Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-02-21

81 will never-never change; although
you remain away hundred years, when you
return you shall find me-that is to say,
if you want me, the same"
Don't protest so much; | trust you,
Gena." Al did not protest, for his swn
part. not even that he could cease to want
her.
disconnected and bewildered by his abrupt
manner, but she only protested the more, as
a weak citizen will pile up his defences. 81
don't mind the family traditions, in which
papa and Uncle Devil burrow and revel.
To come of honest people as you have come,
Al, is something but for anything more,
what doesit matter to me thatmy great-grand-
mothers were Beauclercs and Seymours, and
my eat-great-grandmothe a lady Of the
bedchamber to Queen Anne ?" she exclaimed,
volubly and triumphantly; 81 am not the
better or the happier for it,
Unless for being little bit proud of it,"
he contradicted her with smile.
Nov you know | am not proud Of it,"
she urged "Small reason have l to be
proud-a shabbi!y-kept, penniless girl, the
daughter and niece of two dear, terribly de-
cayed old gentlemen, who yet cannot forget
passed away grandeur sufficiently to be
thankful when disinterested man seeks me,
with all my drawbacks, and is willing to
provide for me-"
at is but poor provision that can make at
first, remember that Gena, said her compan-
ion determinedly; though think it may
be enough for two rational creatures, who
care for each other more than for luxuries,
and who see how their poorer neighbors fare
besides, there is hope of improvement in that
as we'll as in more weighty matters"
Improvement l don't desire improve
ment; ask nothing better than to fight
your battles with you. | don't mind power.
ty; how should |, /" she asked, opening her
great gray eyes, " |, who have been used tc
poverty all my days?"
My dear child, you know nothing about
it," Al answered her with a shake of the
head, one-third part sad, one.third part com
ical, and another third impatient. 9Th,
poverty that you have seen is pretty play
at poverty. in a cottage hung round will
roses like your Clifford Farm, where every
body knows you, has the greatest respect anC
regard for you, and helps to keep up tn
play. This is no more like the hard-visaget
face of poverty in the dingy back street of
city, than your little fresh face and head, al
unadorned, are like the pinched and haggar,
face and mOnlted head of some poor, care
worn woman, from whom hope and hear
have long departed, in the slums yonder.
have a certain reluctance in taking advan
tage of your ignorance, but believe ther
are gains in life higher than wealth can buy
that these can be striVen for as well--per
haps better-in hard lines than in pleasau
places believe, too that you are capabl
Of valuing these gains, Gena, and that, how
ever prosperous you might be otherwise 20
would end by being less than happy, less tina
content. if you did not reach these gains"
She was little propitiated by his lai
words, after being nettled by the open pre-
fession of her ignorance and inexperience f
the more ignorant and inexperienced we ar
the more holly resentful we are apt to
when bold man dares to question our wi
dom. But she only showed her shade Of sa
isfaction by a repetition Of those protests
tions of which he but half approved Il
was convinced of their sincerity, and vii
that he was well pleased. AT the same tin
he was forced to see how raw and superfci
the professions were, and thus he could n
help being reminded, clergyman as he wa
of the lesson of the seed sown on the roc
which had no depth Of earth, and which,
proportion to the rapidity of its growt
quickly withered away.
81 cannot convince you, Al, declar
Gena, in her pretty, modest, humble way
for the girl could be both modest and hui
lille, in spite of her vehemence aud Of h
ignorance Of self, aud Of every other mystic
in this great strange world must WI
all can prove how Independent am he
indifferent to TRIES Of fine people aud Il
things. But you may dopesd upon it. "