Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-05-09


is the high noon Of the world 4; we will bid
farewell to the msts of earlier hours and lands |
overladen by the history of ages, &c. No |
matter if the style be turgid, the dcton bonn
bastic, the plot stuDid the unfoldment likewise,
still, for any born Yankee to refuse the pur-
chase will be fat burglary New England
ers to the rescue, and buy this 'Asphodel to
mingle with Hyacinth and Harebell.'
Have you read it, Mr.. Eiitor :? No, we
read the introduction ard were almost exhaust
ed, ana turning at random fell upon the fol-
lowing, which did the business for US: The
myst cries of affinity overarch our happiness
like blue heaven I've admire the precision as
to color.) The horizon expands around US
and the vulgar lamentations of the day resolve
! and mix into speck within our wide eternity.
Overcome, we laid down 'Asphodel' and went
forth to witness gentleman of the Fenian
persuasion exercise in the wheel barrow manu-
al. We shall hardly have the nerve to begin
again those mysteries of affinity overarch
our pathway
There is some truth in all these criticisms
The story is not pleasant and not probable il
many of It's incidents. The style is rather am
bilious, tie author frequently indulging in gilt
tering generalities. One in ding some por-
tions of it, is reminded Of the somewhat sague
ard wordy rhapsodies of " talking mediums,
in which the periods we'll rounded and me-
lodious enough, and the is pleased with the
smoothly flowing sentences, but the intellect
searches with little success tor the substance of
ideas contained in the sweetly resonant verbi-
age. After all, however, the general impress
! ion given by the volume is, that the writer is
capable of much better things, and that in
some future volume the ready and graceful pen
which wrate Asphodel will give the public
work which will not be richly furnished house
WITH uninhabited rooms, but delightful hab-
itation, peopled with the men and women of
every day life.
We copy the second chapter of the volume
1t was daN of Spring. Tee early breez
es, catching the whisper Of Day in the far east,
awoke the sleepers Of the world before his
beams appeared, waving and sw ying the cool
mi Is which overlay the face of the dry earth
a the wind may play with and hutter the face-
cloth OF tie dead. But soon the solemn morn
! ing purpied and broadened into heaven vide
circles, until a. length 1t boomed upon the
sky, vast rossgarden of Divinity. As 10 our
narrow household world lady watches through
the lucent doors of her home garden the purp-
/ ling and widening, and at length the rosy un-
folding OF the broad d" Az4lia splendens," so,
tor all Nature and the world of humanity
bl bl)ssomed the slow morning, and widened int O
the beauty OF broad day.
There ~is no mist in the soul of Alice Greg
ory when she aw0ke, only the full strength of
the morning OF love but as the fatal clouds
hich obscure the often arise alter clear
unyeIling of his beams, so came her af,er
thought, aud the memory of approaching sep
aralIon Herbert that DAY to leave her
Tor sea-voyage, 10 search Of health (he true
talisman ot this worlds good, which had been
shoru from him by the modern DeLlah, Over
work), and his early hour OF departure was al
hand. She arose hastily, and while she gath
ered her abundant hair, memory came to tell
IA that thus lar only thr hgh;s OF life hau
shOue upon her to-day its shadows wodld fall,
and touch ot the white froSi Of care which
leaves silver threads in dark clusters such q.
she was tfen binding together, would N rk
their advent. Yet even these white threada,
she remembered, served 10 lead US in safety,
attn uphited es,through tn difficult passages
OF the world, out into purer existence.
Ciamorous nursery cries aroused her. She
opened the door leading to her chiIdren-
room, and found them already impatient TO
accompany her to the beach. She had
promised this happiness, with her bedside
Kiss, The night before. She knew ali children
are happy a beach it is their eternal Won
der-World.
Your father is going away, far away she
said, gently sulling their turbulence with d
! quiet manner native 10 her, Z" come with me
10 the shore now, children, and his little
boat.
they ran eagerly to her side, and danced
about her footsteps as she descended. Herbert
was at the waters edge before them, watching
the safe conveyance to the ship oi uox and Oag
carefully prepared by Alice. He did not per-
ceive her approach, until tne clear voice of the
children warned him then he started, as If
with pam; but IN moment turned upon
them with warm, strong smile. sucn mad
made the daily sunshine Uf his wife. Already
she seemed to feel It's brightness pale, and her
own responsive beams fade as dreams de-
part before oue hastily awakened. He did not
speak TO her, bul seized their boy accoI dug TO
ms usual custom, kissed his cheeks, and puzzle d
nlm oy crying Here Is noney-dew, while
Earnest clung closely 10 him, ready for the
widest froi.c. Allegrs, on the contrary, Iimid
aud tender as Spriug violet, stood hail hidden
IN her mothers skirts.
Ihe httle group waited few moments by
the shore, listening for the sound OF tue re
tuning oars TO break tie silence Soon the
DIP AID gur, lie were distinctly heard, ana
shortly alter the red shnts of the boatmen
cleaned 10 the mist, aid the keel grated on
The s.nd. Last words were few, for tears shone
III the eyes Of Alice, and Herbert dared not
speak either for himself or her bat the chill
dren S voices were no" busy IN u strange re-
fraIn OF laughter, making the desoiation of
parting appear more profound than before.
As ne spIa1g ilghly into The boat, little Ear
nest leaving MS play ran towards him, shout
ing, " Paua, I'm Dig COY now, let 60,
too, but the oarsmen had already showed ay
from the shore, and the rays OF the newly risen
sun were shooting their busy Shutties through
the mist and iringes Of the ripping waves,
until alth each osr-stroke the boat seemed TO
lose itself in glamou impenetrable at last to
the dazzed eyes of Alice.
Then she turned away, and calling the chill
dren, walked toward her home. AS she as
cended the Cliff, she the distant was
calm, and the fresh blue was waking on lis
lace. But the slow waves breaking bslow her
feet; the knoll radiant with dew strung grass,
upon which she stood the garden gate and
the blooming, waying bra1 ches above her head, |
brought deeper meaning in their loveliness
to-day, eloquent Of the happy. unreturning
past.
Soon shs found herself under the broad avn
ing OF the hospiia5le piazza, whence she gazed
wistfully out, hoping to the departing ship. |
For moment ii was possible TO discern the fill |
ing sails, then the winds seemed to bear the |
winged thing suddenly out of the world into
the golden chambers of the East.
Alice looked abroad over the earth then, and |
watched the day. The dew of youth, and the |
mystery of morning had fed, and the approach |
ing sun OF noon was ripening the dim purpose |
they foreshadowed. Ii lighted the sharp edges |
of The world aud gave her pain, until he saw |
the great rocks of Love and Friendship fling
their broad shadows over her weary land. How
haa, Ifnlk k., E..l H.. t-.,l