Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-11-04
MONTPELIER, VERMONT, THURSDAY NOVEMBER A. 1859

piers leg all the while, g Dey not hurt Tina. "
Then Mrs. Bellamy would, perhaps, be going
out to gather the rose leaves and lavender, and
Tina was made proud and happy by being al
lowed to carry handful in her pinaforc; hap
pier still. when they were spread out in sheets
to dry, so that could sit down like frog among
them, and have them poured over her in fragrant
showers. Another frequent pleasure was to
take journey with Mr.. Bates through the
kitchen gardens and the lighthouses, where the
rich buuches of green and purple grapes hung
from the roof, far out of reach of the tiny yell
low hand that couldn't help stretching itself
out towards them though the hand was sure
at last to be satisfied with some delicate favored
fruit or sweet scented flower Indeed, IN the
long monotinous leisure of that great country
house, you may be sure there was always some
one who had nothing better to do than to play
with Tina. So the little southern bird had its
northern nest lined with tenderness, and Ca
resses, and pretty things A loving, sensitive
nature was too likely, under such nurture, to
have its susceptibility heightened into unftness
for an encounter with any harder experience :;
all the more, because there were CLEANS of fierce
resistance to any discipline that had a harsh or
unlovng aspect For the only thing in which
Caterina showed any precocity was a certain in
genuity in vindictiveness. When she was five
years old she had revenged herself for an un-
pleasant prohibition, by pouring the ink into
Mrs. Sharp's work-basket; and once, when
Lady Cheverel took her doll from her, because
she was afectionately licking the paint off its
face, the little mink straightway climbed on a
chair and threw down fower-vaso that stood
on bracket. This was almost the only in
stance in which her anger overcamc her awe of
Lady Cheveral who had the ascendancy always
belonging to kindness that never melts into Ca
resses, and is severely but uniformly benefcent.
By-and-by the happy monotony of Chevere
Manor was broken in upon in the way Mr.
Warren had announced. The roads through
the park were cut up by Wagons earring loads
of stone from neighboring quarry, the green
courtyard became dusty with lime, and the
peaceful house rang with the sound of TOOLS
For the next ten years Sir Christopher was oc-
cupied with the architectural metamorphosis of
his old family mansion; thus anticipating,
through the prompting of his individual taste,
that general reaction from the insipid imitation
of the Palladian style towards a restoration of
the Gothic, which marked the close of the
eighteenth century. This was the object he had
set his heart on, with singleness of determna-
ton which was regarded with not little con
tempt by his fox-hunting neighbors, who won
dered greatly that man with some of the best
blood of England in his veins, should be mean
enough to economist his cellar, and reduce his
stud to two old coach-horses and hack, for
the sake of riding hobby, and playing the
architect. Their wives did not see so much to
blame in the matter of the cellar and stables,
but they were eloquent in pity for poor Lady
Cheverel, who had to live in no more than three
rooms at once, and who must be distracted with
noises, and have her constitution undermined
by unhealthy smells. 1t was bad as having a
husband with an asthma. Why did not Sir
Christopher take a house for her at Bath, or, at
least if he must spend his time in overlooking
workmen, somewhere in the neighborhood of
the Manor? This pity was quite gratutous, as
the most plentiful pity always is; for though
Lady Cheverel did not share her husbands
architectural enthusiasm, she had too rigorous a
view of wife's duties, and too profound a
Difference for Sir Christopher to regard submis-
sion as grievance. As for Sir Christopher, he
was perfectly indifferent to criticism. " An
obstinate, crotchety man," said his neighbors.
But |, who have seen Cheverel Manor as he le-
queathed it to his heirs, rather attribute that
answering architectural purpose Of his, con-
ceived and carried out through long years oi
systematic personal exertion, to something Of
the fervor of genius, as well as inhexibility o.
will; and in walking through those rooms
with their splendid ceilings and their meagrt
furniture, which tell how all the spare money
had been absorbed before personal comfort wal
thought of, have felt that there dwet in th
old English baronet some of that sublime spiri
which distinguishes art from luxury, and wor
ships beauty apart from selfindulgence.
When Cheverel Manor was growing from ug
illness into beauty, Caterina too was growing
from little yellow bantling into whittier maid
> en-. with no positive beauty indeed, but with
light airy grace, which with her appealing darl
eyes, and voice which, in its low toned ten
derness, recalled the love notes of the stock
) dove, gave her more than usual charm. Tn
! like the building, however, Caterina's develop
ment was the result of no systematic or careful
G appliances. She grew up very much like tn
4 primroses, which the gardener is not sorry
D see growing within his enclosure, but takes n
pains to cultivate. Lady Chevercl taught he
t to read and write, and say her catech ism s; Mi
0 Warren being good accountant, gave her les
sons in arithmetic, by her ladyship's desire
> and Mrs. Sharp initiated her in all the mystt
ries of the needle. But for long time, ther
It was no thought of giving her u more elaborat
Il education. 1t is very likely that to her dyin
+? day Caterina thought the earth stood still, an
Z that the sun and stars moved around it, bl
i So for the matter of that, did Helen, and ID i'd
:. and Desdemona, and Juliet, whence hope yo
; will not think my Caterina less worthy to be
n heroine on that account. The truth is, tina
h with one exception, her only talent lay in 10
h ing and there it is probable the most astro
S. omical of women could not have surpassed he
lie Orphan and protege though she was, this s.
/, prcme talent of hers found plenty of exercise
If Cheverel Manor, and Caterina had more peop
a to love than many small lady and gentem,
IA affluont in silver mugs and blood relations.