Litchfield enquirer., 1860-11-29
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 DEVOTION OF A TRUE WOMAN
 A PHYSICIANS STORY.
 The cool winds of October had come ove the landscape, and chilled the green grass and the bright golden hue of the maple lea was changing rapidly to Q deep red, an, clothing the forests in mantle of beauty which no pencil could paint. 1 had started to see my friend while the darkness yet hun. over tho landscape, and ascended . higl mountain ridge az the sun rose in the east The trees were all wet and sparkled in tn light, and the pure breath of morning Wa fast brushing these wet diamonds from lea and bough; all the sopgsters of the fores had gathered along the roadside to chee the traveller, and their notes seem to grov louder and sweeter as I approached them Down in the deep valley wandered clea stream, that was stretched along the val for many league, and the light fog liftet from the mountain side aud revealed the sur face of a beautiful lake, sparkling in th sunlight, and flashing it's gay shadows o' every surrounding object. In the distane, on the opposite shore, robed in white, lay 1 quiet village, its stoeples glittering in th' flood of sunshine that poured down the greer valley. l knew the condition of my friend for hsd seen him before prostrated undel the bxieful effects of the mocker wine. The long ride along the mountain side svothsd my spirits. almost forgot that man was [ sinner, and was only reused from my reverle by the halt of my horse at the gate of the mansion. The father and sister came out te greet me, and welcomed me with great cor diaIity. Deep furrows of sorrow rested or the fathers brow, while iD the sisters face, the long liues of consuming sorrow could be seen Tine sick son lay on couch in a quiet room, his face as wild aud sorrowfai aud his sepulchral voice like the tones of a death anthem. He was the pride of his house, gay, handsome aud manly; the soul of the soc.ety in which he lived, and greatly beloved by both old and young. He seemed born to feel for everything, aud the cottage of the poor on the a,ountun side often heard his footsteps in mid-wjuter, for he was called by the neighboring poor to minister to their wants, aud cheer them on in lifu's dark jour- ney. His sensitive nature vibrAted ut every touch of sorrow, and the song of wood-brd or tine note of a piano equally enchanted him It is iu precisely this nervous scnsibillty that danger turks unseen aud unsupported, ut the approach of all stimuiants. The soul of the society ill which he was reared, he had, little 1 by Ii tile, given way to the temptations oi strong drink, and before he suspected dali ger, had fallen under the trmptrr's power. Such nerves as his could not stal'd fire, anC they Sent forth sweet music ut the first inl- press of brandy; but soon they began to complain, and write on his rn.e features the terrible truth, that they were dying of ill tense action.
 Tie day before was called, my young friend had gone out to take pickercl on the late shore, and had sportcd til late in the afternoon, when he felt sudden dIzzli'ess and lnnguor, and reclined under the shade of slnull tree to rest. He sunk into deep slumbcr, and Was awakened from It Gy dear friend, who found him in this condi.ion; but he awokc rayng, parched with thirst and fever. He insisted on returning to his sport, aud refused to obey the hand that beckoned him towards his home; but other friends soon arrived, and he was safely lodged under the paterual roof, where loving hearts aud beanling eyes could minister to his wants and relieve his terrible agony.
 had long known young girl of great worth and beaufy, who lived in the immedi- ate ncighborhood without knowing the fact thst che loved him most deeply. She was a real child of the forest, . daughter of Diana i; she loved to wander in the wild wood, aud np the wild mountuill-steep through deep ra- vines: aud often when the storm was r,sing her romantic spirit would drive her to the lake and in light shaIlop she would shoot out On the wild surface, and hazard life to converse with the spirit of the night tenn pest.
 When, bright, gay and sorrowful autumn had come with it's hue of many colored for est leaves and white frosts, and the butter fly and the grasshopper were dead, she often stole away to the lake side with her fishing rod, aud sportcd with the dashng. reckless pickerel. In cold, frosty morning, when no flies or food light ou the surface of his water at home, he will Gurt at any white ob- ject that falls on the surface of lake or river Knowing this, and taking advantage of his hunger aud reckessness our fair friend often tempted him with small white cloth at tached carelessiy to hook on the current of the stream. A sudden dash in the waves, aud the lying pretence on the hook is gone, his bright sides shine moment in the water, and the line sinks rapidly from sight till a jar on rock tells he is hooked, and in an in- stant, the foolish fish. deluded by a white rag, is Tapping his tail on the grass of the bank.
 Our fair friend was out on one of these excursions, and by some kind spirit was di rected to the fatal spot, where the yonng man had fallen asleep on the bank. She thought him dead, and started back; his marble brow was partly covered by waving aud beautiful hair, aud bis fine lips wore [ higher color than usual. She dropped hel fishing rod and fish, and kneeled on the grass beside him. and pressed her cold lipl on bis cheek; he partly awoke. and removed the terrible fear that had come over he spirit.
 "Charles," said the, " what has happened that you are here?" He did not answer but gazed wildly in her face. Beside hin was . clear white flask made in the form c a book, and carefully shut with silver cap a bright liquid that still remained in it. tolt lher quick weman's discernment the cause his condition. In an instant years of agon rushed through her soul; and the next mo poant eha orocpod the fatal plaSS bottle