Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-02-10


had made
Get your bonnet, and walk over to the
stie with me- Miss Rachel he said. 1t isn't
sunset quite vet, md the afternoon is warm.
Come it's the last walk we shall take to-
gether.'
/ followed him out, aud we went almost
silently across the fields to the hill that over
looked the strip Of meadow between our
houses. There was the stile over which
had looked to see him spring, many time.
'Sit down a moment, until the sun is quite
down, he said, making room for me beside
him on the topmost step. See how splendid
that sky is pavilion for the gods
Il should think they we're airing all their
inery,' answered. 1t looks moro like
counter spread with bright goods than any
thing else / can think Of.
That's a decidedly vulgar comparison, and
you're not in spiritual mood at all, he said.
You've snubtcd me two or three times to-
night, when I've tried to be sentimental
What amiss with you , and he bent his eyes,
full Of saucy sort Of triumph, upon mine.
Il don't like parting with friends it sets
me all awry, | said. giving back his own self
assured look. | was sorry to have him 90
but if he thought was going to cry or blush,
he was mistaken.
You'll write to me, Miss Rachel = he
asked.
No, Mr. Amos,--not at ALL said.
Not writei Why not;' he asked, in as
constituent
because don't believe in galyanizing dead
friendships answered.
Dead friendships, Miss Rachel hope
ours has much life in it yet, he said.
It's in the last agony, Sir 1t will be com
fortably dead and buried before long, with a
neat little epitaph over it,-which is much the
best way to dispose of them finally, think
You're harder than l thought you were,
he said. rs that the way you feel toward all
your friends =
4 love my friends as well as any one an
swered But | never hold them when they
wish to be gone. My life-yarn spins against
some other yarn, catches the fbres, and twists
1nto une very nearo'--
80 far" he asked, turning his eyes down
to mine.
Yes l said coolly.-'for the time being
You don't play at your friendships. do you
If so, pity you. As was saying, they're
like one thread. By-and-by one spindle is
moved the strands spin away from each 9TH
er, and become strange yarn. What's the use
OF sending little locks Of wool across to keep
them acquainted; They're two yarns from
henceforth Reach out for some other thread,
there's plenty near,-and spin into that.
We're made all up OF little locks from other
people, Mr.. Ames. Won't it be strange. in
that great Hereafter, to hunt up our own
fibres, and return other peoples? 1t would
take about forty-fve degrees of an eternity to
do that
4 shall never return mine,' he said. i
couldn't take myself to pieces in such style.
But won't you write at ALL
To what purpose; You'll be glad of one
letter,-possibly of two. Then it will be-
'Contound it here's a missive from that old
maid What bore Now l suppose must
air my wits in her behalf but if you ever
catch me again, --Erit'
And you; he asked, laughing.
4 shall be as weary as you, and find it as
difficult to keep warmth in the poor dying
body. No, Mr.. Ames. Let the poor thing
die natural death, and well wear bit of
Grape little while, and get new friend for
the old
80 you mean to forget me altogetherY
No, indeed shall recollect you as very
pleasant tale that is told,-not a friend to
banker after. Isn't that good common sense ?
It's all headwork, k,-mere cold calculation,
he said while = He stopped and col
ored.
Your gods, there, are downright turn
coats, said, coming down from the stle.-
Their red mantles are nothing but pearl col
ored now, and presently they'll be russet gray.
That whippoorwill always brings the dew
with him, too so | must 20 home. Good
night, and goodbye, Mr.. Ames.
i scarcely know how to part with YOU he
qai IA NV
thing to do
People say, Goodbye. or God bless You
or some such civil phrase, usually, said with
just the least curl of my lip,-for knew l
had got the better of him.
He colored again, and then smiled little
sadly.
All! I'm afraid leave a bigger lock than
take he exclaimed. We'll, then, good
friend goodbye, and God bless you. too
Don't be quite so hard as you promise to be-
| missed him very much, indeed but if any
think | cried after him, or wrote verses or
soiloquized for his sake, they are much mis-
taken. | had lost friends before and made
il point to think just as little of them as
possible, until the sore spot grew strong
enough TO handle without wncng. Besides,
my cousin stayed with me, and all my good
friends in the village had to come out for
call or a visit to see how the land lay so l
had occupation enough. Once in while |
used to look over to the old house, and wish
for one good breezy conversation with its mas
ter and when the snow came and lay in one
mass upon the old roof, clear down to the
caves, like night-cap pulled down to the eyes
Of low-browed old woman, moved my bed
against the window that looked that way
These forsaken nests are gloomy things
enough
had no thought of hearing again of him
or from him, and was surprised, when, in a
month, review came, and before long anoth-
or, and afterwards a box, by express, with
finely kept bouquet, and, in mid-winter, lit
tie oil-painting,-a delicious bit of landscape
for my sanctum as he said in the note that
accompanied it. ! heard from him in this
way all winter, although ! never sent word or
message back again, and tried to think was
sorry that he did not forget me, as had sup
posed he would OF course | never thought
of acknowledging to myself that it was possi-
BILE for me to love him. was too good a So
phst for that; and, indeed, think that be-
tween perfect friendship and perfect love
a fainter distinction exists than many people
imagine. | have known likings to be colored
as rosily as love, and seen what called itself
love as cold as the chilliest liking