Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-03-06

COutradlctcu. / ADMIT nave committed u cap
ital error, but it is too late to repair it,
a COLD FRIDAYS ADVENTURE.
Returning one dav, in about the SEVENTEEN
year of his age, from professional visit to Or
angc County, New York, he related with evi-
dent delight, an adventure which he had had
during his absence. have the story from the
lady to whom he told it first.
1t was one of the cold.Frday's of tradition
when the incident occurred. So cold was il that
few living creatures could long support life cx-
posed to the blast. The snow lay deep on the
ground the roads were impcricctly broken the
air was filled with particles of snow blown by
the wind. Col Burr had a ride of twenty miles
before him that day, to attend a court which
met on the day following. lie had compan-
ion with him, his partner in the law, a gentle
man forty years his junior, who. after trying in
vain to persuade him not TO attempt the Jour
ncy. refused, point blank, to ACCOMPANY him.
Burr consulted his man, and finding him will
ing to go, ordered round his sleigh, they set off
about the middle of the day. As night drew on
the roads became worse, and the cold increased
to such a degree that to keep the blood in mo-
ton required laborous eXcrtion. As the wind
swept down from the mountains, even the horse
shrunk from facing it., and gave signs of Weld
ing to the cold. For himself Burr had no fears !;
no weather could subduc him, but his driver be-
gan to occasion him constant anxiety. as the
drowSiness prcmonitory of the torpor that pre-
cedcs freezing was coming over him. Finding
that the drOwSncSs increased, he resolved at
last to stop at the next house they came to.
They were now in thinly settled country. which
Burr had not seen since revolutionary times.
when he had been much in the ncighborhood
with his regiment. About nine o'clock the light
of little cottage came in sight to the door of
which Burr's summons brought an old lady, who
proved to be its only inhabitant.
"ls there hospitality here ?" asked Burr we
are nearly dead with cold
Come in,' was the old lady's prompt reply,
"lou are welcome to the best | have"
In few minutes he had his halffrozen ser
want by the side of blazing fire, and his horse
in the stable. While they were getting warm,
the hostess prepared supper, TO which, in due
time. they were invited. Restored then to the
use of his faculties Burr looked about him and
observed that, though every thing in the room
was of an unpretending and inexpensive char
actcr, vet all was clean and nicely arranged.
The only ornamental object was a plaster bust
standing upon little shelf He had casual,
noticed this on entering the room. and looking
now to ascertain which of the national favoritcS
it was whom the old lady had selected to adorn
her abode he was aStonNhcd To discover that
it was bust Of himself Twenty years before,
this would have been no unusual circumstance
but rare indeed was it then for him to be thus
reminded of his former condition. More to
amuse his servant than for any other reason he
said as the old lady was putting away her Dishes
"What have you got that vile traitor here ,"
The woman paused in he her work as h. ut
tered these words. Her manner changed in
moment. Putting down some plates which she
had in her hand, She walked slowly up to the
fire where he was sitting and standing before
him, said with intense emphasis:
" Sir, have taken You in tonight. and have
done the best | could for YOU; bur if YOU say
another word against Aaron Brrr, I'll put YOU
and your man out whore YOU came from quicker
than you cin.. :" d."
lie apoocized, and, after a time. succeeded
in regaining her good will. He did not tell her
who he was. nor could he rccollect her He
supposed he must have known her in early life.
when. as the Youngest colonel in the army. and
the protector of that county, he must have been
a brilliant figure in the imagination of country
girl
THE BLOOD OF ALL THE MoNTRo>ES.
scene occurred in the dinng-room of the
house while he lay helpless. which may rs well
be related here. \ gentleman called To engage
board. found suitable rooms and said he would
call in the afternoon to say whether he would
take them. He came to dinner. Addressing
himself in an embarrassed hesitating manner to
the landlady. he said he had Just heard of a cir
cumstance which would deprive him of the pleas
ure he had anticipated in residing under her
roof He understood that Aaron Burr was
bourder in the house and he really could not
live in the same house with a man of that char
actcr.
The blood of all the Montroses was up in
moment. She rose from her chair. and said
with flashing eye, and subdued intensity of tone ::
"Iou have been misinformed, Sir Col. Burr
is not a boardcr in this house. lie is my guest
Sir.my honored guest Before any boarder in
this house is served, Colonel Burr is served"
Then, turning to a servant who was waiting
at the table, She said, in the manner of Napoleon
ordering a column to the attack:
Patrick, take away that persons plate, and
open the door.
Patrick obeyed, and the "person" retired
without yenturing any further observations.
This brave lady could not, of course escape
sharing. to some extent, the odium that sur
rounded the name of the man whose last days
her wit and kindness chcered.
"What do you think I've heard this morning
Colonel ?' said she to him on one occasion.
i" They say I'm your daughter"
"Well," said he, "wc don't care for that, do
we?"
d" Not bit :" was her reply. But they say
something else, Colonel" she continued " they
say was your mistress"
DO they P' said he, Z" | don't think we care
much for that either, do we ?"
They must say what they choose" she re-
piled, the gallant soldiers daughter
But" said he, taking her hand in both his
and lifting it to his lips, his hands shaking with
paralysis I'll tell you something they might
say that would be true Let them say this of
you: She gare the oM man home ,cben nobody
else Wouid"
lie uttered these words with an emphasis so
tender and penetrating, that two of his relatives
who were present, one member of the bar, and
the other Judge, could not refrain from tears.
THE MORAL.
To judge this man, to decide how far he was
unfortunate, and how far guilty how much we
ought to pity, and how much we ought to blame
him, is task beyond my powers And what
occasion is there tor.judging him, or for judg-
ing any one? We all know that his life was an
unhappy failure. He failed to gain the small
honors at which he aimed he failed to live a
life worthy of his opportunities he failed to
achieve Il character worthy of his powers. It
was great, great pity. And any one is to be
pitied who in thinking of it, has any other feel
mos than fhnSp of f,r