Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-07-22

w tile illl Wise being " VINO u0ctn all thlDSS
we'll, y and soon after sleep spread his drowsy
wing above their pillows.
| CHAPTER II.
Oh! there is sweetness in the mountain air,
And life which bloated may never hope to share.
| Byron.
| There noble FORM which oft Marked,
As the full blossom of bright boyhoods charms
Ripened to manly beauty.-Mrs. Sigourney.
Noras father was native of Connecticut.
His father had emigrated from England, bring
ing with him goodly fortune, and thus, at his
death, his son found himself quite wealthy. Be-
ing Of an adventurous disposition, he left his
young wife and two small children-the eldest
a boy, the youngest girl-and in company with
a few of his youthful companions sought the
wilds of the New Hampshire Grants.
Here he purchased land of Gov. Wentworth,
and, being carpenter, soon erected the house
we have seen. Not long after he removed his
wife and children, and cousin of his wife-Le-
ma Morris-to this new home. Two years gil
ded happily away, and then, while engaged in
cutting timber on his neighbor Brandon g farm,
he was almost instantly killed by afalling tree.
He lived long enough to tell his friend who was
soon bending over him, to take care of his wife
and children, and then expired.
This sudden bereavement fell with crushing
weight upon his wife, and her anxious friend
soon saw that her constitution, naturally frail,
was fast giving way to her grief. About a
month after her husbands death, Mrs Mon
telle was surprised by visit from her brother,
James Malcott, who while a boy had run away
from home, and who from all the accounts they
heard, and his occasional visits home, had led a
reckless life. He was now accompanied with a
little boy, he called his son, and said he had
lately buried his wife.
Mrs. Montelle, surprised by the apparently
great change in her brother, together with the
warm sympathy OF her sisterly heart, joyfully
welcomed him to her home; and becoming
aware that she was fast passing away she begged
him to accept home with them, and take
charge of her chldren's property, till they were
of age to do SO themselves. Soon after obtain
ing his promise that he would do so her spirit
winged its way to a brighter clime-leaving her
cousin Lena to take her place as tutor to hel
; orphaned children. Little did she know that
brothers. heart, but Brandon, noticing that he
avoided the society of his neighbors, resolved tt
watch him. Malcott, however, left the man
agement of the farm to Ralph, young maj
who had always lived with Montelle, and whit
! had been firmly attached to him, and as Ralpl
came to him if he wished advice, Brandon
suspicious soon subsided.
About year after the death of his mother
the boy, Eugene Montelle, suddenly disappeared
| and as they found the basket in which he gath
cred berries by the side of the river, and hi
hat lodged on stick in the water farthc
down, it was supposed he was drowned, thoug
, they could never find his body.
Another character, who was found living in
v small cave in the neighborhood, soon after tn
arrival of Mr.. Malcott among them, had game
0 quite notoriety with the good people of B. b
pretending to tell fortunes. She was an ol
woman who went by the name of " Old Ma
the Witch" She spent the warm weatht
h roaming through the woods, sometimes callin
8 at the houses, and oftener not; but when viii
ter approached she would disappear, no OF
I. 4 |. ~ II
/, snow was melted away. She never seemed
:, be in want of clothing and always wore ligl
II bonnet from which long tangled masses of blat
= hair Aoated down her shoulders and over h
u yellow shawl. Her voice was harsh and shri
her eyes piercing black, and the beholder wou
y quickly turn away from their gaze, feeling tn
they were capable of reading his very sou
She seemed 70 possess some hidden power ov
those she met, and some even went SO far as
t say she was leagued with the Evil One.
y With this long depression we will return
Nora, who having received her aunt's instru
4 tons, (for she always called Lena aunt,) m
her uncle and cousin as usual in the morning
lleT uliClt boOn OCCuSlOH W dhk NOI
~ what are your conclusions in regard to Jasol
proposals?
Is IL do not think can ever marry him, Ii
,r Gle, she replied, &" but if it ,oas my mother
IS wish, may be reconciled to it sometime, b
" not at present.
le alt pas, Nora," said Jason, who was b.
if and both seeming to think what she had said
good as a promise, and knowing everything
a mother had said or done was held sacred by h
they said no more.
TX Soon after they again left home, saying
ill was uncertain when they should return.
The day was very warm, and towards mig
w the sky was overcast with clouds betokenin,
II. heavy shower Not until about dusk did
no burst, and then the lightning darted from clio
to cloud, and the thunder seemed almost cont
.r, ually uttering its warning voice, while the RI
'rs commenced falling in torrents.
I" This is indeed fearful shower, said No
ed rising and closing the door, through which
heavy drops were pattering. Resuming her s
by aunt Lena, she continued, "are you
lot frightened, aunt?"
No, my dear, why should we fear ?-afo
not in Gods hands }"