Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-03-24
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S I'M PIE N E LII.
A Village Chronicle.
BY c. Il. S. H.

1 BY C. H. s.H.
/ Hardened, indeed, must the heart be
whose pulsation are not quickened by the
sound of familiar voice. though long
forgotten, or even strain of music; rak
ing from the Utmost cells of memory ten
der, yet sad recollections Of childhood s
home.
A sudden gush of melody from blind
harper in the street, overwhelms me
with such a food of sweet sensation,
close my eyes, In fancy am once more
beneath the roof tree of the old home
stead, the harvest moon cleaning peace
fully through the easements upon the
silyery han of my venerable sire, as
his trembling voice joins freely in the
solemn strain of the evening hymn, which
rose nightly in aoulation to the Most
High. That sweet evening hymn its
cadence still fingers in my ear, nysteri
ously stirring in the depth of my spirit,
long, silent echoes of tbs past.
| Surely artist never depicted, nor poet
ever described, a more exquisite spot than
amid the Green Mountains in Vermont.
with It's white cots scattered here and
there, looking, from the top Of one of
those high mountains, as ifa rose had shed
her snowy leaves upon a tiny space of
grassy lawn. Nor can | forget the
sparkling little rivulet near our cottage
door. whose musical gusgHng has SO oft
| lnlled me to slumber. Our village. too,
had its traditions. It's garrnlous old
crones, with nodding head aud toothless
gums, whose awesome tales, told by the
pickering freight, have made me cover
and shiver,' see strange sights and dream
strange dreams, as no mortal ever
dreamed before.
Among the varied phantasmagoria
passing before my minds eye, still can
see a harmless, crazy woman, generally
called Simple Nell" How well re-
member the tall, gaunt form gliding
noiselessly by, heavy masses of raven
hair, streaked with grey, hanging DISNEY
e'ed over her shoulders, her large dark
eyes glancing fearfuIly around, over and
anon peering behind her with a weried
and frightened glance. Such was Sim
pie Nell, the harmless bug bear Of my
childish days.
Few who had known Helen Grey in
the rich bloom of sunny youth and beau
/ ty listened to the soft, sweet tones of her
musical voice, marked the crimson blush
mantling on her round cheek, watched
the cleaning brightness of her large,
dark eyes, shaded by long, thick lashes,
and traced the blue veins upon her marble
brow, over which waved the glossy hair
few, knowing her thus, would have
prophesied the total wreck Of reason, the
unhappy fate Of the young and lovely
Helen.
Tue idol of fond, indulgent parents,
betrothed to the best and handsomest
youth in the village, Helen's life was one
CLEAN of sunshine-no shadow had ever
fallen upon her bright pathway.
Christmas, merry Christmas, had come,
with its cheering festivities, it's holly
boughs and scarlet berries, its well laden
tables groaning with good cheer. its fes
tai games and diversions. 1t was Christ
mas eve. The slanting rays of the sett
ing sun threw crimson glow over the
] pure mantle of snow which covered the
earth, as gay party were assembled be
fore the door of Helen Grey in sleighs
with the merry bells sending forth mus
zeal chime upon the keen, frosty air
i All there are few sounds so welcome
to a young youthful heart, as those same
Igingling tinkling bells, particularly when
from the biting air, the timid maiden
nestles closer to the side of him she loves
best on earth at least SO thought Helen
| Grey, as, blusling for the delay. she gai
/ ly sprang into the little fanciful sleigh.
followed by Robert Lee, her brotherhood.
And, as the last merry laugh mingled
with the Ginning bells, died away in the
; distance, the old matrons of the village
! closed their doors, and assembled around
their glowing hearthstones, beguiled the
passing hours in pleasant "reminiscences
OF by gone days.
/ twas glorious sunset. The noun.
tain tops and the unsulIied snow cleaned
with deeper and deeper crimson. while
the pendent icicles and hoar upon the
branches of the trees glittered with
prismatic splendor, and huge masses and
tiers OF golden and purple clouds fingered
IN the west, catching the last rays o.
glory from their departed monarch.
Proudly rose the bright full moon, ii
the star gemmed sky, and onward cheer
lily few the gay party, beaeath her pur,
silvery light, and as the keen air tingec
each cheek with. a more rudy hue, til,
laugh and jest became more and more
merry. At length, on arriving at a eros
road. it was proposed that the part,
should separate, and each endeavor tt
reach the village at the same period
All agreeing, adieus were given, and tn