Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-03-23
StlCttr0 Srotp.
DAVID SW An.
A FANTASY.
uY NATHANIEL HAwrH,nNE

Could We indeed know al! the vicissi
tules OF our fortunes. lie would be too
iul OF hope aud fear. exultatiln or diSap
poiutmeui. To afford US SIM gle hour OF
true serenity. This idea may ba illustrated
ty single page from the history Of
David Swan
We have nothing 10 10 with David
uu,.l We fad him, at the age OF twenty,
on ;he high road rom bis native place 10
the ci,y OF Boston, where hs uncle, =
small dealer in the grocery line, was to
take him behind the counter. Be it
enough 10 say. that he was a native OF
New Hampshire, born of respectable
patents. and had received al ordinary
school education with a class finish 10y
q year Al GumauJou Academy. After
jourueying on loot, from sunrise ill
early noon Of 8 summers day his weari.
ness aud the Increasing heat determined
him TO sit down 10 the first convenient
shade. and await the coming OF the
stage coach. As II planted On purpose
Tor him. there soon appeared little TUT
Of naples, with delig ghtiul recess 10 The
midst. and such fesh b billing spring,
that it really seemed never 70 have spark.
led Tor any waylarer tut David Swan.
Virgin or not. he kissed !, with his thirsty
lips. aud then flung himself along the
blias. pillowing his head upon some
shii,s and pair OF pautaloons tied up IN
a striped cotton handkerchief. The sun
beams could not reach him; the dirt did
not Vet rise from the road. after the heavy
rain OF yesterday; and his grassy lair
suited the Young man better than bed
of down. The spring murmered drows
. ily across the blue SKY overhead; and a
deep sleep. perchance hiding dreams
within its depths. tell upon David Swan.
+ Bu, We are 10 relate events which he did
not dream OF.
I While he lay sound asleep in the shade
other people were wide awake. and passed
+ 10 aud .ro on horseback. aRd in oil sorts
OF vehicles. along the sunny road by his
/ bedchamber. Some looked neither 10 Tue
righ, nor the LETT, aud knew not that ne
was there; some merely glanced that
wav. without admitting the slumberer
among thei. busy thoughts some laughed
10 see how soundly be slept; and several
whose hearts were brimmlng full OF scorn
elected lLeir venomOus superhulIy on
David Swan. A middIe-aged widow.
when nobody else was near, thrust her
head q little way into the recess. aud
vowed that the young fellow looked
charming in his sleep. A temperance
lecturer saw him. and wrought poor Da
yiI into the texture OF his evenings dis
course. as an awful instance OF dead
drunkenness by the roadside. But GEN.
sure. praise, merriment, scorn. and
indifference were all one. or rather all
nothing, to David Swan.
He had slept only few moments
" hen a brown carriage. drawn by hand
.ome pair OF horses. bowie easily ong.
and was brought to stand still nearly in
front Of David's resting place. A linchpin
had fallen out. and permitted one OF the
wheels 10 slide of. The damage was
sli0bt. and occasioned merely Il moment
ary alarm TO an elderly merchant and
wife. who were returning TO Boston Il
the carriage. While the coachman and
a servant were replacing the wheel, the
s5v and gentleman sheltered themselves
bepeatb the maple trees. and there espied
tbe lubh,ing fountain and David Swar
asleep beside it. Impressed with the awe
which tie bumblest sleeper usually sheds
.round him the merchant trod as lightly
a. The sou. would allow; and his spouse
took good heed not to rustic her si''
Gown. lest David should sialt up all oil :
sudden.
"How soundly he sleeps" whispered
The old gentleman. From what dep'l
he draws that easy breath Such sleeE
ss that. brought on without an opIa''
. r,,ll he worth more to me than half ml
, income lor it would suppose health anc
an unuoubled mind"