The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-05-19


scended lower and lower in the So
cial scale until she came upon n vast
building, six or seven stories high,
thronged to the caves with motley
and ill-assorted community. 1t was
called THE Folly because it was be-
gun on a grand scale for u private
dwelling, and was stopped when
half finished for want of means. Ill
arranged for any purpose, it remained
long unsold and was finally made in
to lodging house, its thin partitions
and mean stairways contrasting strong
ly with it's stone walls and hand
some easements
A front room on the second floor
had just been vacated and Rosine,
with many misgiyings, resolved to
take it. A thorough cleaning with
three or four coats Of whitewash to
the ceiling and walls, which she of-
fected with her own hands, greatly
improved its condition; and although
she had been obliged to sell part of
her furniture to supply more needed
articles, there was still enough to
make it contrast pleasantly with most
of the apartments OF the Folly" A
bright eolored carpet covered the
centre of the room, and around it
stood three or four rosewood chairs,
deep soft lounge, and small table.
One of the recesses on the back side
held the bed, screened by long cur
tains of glazed cambria, and the other
held the little cooking stove, with a
few little culinary utensils which hung
around it. The table furniture was
slowed in corner cupboard, prettily-
covered boxes held the fuel and pro-
visions, and upon the wall were five or
six of Rosine's water-color- drawings,
and a small case Of choice but we'll
worn books.
Rosine had kept her spirits wonder
fully until these preparations were
completed for she had no time to
think; but now came the hard task Of
procuring work. She could draw and
color with taste and skill she played
the piano gracefully and sang charm
ingly and she embroidered neatly and
rapidly. Her personal appearance
was also in her favor Her figure was
elegant, and her face had a Madonna
sweetness and purity; but these points
which interested for the moment
those to whom she applied, weighed
but little against the fact that she had
no references and that she lived in a
doubtful, ifnot positively disreputable,
quarter The utmost that she could
accomplish was to secure one pupil in
each Of the branches which she de-
sired to teach, at rate Of compon-
sation far below that which she ought
in Justice to have received; and dis
couraged by her i'll success she tried
to obtain other employment, however
coarse and unremunerative This
search was rendered nearly unavailing
by Mdme Chatelle, who exacted from
her daughter as much attention ms if
they were independent in fortune, and
who was in a chronic state of ill-hu-
NOR over her privations and her suf-
ferings Rosine never lost patience.
She silenced her own griefs to quiet
those of her mother, soothed her with
thousand loving devices, and at
night sang her to sleep as she would
have done fretful infant.
Rosine's gentle beauty, her refined
manner and her loving heart were
good gifts to the dodgers in the crazy
old building. To some she rendered
service SO cordially and quietly that
the feeling of obligation was sweet
rather than painful; and for all she
had the right word, the pleasant
smile, or deferential bow, as she di-
vined the peculiarities Of each with the
fine tact of a gentlewoman. There
was but one inmate whom she could
not tame-a certain NJ. Brillan, who,
whatever he might have been, without
decided bear. His long gray hair
was always in tumble, and mingled
with his profuse beard, forming a
rough frame for the small portion of
face visible within it. OF this nothing
could be seen but long, sharp nose,
and pair of deep dark, mellow eyes,
which were irresistibly attractive when
frightened by kindly emotion, but
which habitually shot forth scornful
and ill-natured chances to accompany
the sarcastic words which followed the
slightest notice of him.
His dress was scrupulously neat,