Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-05-14

D through the glass orifces of the machine. an
proceeded to exhibit q series of the most out
rageous scratchings and daubings, as spec
mems OF the fine arts, that ever an itineran
Snowman had the face to impose upon hi
circle OF spectators. The pictures were worl
out, moreover-tattered, full of cracks an
wrinkles, dingy with tobacco smoke, an,
! otherwise in most pitiable condition. Som
Purported to be the cities, public edifces an,
ruined castles in Europe; others representa-
Napoleon's battles and Nelson's sea fights
and in the midst of these might be seen n pi
gantlc, brown, hairy hand, which nigh
nave been mistaken for the hand of destiny
though in truth it was only the Snowman
pointing with his forciinger to variou.
scenes OF the conflict, while its owner CAV,
historical illustrations. When, with much
merrlment at its abominable deficiency q
merit. the exhibition was concluded. tb,
German bade little Joe put his head into the
box, Viewed through the magnifyinc glass
es, the boys round, rosy vsage assumed the
strongest imaginable aspect of an immense
Tiantic child, the mouth grinning broadly
ana the eyes and every other feature overflow
ing with fun at the joke. Suddenly, how.
ever, that merry face turned pale, and its ex-
preston turned to horror, for this easily i'm
pressed and excitabll child had become sensi-
bic that the eye of Ethan Brand was fixed
upon him through the glass
"Ioa make the little man afraid captain "
said the German jew, turning up the dark
and strong outline of his visage from his
STOPPING posture. "But look again, and by
chance, shall cause you to see something
that is very line, upon my word ~
Ethan Brand gazed into the box for an
instant, and then starting back, looked fixed
" at the German. What had he seen :?
Nothing apparently, for curious youth, who
had peeped in almost at the same moment,
beheld only vacant space of canvass.
, II remember you, now," muttered Ethan
Brand to the Snowman.
"Ah, captain whispered the Jew of
Nuremburgh, with dark smile, 81 find it
10 be heavy matter in my show -box-this
objectionable Sin! BY my faith, captain.
it has weared my shoulders this day to carry
1t over the mountain
Peace ~ answered Ethan Brand, rternly,
or get thee into the furnace vonder.''
The jews exhibition had scarcely conclude
when great elderly dog-who seemed to be
ms own master, as no person in the company
laid claim to him-saw fit to render himself
the object of public notice. Hitherto he had
shown himself as very quiet, well disposed
old dog, going round from one to another,
and, by way of being sociable, Offering his
rough head to be patted by any kindly hand
that would take 30 much trouble. But now.
all OF sudden, this grave and venerable
quadruped, OF his own mere motion, and
without the slightest suggestion from any
body else, began to run about after his tail.
which, to highten the absurdity of the scene,
was great deal shorter than it should have
been Never was such headlong eagerness in
pursuit OF an object that could not possibly
be attained; never was heard such tremepd-
Gus outbreak of growling, snarling, barking
and swapping, as if one end of the ridiculous
brutc's body were at deadly enmity with the
other. Faster and faster round about went
the cur, and faster and still faster fled the
unapproachablc brcvity of his tail and louder
and tierccr grew his yells of rage and animos-
lty, until, utterly exhausted and as far from
the goal as ever, the foolish old dog ceased
his performance as suddenly as he had begun
it, The next moment he was as quiet, mild.
sensible and respectable in his department as
when he hlst scraped acquaintance with the
company.
AS may be supposed. the exhibition was
greeting with universal laughter, clapping of
hands, and shouts Of L" Encore to which
the canine performer responded by wagging
all that there was to wag of his tail, but ap-
pcared totally unable to repeat his very sue
cessful effort to amuse the spectators.
Meanwhile, Ethan Brand had resumed his
seat upon the log, and moved, it might be,
by perception of some remote analogy be-
tween his own case and that of this self-pur-
suing cur, he broke into the awful laugh
which more than any other token, expressed
the condition of his inward being. And at
that moment the merriment of the party was
at an end; they stood about, dreadine lest
the inauspicious sound should be reverberated
around the horizon, and that mountain would
thunder it to mountain, and so the sound be
prolonged upon their ears. Then, whisper
ing to one another that it was late; that the
moon was almost down that the August
night was. growing chill, they hurried home
wards, leaving the lime-burner and little Joe
to deal as they might with their unwecome
guest. Save for these three human beings,
the open space on the hillside was solitude.
set in vast gloom of forest Beyond that
darksome verge, the fre-lights glimmered on
the stately trunks and almost black foliage
OF pines, intermixed with the lighter verdufo
of sapling oaks, naples and poplars, VIII lie
here and there lay gigantic copses of trees, de-
caying on the leaEstrewn soil And it seemed
to little Joe-a timorous and imaginative
child-that the silent forest was holding its
breath until some fearful thing should hap
pen.
Ethan Brand thrust more wood into the fire.
and closed the door of the kiln then looking
over his shoulder at the lime-burner and his
son, he bade, rather than advised, them to
retire to rest.
For myself, cannot Sleep" said he; 81
have matters that it concerns me to mediate
upon will watch the fire, as | used to do
in the old time
"And call the devil out of the furnace to
keep you company, suppose, muttered
Bertram, who had been making intimate ac-
toned. " But watch, if you like, and call
as many devils as you like For my part,
shall be all the better for a snooze Come,
Joe ="
As the boy followed his father into the hut,
he looked back at the way-hrer, and tears
came into his eyes. for his tender spirit had
an intuition of the bleak and terrible loneli-
ness in which this man had enveloped himself.
When they were gone Ethan Brand sat
listening to the cracking ofthe kndled wood,
and looking at the spirits of fire that issued
through the chinks of the door These trihes,
however, once 50 familiar, had but the
slightest hold of his attention, while deep
within his mind he was reviewing the
gradual but marvellous change that had been
wrought upon him by the selrch to which he
had devoted himself. He remembered how
the light dew had fallen upon him how the
stars had cleaned upon him, a simple and
loving man, watching his fire in years gone
by, and even musing as it burned. lie
remembered with what tenderness, with what
love and sympathy for mankind, and what
pity for human guilt and woe he had first
began to contemplate those ideas which after
wards became the inspiration of his life; ; with
what reverence he had then looked into the
heart ofman, viewing it as a temple origin