Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-11-30
MIS- G. Il LII A N Y .
DAVID SWAN.
nv NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE,


come close upon Us, ys, passed away with
out actual results, nor even bctray their
near approach, by the reflection ofAny ligh,
or shadow across our minds. Could We
know all the yicis.iiudes Of our fortunes.
life would DO too full OF hope aud fear, eS.
ul,a,ion or disappointment, TO AFFORD u' a
single hour Of true serenity. This may Be
illustrated by page from the 'ccrc: history
Of David Swan.
We have nothing 10 do with David until
We end him at the age Of twenty. on the
high road from his native place IN the city
Of Boston. where hi. uncle, small dealer
in tho grocery line, was TO take him behind
the counter. he IL enough TO ay, that he
was native Of New Hampshire. born Of
respectable parents, and had received an
ordinary school education, with q classical
6nish by year at Gilmanton Academy
After journeying on foot, TILL near noon Of
n summers day. his weArincss and the fast
Increasing heat determined him to ut In tho
6r., convenient, shade and await the coming
up ofthc stage coach A. II planted on
purpo.e Tor him. there appeared little
tun Of NAPLES. with delightful recess in
their midst. and such q fresh bubhlInG
spring. tha, 1, seemed never 10 have sparkloI
ior any wayiarcr but David Swan. Virgin
or not. ho kissed IL with hi, thirsty lip',
and then lung himself along tho brink, pill.
lowIng hi. head upon s,mo ,h,rts and pair
Of paniAlopn', tied up in n striped cotton
handkerchief. The .nn beams could not
reach him tho du,, did no, yet rice from
the rad, alter the heavy rain Of the day
before; and bis grassy lair suited the young
man bstisr than bed Of down Tho cool
sprins murmurcd drovsily beside him the
branches waved drcamily overhead. across
the blue .kJ and deep sleep, pcrchnncc
hiding dreams within It, depths. fcll upon
David swan. but We Are to relate event.
which he dill no, dream ol.
While ho lay sound asleep, in the shade,
other pope were wide Awa.c, and passed
to and fro, afoo,. on horseback, In all sort.
OF vehicles. along tho sunny road by his
hcd chamber. some looked neither 90 the
right hand nor the left. and knew not that
he was there some merely glanced thai,
way, without tdmi,tin: the .lumbcrcr
among their busy thoughts, some laughed
to -, how .oundly hs slrp,, aud .svcral
whose hearts were brim full Of scorn. cjcc,-
81 their yenomou. superlui,y on David
swan \ miills-neei widow, when no.
BODY c'.r was near. thrust her head little
way into the rrcc.s. and vowed that the
youn. fellow looked charming In hi, sleep
\ Temperance lecturer saw him ,ani wrought
poor DAVID into the texture oi bis evening.
discourse a, an awful instance of dad
drunkenns.. Nv tho roadside Bu, ccn'urc,
praise. msrrim.ni, scorn and indifference.
were all one. or rather all nothing, to
David.
lie had .lep, only n few moments, when
brown carriage, drawn bya handsome
pair Of horses. bowlcd easily along. and wa.
brought 10 ,,aud It'll nearly In 'front.' Of
David. resting plac, \ iinrh-Fin had
fallen ou, and permitted one Of the wheels
to ay %. The damage was Sigh. and o,.
ea,ioncd merely momentary alarm 70 an
elderly merchant and HE wife. who were
returnin: 10 Boston ip the carriage While
the oolchman and n scryan. were replacing
the wheel. the lady and gentleman were
sheltered beneath the maplc trees. and there
c,pied the bubbling fountain, and David
Swan asleep bc,ile IL. Impressed with the
awe which the humblest sleeper usually
.hel. around him, the merchan, troI as
lightly as the eout would allow; and his
spouse took good heed not 10 rustic her
gown, lc.i David should start up ~ lieuly.
How soundly no sleeps. :" whispered
the old gentlemen. From wha, depth
he draws tha, easy breath. Such sleep ~
that, brought without an opiate, would be
worth moro to me than half my income (;
Tor i, would support health and an un'
tr,ubicd mind"
| Aud youth besides" sald the lady.
" Healthy and quiet age does no, sleep thus.
Our .lumber i. no more like this than our
wakelulne.s.
I The longer they looked, the more did this
elderly couple feel interested in the unknown
youth. To whom the way-side and the ma
pie shade were secret chamber, with the
rich gloom OF dimask curtains brOodIns
over him. PerceiViug that stray sun
beam elimmered down upon his face, the
/ lady contriycd To twist branch aside, % rs
to in,ercep, il. Aud having done this little
&c, Of kindness. she began to feel like q
mother to him.
Providence seems have LAID him here, "
Whispered she to her husband, "and to
have brought Us here to end him, after our
disappointment in our eonsin's son. Me
thinks can see likeness to our departed
Henry. Shall we wake him ?"
ITO wha, purpose" said the merchant.
slowly. I'VE know nothing Of the youth 5
character"
"Tha, open cOuntsnance,' replied the
wife. in the same hu.hed voice, yet earnest
ly; ",his sleep"
While these whisper. were passing the
slseper's heart did not ,hrob nor his breath
become ugiia,cd. nor bis features be,ray the
least token OF interest.