The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-06-16
Frank BlundeIrs Revelation.

III WIS my luSl tNtHillS ~ Ouhitlpu
Cottage. | had been spending a
month with my friend Frank Blundell
We had met, after an interval of some
years, in his country home He and
[ had been near neighbors at St. Mar
garet' S, and constant companions dur
ing our last year there. Both of us
were changed since then We had ex-
pereinced the realities of life which
are SO little known by the majority Of
undergraduates. We had gained wis
dom enough to look back with regret
upon wasted time and ill-uscd oppor-
tunities We were grateful for our
preservation through that part of life's
journey in which we took no heed,
and that our eyes had been opened to
the prospect before the sun was low
upon our way. We had not ceased TO
like all the pursuits and pleasures Of
the old careless days; but we enjoyed
the superadded satisfaction of evil
habits discarded, sound principles cul-
tiyated, and duties recognized, and, to
some extent fulfilled, My friend had
married since / last saw him, and his
wife was a stranger to me until this
visit. l found her one of the few wives
who practically recommend marriage
to their husbands unmarried friends
This she did, in a great measure, by
the sense of rehableness as a wife-I
don't know how ] can better describe
(which she conveyed Her hus-
band evidently had faith in her, in
small matters as in great 1t was
plain that he trusted to her doing a
thing as he would like to have it done,
and that they had become one in the
details Of everyday experience as they
were one in heart
Assuredly, hers was very pleasant
face, with its setting of beautiful hair
and its rare eyes-eyes which stand
the test of heightened color-be-
coming neither dull, nor uncertain,
nor metallic, but only warmer toned,
as Nature become in q summer sun
set. AS hostess-a position afford
ing such opportunities of making or
marring the comfort of q guest-M Mrs
Frank Blundell was eminently "the
right woman in the right place"
Oakleigh is in the heart of Kent,
where hops, cherries, and filberts are
at home, and orchard apples eatable
The cottage was delightfully."- placed,
looking southwark across a valley
upon plantations Of sweet chestnuts,
then fast crimsoning; for it was the
season, so enjoyable in the country,
between the very outdoorishness of
summer and the permanent adoption
of fires. There was plenty of amuse-
ment walks and drives in the charm
ing neighborhood, and visits to the
hop-gardens, where armies of hop
pickers, with their pioneers the pole
pullers, were advancing, leaving desc
lation in their track: scene which no
artist has fairly pictured, but which
everybody ought to see. Then we had
some good fishing in the Midway, far
up above the coal barges.
Well, as have said, it was my last
evening at Oakleigh Cottage. We
were sitting together Blundell and l,
after dinner, when he said, There's a
fire in my room; | vote we go there
till Mary is ready for tea"
SO we went, and talked from our
easy chairs through perfumcd cloud.
1t soon became evident to me that my
friend had something on his mind"
( He let his pipe out, and relighted
it. Presently he put it down, and,
saying Excuse me minute went
out.
He soon came back, and on my in
curing whether anything was the
matter, replied, ooh, no, but have
something to say to you, and, MS il
can't be said in few words, / thought
would tell Mary we should not want
tea for an hour or so, and she need
not wait for us; but she is up with ba-
by, and says that she is in no hurry
SO we will join her by-and-by.'
was rather perplexed by all this
preparation; but only assured him o.
my readiness to listen. Then he began
'1n all our talks together about Ole
times since you have been here, he
said, 1--WE have never touched upon
topic that was frequent one at ON
sittings after Hall and Chapel ! sup
pose some delicacy OF feeling-for
verify believe you have little of it,
has prevented your beginning the sub
ject."
was going to protest against thu