St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-12-25
From the Chicago Times.
The Most Bedutifui UomGn I
hare RROHrn.


in Essex VT, which lies among the rug
gcd hills that terminate the western slope
of the Green mountains. 1t is a sterile,
and yet hospital region. There is some
thing massive and enduring in the char
acter of the residents. which has been
borrowed from the everlasting rocks and
mountains.
Among these people, each day | be-
came infused with an increasing vigor,
which seemed to be communicated by
contact with the rocky surface, as one
takes electricity from Il battery.
During my wanderings, | heard much
of an invalid whose sutferings and pa
tlence were themes which, from long use
| had almost grown into traditions. Con-
! fined To her room by an incurable and
tri2htful malady, she was loved, honored.
pitied, by all who spoke of her and |
was assured that not TO visit her would
be to deprive myself of IA rare felicity.
plead that, being Il stranger, my
presence could but be regarded as an in
trusion. In truth, my real reason was,
that did not wish to shock the progress
of my returning health with what con-
ccived would be the distressing vision of
a sick room, with its array of medical
paraphernalia, and its cmacated occu-
pant.
Yielding finally TO solicitations which
became pressing, | consented to make the
required visit.
For a distance OF several miles, our
conveyance threaded the narrow ravines.
and climbed and descended the precipi-
tons hills, along which twisted the read
that led 10 the town OF Westford Away
to the right against the >l,J. was traced
the waverlng link that marked the ridges
OF the Green Mountains Between the
peaks and our road, there descended "a
rataract-like mass of rock and woodland,
over all of which there rested semi
diaphanOus mist OF softe>t blue. Along
our left, ran chain of massive hills
rent, here and there, into ti>>ures whose
depths grew dim and shadowy and clad
TO the summit with stunted vegctation.- -
among which. now and then. there ap-
pcarri the gorgeous tlut- OF autumn.
Climbing u lill, the road passed across
Il narrow valley. On the one side, luw
lci.es of rock, walled the read; ON the
other, there was >emi-CIrcular clearing,
upon which stood PLAIN white farm
building, with It's outhou-cs and a gar
den. \ few sheep, with corrugated
ticrces, We're clustered by the side ut the
road -ide-tence and some cows dotted
the further side OF the opening, where it
sloped up the hills.
Here resided Farmer Lawrence and
within was the invalid to visit whose
shrine our pilgrimage was made
The mother-a kindly-ttccd woman.
with 4 substantial tnrm,-and two sis
terS.-gray-evcd and sad vi~aged,-re-
crived us. The tarher-a mrduum-sizcd
gentleman. with benevolent face, and Il
somewhat English style OF countcnancr.
IN lis squarenesS and culOrIng.-soon at
ter came III and joined the troop.
Greetings. and the hundreds of little
questions 81 inStparab!e from meeting,
were tinctured with a genial warmth. on
the part OF the family, that seemed to
ness as naturally rs the sun gives off its
henetiCent heat.
In Il little while, We crossed the cen
tral hall, and entered the room OF the re-
manning daughter.
1t was a roomy parlor, with a south
and east front. 1t was Il balmv after
neon and white curtains. of exquisite
cleanliness, rustled, with cool, tremu-
louS motion, i'll and out the open WIN
dows. Upon a table, in front OF one OF
the windows, was 4 variety of beaulitu!
flowers. whose varigatcd pctale and green
leaves moved gently and harmoniouSly
under the touch of the fugitive airs that
passed into the room and out, III invisible
procession. The western sun threw,
through a window, u broad. golden bant
OF light, which was shattered III intervals
hy the restless curtain. \ few prints u
the wall, a sofa, a table with some book,
completed the outfit of the room.
My eye took i'll these particulars tho
Instant | entered the room. heSitated,
with singular apprehension approach
ing distress, rom first looking ut tha
: which was the real object OF our journey
There was an introduction, and | coul,
no longer hesitate. There was some
thing i'll the corner, which, in my in
stinctive avoidance of a direct glance IL
that direction seemed an indistinguiSha
ble mass Cf snowy white. My name
t WAS uttered, and turned my glance up
5 on this corner, which for a single scconc
or two, | endeavOrcd not to see.
AS looked, the hitherto shapeles
f mass of white resolved itself into 4 CO
covered with snowy counterpane. BE
n lating outlines OF woman, who lay wit
t the covering thrown back 50 as to rcvea
: her face, bust and arms.
As my eye reached the face, a thriI
of surprise and then of admiration, per
vaded me.
, 1t was not the ematiated countenanc
:, of an invalid but the full, rose-tinte,
1 glorious face of a recumbrcnt Venus
r To describe this face is a labor {
a which | hesitate, is might one who wa
q about to convey i'll words the ideas whic
would inspire him as he recalled Guido
n sublimcy sad face Of Beatrice Gene
n The cheeks had none of that pallor cha
e acteristic of long suffering. There w;
II a groundwork OF perfect purity, with ju
1t a hint of transparence and over wiic
m there lay a flush such As comes from Il
as finer ripening processes of the sun. III
Or hands were small, with long, shapely fiji
ID gers. Her clean-cut lips revealed row
De of even pearly teeth. Her face was
the purest oval, and back from her for
e head lay heavy masses of brown hal