Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-03-06
The BOw.W indOW.
AN ENGLISH TALE


There is something SO English. so redo
lent of home, of flowers, IN large antique
stands about bow.window, that we are
always pleased when we catch a glimpse of
one. even if 1t be when but forming the
front of an inn. 1t gives picturesque look,
too, to a home, that is quite refreshing to
gaze on, and when journeying in foreign
lands, fond rccollections of dear England
come floating DER us, if we happen, in some
Out-ot-the-way village, on such a memory
OF the land whence we came. | have not.
from absence from my country, seen such a
thing for some few wears but there is one
fresh in my memory, with its green short
Venetian blinds, its large chintz curtains.
its comfortable view up and down the ter
race where we lived. to say nothing of its
associations IN connection with my child
hood, But ii Is not of this bow-window
that | would speak. it is of one connected
with the fortune of my friend Maria Walk
er, and which had considerable influence on
her happiness.
Maria Walker was usually allowed to
be the beauty Of one of the small towns
round London in the direction Of Green
wich Of which ancient place she was ma
tive. Her father had originally practiced
as physician in that place. but circum-
stances had caused him to remove to an
other locality, which promised more profit.
able returns. The house they occupied was
an ancient red-brick mansion, in the centre ot
the town, with large bow window alway.
4 celebrated for its geraniums, mvrtles, and
roses that, with a couple of small orange
1 trees were the admiration of the neighbor
hood. Not that Thomas Walker. Esq.
had any horticultural tastes-on the con
trary, he was very severe on our sex fo
devoting their minds to such trihes as mu
sic, flowers, and fancy work but the blue
eyed Maria Walker differed from him il
opinion, and plainly toldh so-saucy, per
girl, as even | thought her, though severa
years my senior Not that she neglected
any more serious duties for those lighte
amusements the poor patients of her faith
er ever found her friend Mr.. Wake
strongly objected to giving anything away
il was a bad example he said, and peopl
never valued what they got for nothing
but many were the boxes of pills and vials @
medicine which Maria smuggled under he
fathers nose, to poor people who could nc
afford to pay; of course he knew nothin
about it, good easy man, though it woul
have puzzled philosopher to have told ho'
the girl could have prepared them. Sh
was an active member, too, of charitabl
coal club, made flannel for the poor, an
even distributed tracts upon occasion
When this was done, then she would tur
to her pleasures, which were her littl
world. She was twenty, and | was nc
sixteen at the time of which | speak, br
yet we were the best friends in the worl,
[ used to 90 and sit in the bow-windov
while she would play the piano for hour
together, | had some fancy work on m
lap; but my chief amusement was to watc
the passers-by | don't think that | a
changed by half-a-dozen more years
experience, for [ still like lively stree
and dislike nothing more than look OF
upon French court in the great city
= Paris, where houses are more like pri
ons than pleasant residences. But to r
turn to my bow-window.
In the front of the house of the Wal
ers had been few years before an OPT
space, but which now, thanks to the rap
march of improvement, was being change
into a row of very good houses. The
: were a dozen of them, and they were di
nifed with the name Beauchamp Terrac
They were, about the time | speak of, a
to let; the last finishing touch had BET
put to them, the railing had been painte
the rubbish all removed, and they want'
nothing, save furniture and human being
to make them assume a civilized and r
spectacle appearance. [ called one NOR
ing on Miss Maria Walker; her faith
was out, she had been playing the plan
till she was tired SO we sat down in Il
bow-window and talked
$50 the houses are letting." said [ wi
took an interest in the terrace which [ h:
seen grow under my eye.
!. 1.-Two are to let,' replied she, "al
both to private families; papa is please
he looks upon these twelve houses as twel
new patients.
But said l. laughing, have you n
read the advertisement healthy and ali
situations, rising neighborhood, and yet on
one medical man.
"Oh yes" smiled Maria, " but sickne:
| am sorry to say, is very apt to run abo
at some time or other, even in airy stu
tions.''