Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-02-20

returned to the south Of France, and in the
course Of years he too was numbered with the
dead
Almost half n century passed away, and
the memory of Grace lngersoll had long since
boon oblterated from my mind, when it was
accidentally recalled. One evening, being at
the Tuilleries--among the celebrities Of the
world most brilliant COURT saw her broth
er. r.. /. Ingersoll. It was curious to meet
with one to whom / had never spokcn-tho
] had occasionally seen him--since we were
boys together in Ridgefeld. The last incl
dent associated with him in my memory was
that we played mumbletepeg together on the
green mound beneath the old Ingersoll button
woods. lie was now an American Ambassa-
dor to Russia, and on his way thithor, and
was chance sojourner in Paris.
We met as If we were old friends. At
length remembered his sister Grace. and
asked if her children were living lie replied
in the affirmative. and that he was on the point
Of paying them visit. saw him month
afterward, and he told me that he had just
returned from The south of France, whore he
had enjoyed a most interesting stay of fort
night with his nieces One, the elder, was
married, and had children around her. She
was the wife of an eminent physician, and in
easy circums mstances-occupying good social
position. She was a charming person, and, as
he thought. possessed something of the ap-
pearance and character of his lost sister. He
/ found that she could sing the simple Conncc-
/ ticut ballad-taught her in childhood, perhaps
in the cradle by her mother she had also
some of her sketches in pencil. and other per-
sonal mcmcntoos, which she cherished as sa-
cred relics Of her parent, who now seemed a
saint in her memory. How beautiful and how
touching arc such rcmombrances-dowers that
cast perfume around the very precincts of the
tomb.
The other niocc-whcre was she; In a
convent lost to the world-devotcd to God
/ if indeed to extinguish the lights oflifo be de-
votion to Him who gave them. By special
favor, however. she was permitted to leave
her seclusion for a short period, that She might
sec her uncle. She came TO the house Of her
sister, and remained there several days She
was amost interesting person, delicate, grace
full, sensitive, still alive to all humane aiiec-
tions. She was generally cheerful, and enter
ed with ready heart into the pleasures Of
home and friends around her. shall venture
TO quote a single passage from letter on this
subject addressed TO me by her uncle. Speak
ing of his visit above alluded to, he says
"One day. alter we had been talking as usu-
al of America and her American relations. she
excused herself to me for short time, that
she might go to her room and write a letter
TO the convent. She was gone from me much
longer than | expected and on her return l
! said to- her
You must have been writing a long letter,
if may judge by the time you have been a.
+ bout it 2
Yes, was the reply but have not been
writing all the while; have been praying.
/ Indeed do you pray often;
Yes. and eyen more often here than when
( am at the convent. l fear. my dear uncle,
that my affection for you Will attach me too
much to earth -
How strange, how affecting are the yicissi-
tudes Of life, as we read them in the intimate
personal histories Of homes and hearts The
immediate grandchildren of the Puritan min
lister of Ridgofeld--the one mother, blend
ing her name, her lineage, and her language,
in the annals of a foreign land the other, a
dovotee, seeking in the seclusion of her coli
and perhaps not altogether in yain-"that
peace which the world cannot give