The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-01-15

CoShlZeu lle ldlT, lONU features vi my uedllS
remembered cousin. She was FIVE years old
er than when last saw her, and grown to
be little more womanly, and a little more
sedate. In fact she had put on the holiest
of characters-that Of mother. The beauty,
| the life, the animation, the smiles of other
years were no: gone; but they were elevated
with, softened by, and blended into that no.
! BILE character At first she did not know me-;
but when called her Hattie as | used to in
olden times, she caught me by the hand, and
in moment more had both her soft white
arms about MY neck. She was sister to
ME in heart and soul, and with sisters love
she greeted me.
We went into the parlor, where the astral
lamp was already burning upon the center
table and where fire was rejecting genial
warmth from the polished CRATE; for it was
autumn, and the e, enings were quite cool.
Upon chair, near the table, sat little boy
/ OF some three years playing with the richly
ornamented bride OF a rocking -horse while
upon the carpet was a gleesome child, not
yet able to walk with safety, engaged IN
tumbling about large martin mutf. And
| these were Hatties children-two as bright
and beautiful things as ever made music In
an earthly home. She told them | was I'm
Gle Enoch. She had neither brother nor sis
ter, so | was forced to be an uncle to her
children.
Where had BEEN What had been do
ing? How had | been? Was | married ?
ID. ever mean to be and hundred more
questions Of like character were shoWered
upon me before | had time to ask any in re-
turn. By and oy Fred came. There was a
cloud upon his face as he entered the room,
| saw it very plainly-but his wife hurried
to his side, and kissed him and whispered in
his ear, and in moment he frightened up !;
and when he greeted me, and held my hand
and patted me on the shoulder, he appeared
the same warm and genial spirit as Of old.
A. the tea table he asked after my fortunes
in the distant home | had sought; and when
| told him had succeeded beyond my most
sanguine expectations, and that material
wealth was fast accumulating for me, he was
not only pleased, but intimated that such
ou>iness and such prospects would suit him.
. laughed outright at what | considered
the absurdity of this last idea. 1t would do
very well, told him, for poor fellow, with
only two hands and his wits TO nelp him, 10
get off into the western wilds but for one
ike him, with an independent fortune at his
command, to think of such thing was simp-
" ridiculous He smiled as | spoke, and
turned the subject of the conversation.
Within an hour after We had adjourned to
the paror, was sure something had gone
wtany with 10y friend. He tried 10 be cheer
fl!, t. talk of our old pranks, and laugh and
ioke as in the days of our youth; and, as a
! last resort, he endeavored to arouse himself
by carre>sing his sweet children. But it
would not 40, | had seen too much. Hattie
succe, ded better than he did; and yet, as
the evening wore on, could see there was a
heavy load upon her heart as well.
At length the children were abed, and the
mother soon followed them. plainly heard
ltr sob as she left the room and smother
e,l gsoan, which could not escape me, burst
from her hu,oind's bosom. Fred poked up
the Goals, and then took two or three turns
across the floor, after which he returned and
sat down near me.
"Enech,' he said, his face now all wrapped
in gloom, "perhaps you think | act very
stran ely"
Il think something is the matter with
you," returned. Something must nave
gone wrong"
You are right. Something has gone
wrong. In fact" he added, as a shuddel
crept over his lame, "a storm has burst up
IN me, which is to ruin me!
( He spoke this so solemnly and SO steadily
! that | knew there must be some deep mean
az to it !; and asked him if he could tell
me his trouble OF course he would tell me
He was anxious to tell me, for was law
Yer and might possibly assist him.
"You know" he said, "that | went into
business with my uncle Timothy. When |
was married he made ne come and live in
his house; he put his whole establishment
into our hands, and he then boarded with US.
| had no money-not dollar; out when |
had served him one year as bookkeeper, he
gave me a good share in the business
Three years ago he died leaving me an es-
tate of about sixty thousand dollars"
"Aye" replied, as my friend came to a
pause; Il heard of all that. There were
sixty thousand dollars in good available
funds, after everything was settled"
and" added, you came into possession
of it,"
"Yes," he answered. "There was no vii
left: or, at least, such was supposed to be the
case; and it all came to me, as | was the on
Iy blood relation. Uncle Timothy had one
brother and one sister. He married wher
quite young, but his wife died without issue
His sister married man named Isaac Stat
fer. This Staffer had one son living by 6
former wife but he never had any children
by my aunt He died at the end of two
years. leaving her no means, and she found {