Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-03-06

blood Trust me, shall ever love you"
"a monk love Ia monk has neither
parents nor friendsp
"No; he loves with an equal affection,
all mankind?"
"Ay-and only with all must Luigi take
his share. Farewell, Hugo, and tho Vir-
gin bless you !" and Luigi turned away
with ill-concealed emotion, and ondeavor-
ed 10 pr oceed with his work. Hugo was
likewise sensibly affected by the sincere
passion of his friend. And let not the
reader too hastily condemn the scene as
weak and puerile-hitherto Luigi, although
he had known and conceded to the superb
orty of Hugo, yet felt proud of the ex-
cellence that had cast its favor upon him
self. lie now saw in II the cause of separa-
tion he now felt that he was the humble
Luigi, the gardener, destined TO eat from his
daily toll, and that Hugo, his earliest and
choicest friend, was TO be severed from
him to pursue path, it might be, OF glory
and renown. Luigi continued at his work.
"What are you going to plant there,
LuiRi?" asked Hugo.
"a pear tree, e,-and ii is said TO be Of a
rare kind"
"Stay; let me help you" rejoined Hugo;
and, approaching Luigi, no assisted him in
planting the young shrub, for 1t was little
more. Whilst thus employed, they utter
cd not a word--each drew q somber picture
OF the future, and for the time Hugo felt
that he could give up all hopes of the pow
er and splendor promised TO him in his
dreams, and in those reveries more deli
cious, though often as equally vain, as the
visions of the night-that he could forego all
temporal pomp, all spiritual domination,
rather than wound the honest heart beside
him. For moment the genius of the place
seemed to ask him-"Why not abide here
in the home Of thy father-why not rest
with us and get thy food from the earth
why pant for the commerce of the world,
'as the hart panteth after the water brook ?"
Ere the young tree stood supported by tho
earth, this feeling had subsidized, as it had
nOvo- riseu, aud Hugo stood again about
TO say farewell to Luigi, who looked at
him with a look OF mingled sorrow and
distrust.
"Luigir' exclaimed Hugo, with sud
den animation, "let this tree be as a COW
enant between US. As it stands, IL is
no unapt type CT your friend. The rich
earth is about its roots, and the dew will
lie upon its branches with the bless
ings of the saints, it may put
forth swelling buds and leaves, and
rich and odorous fruit-and men may
pluck refreshing sweetness from its boughs,
and rejoice beneath their shade. SO it may
grow up and adorn the land that doth sus-
tain 1t; and, Luigi, it may be that it may
pine and shrink, and never put forth one
green leaf-or blight may eat its buds, and
canker gnaw its heart, and 50 cut down, it
may be cast upon the fire and so may per-
ish.
Thus stands your friend: I shall be
planted in the church, Luigi,-in that soil,
rich with the flesh and blood OF saints
heaven may rain its dews upon me, and
may put forth glorious fruit, and, Luigi
tthe voice aftbe speaker became slightly
tremnlousj, these hopes may be a melan-
choly nloekery OF my fato-for may per-
ish, unknown unhonored, unregretted.
know not how to account fer II; my mind
is possessed by a sudden superstition I.
iceland it is an old, perhaps an unchris-
tian flncy-lhat this tree will be the sym
Dol OF my destiny; If it flourish, / shall
prosper; il it fade, Hugo will decay too.
But howeS er it may be, Luigi, the hearts
of our youth shall, in their friendship, be
the hearts OF our old age. And though we
shall meet, yes, often meet, yet here
nrOmiSp lhnl tlDrp * nO time distant
no state so high, that even though, parting
here as youths, we never meet but as gray
headed men-that here, embracing in this
humble garden, we next encountered in
the halls of kings-I give my solemn worl
that you shall be to me the same Luigi, l
the samc Hugo"
Luigi grasped the hand of the speaker
"IIeaven prosper you Hugo-and forget
not your friends. Remember, remember
the pear tree"
Hugo quilted his paternal home; years
passed on, and whilst Luigi, n happy and
contentcd man, titled his ground, and prop
ed his vines, and saw his ruddy offspring
Gourishing around him-whilst ho enjoy
ed that great gift of Paradise, "a country
llNtu VI
ty and sweetness, Hugo was toiling through
the devious paths of church-crait, a child
less man. He was a politician and priest
then, more than ever. twin flowers upon
one stalk-he had advanced in dignity,
and had almost within his grasp that bright
reality, the shadow of which had shone
like a star upon his tide of life, and tempt
ed him TO ford all depths, to dare all dan
gers, TO hold all toll as naught.
And Luigi lived on and became an old
man. His children's children frolick ed
under the shadow of the pear tree, which
shot up and spread out, as though some
spirit were especially charged to tend it.
"Hap cried Luigi, "tis a rare crop -
as two OF his grand children perched in the
Loughs, plucked the fruit and threw it into
the laps of their little sisters, who piled it
In two large baskets-"tis n large CROP"
repeated Luigi, land if Hugo bear but half
as much, there are few richer among the
brotherhood. He said, as this tree flourish
ed, so should he prosper; he was true
prophet; though lis well he lett something
behind TO inform me of his increasing
greatness.-It seems should never have
known il from himself"
Hugo had, shortly amer his departure,
forgotten his friend, who, however, con-
tnued TO tread The same humble, happy
path in which he had at first set out. He
had had nothing to disquet him, no losses
no family Affections; the dove, Peace, had
always nestled in his cot-and it was moi
until the old man was bending downward
10 the grave, that misfortune threatened
his hearthstone.
man of high birth and immense wealth
had built a magnificent palazzo in the
neighborhood of Luigrs cottage. This
man was connected by marriage with the
family of Hugo. He was purse-proud anC