 10 the middle of the wa
ter. Jealousy had inspired a warmer love, AM
ii was with feelings unknown before that EN-
braced her lovely form, and felt the pressure o
her check against mine. All went swimming
ly, or rather wadngly, for a minute Blu, alas
in the deepest part Of the ford, | trod on
treacherous piece Of wood, which rested, sup
pose, on a smooth stone. Over rolled, bear
ing Helen with me, nor did we rise iil iairl
soaked from head 10 fuot.
l need not describe the taunls of Donald, q
the more accusing silence of Helen. Both bt
j le>ed that had fallen from mere weakues:
and my rival demonstrated his superior ability
bearing her for long distance on our hoin'
"a t,atb Az annraaclpd ha tnusn fap
r lug dry aud better humored, she attempted /
conclliate me, But preserved a moody S
r. leuce. ! was mortified beyond redress.
That night packed up few things and ra
i away. My boyish mind, sensitive and iriit
+ ted, exaggerated the nega,ion which it had r.
c ceved and prompted me 10 course which fu
d tunaiely led 10 better results than generally a
tend such Irregularities. went 10 Edlnburg
'i where found an uncle, 4 kind hearted, chill
less man, who gave Inc place IN his hous
!, and employed me in his business. w cal
n flowed in upon him. became his partner
e went abroad-resided four years on the con
J. neni; and finally returned to Scotland, rlc
i educated, in short, everything but married.
W One evening, while II bali in Glasgow
was struck by young lady Of unpretendi
appearance, but whose remarkable beauty a
y high-oned expression, indicated mind of wo
'e than ordinary power. ! was introduced, /
the Scottish names had long been unfamiliar
n my ear, and | could not catch hers. II "
IS Helen something, and there was something
e, her face, too, that seemed famillar-somethi
suggestive of pleasure and pain.
lie But we became well acquainted that evenir
AL learned without difficulty her history S
H. was from the county, had been educated,
ne parents had lost their property, and she v
le- now governess in a family in the city.
u. | was fascinated by her conversation, Q
~ -. was continually reminded by her grave and
", fnemcni of manner, that she was capable
Gu moving with a distinguished success in
''' higher sphere than that which fortune seen
to have allotted her. | am naturally nett
"" talkaive nor prone 10 confidence; but III
10 10 was that in this young lady which inspired b
"e and conversed with her as had never c
W 'W's yersed with any. Her questions of the VI
' ous. countries with which ! was familiar, il
y" y, Gated a remarkable knowlege Of literature
r ..,c