The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-09-14

hasty preparations were made for he
burial on the morrow. In q rough cof
fin the corpse was buried, the next day
in the garden beneath a little cherr,
tree. The waters of the river laved tn,
garden shore, and the wild thistle ant
the tall grass grew together on tn,
grave for many years, until the freshe
of 1880 swept away the garden, tire,
and the grave.
After the death of the mother, Aun
| Geraldine lived alone. Her fire wa
supplied by flood wood caught in tn,
river. There were no fish in the rive
at that day, above the falls at Yer
gennes, therefore she learned to suppl,
her necessities by hunting with a gui
such game as came in her way. Whei
at home she lived without a friend
when abroad she rode her pony unat
tended. AT all seasons, however thinly
clad or bleak the bowling winds, sh'
was often seen until the "wee sma
hours" of the night, dallying along a
a snaiPs pace, unmindful of the pitiles
storms, going she knew not where
probably nowhere. She seldom SPOKE
to any one, yet all passing events, likt
her mother, she fully understood.
1t is remarkable that many of hel
sayings and doings, when she said ant
did SO little, became proverbial. Ifany
one had dull axe, 1t was as dull Al
Aunt Geraldine's meat axe: a crooked
unwieldy hand spike was as good a.
could be expected, having been selected
from Aunt Geraldine's wood pile a la
zy horse was as slow as Aunt Geral
dimes pony; if any one was vicious ant
had forfeited all friendship by miscon
duct, he was making friends with Aun
Geraldine, /. C. he was avoided; on,
borrowing something he was not par
ticular to return again, as yeast, milk
etc, would say, 81 will send it back b,
Aunt Geraldine when she goes t,
church," /. G. never; a stunted anima
that would not thrive was mate to Aun
Geraldine's pig; if garment was poor
ly made, or cooking for the table wa
indifferently done, it was Aunt Gerald
ines luck; if writing was but wretch
ed scrawl, Aunt Geraldine set the copy
and so it went all around.
After many years of solitary widow
hood, she was constrained to ask 70
charity and was supported at publ
charge the rest of her life. When sh
had come to this strait, inquiry wa
made how she had lived these man
years. She answered as follows:
81 was the natural child of the Ear
of Humphrey. Ny mother was an En-
glish peasant girl. For what cause tn
earl took fancy to her | never knew
but he settled on her and her babe a
annuity of forty pounds q year each
My mother was called daft woman
and had strong notions. When | wa
about seventeen years old, | was court
ed by the son of Lord Elmore, wit
whom my mother was not pleased, an
she beset my father to end it bv de
stroying my life. He hired two men t
take me to Windsor forest and dispatc
me. On our journey thither won tn
pity, and always thought the heart, G
ono of the men, and to rescue my lif
he sent me to America. The matter G
my parentage was kept hidden fror
mt until that time, when | learned
from my mothers own lips, and foun
that even she was ashamed of me, an
that my father was in pursuit of IN
life. My pride was broken down, an
to hide myself | willingly came t
America. Mrs. Bradwardine was,
am told, my mothers youngest sister
Her son became my husband, for
courted him in fit of spite, or even hi
tired. In Boston found that my lif
was no more safe than it had been i
England. l often saw persons ther
who l knew were acquainted with a
the facts which my expatriation was dt
signed to hide. | was induced to com
here through the kindness of frien
whom l was engaged to marry. Br
he soon died, and ] accidentally becam
acquainted with iona Hagar, who hf
always attended TO the collecting of m
annuity, and says he has never spoke
of my history. Even here, in this wi
derness, are persons whose presence
by no means favorable to me. Ephrail
Grimes has heard the sad story of m
banishment, but l think he does nt
recognize me, and it is fortunate l
does not. What shall one do who ht
no right to be born and no right to liv,
and yet who has done no wrong? o
ten do l think of Lady Jane Grey, VII
was beheaded to make way for Blood
Mary to the crown. Little did 81
know of life's trials at her age, vet Ii
tie did she care to live when she kne'
what charges were preferred again
her, conscious as she was of her ow
innocence. Little do care to live, fc
like cause, yet do not care to thro
my life away. Never have / sought s.
ciety or been to church since / came
this forest, lest should needlessly c,
pose myself to those who would do n
harm. In my solitude have learne
many important and valuable lesson
| have fewer social cares and respons
! bilities. 1t is easier to be happy an
enjoy my solitude than it is to live Ii
of irreproachable usefulness. Societ
though agreeable, is not the inevitab
condition of enjoyment. In voluntal
I seclusion have learned to live negleC
, ed and heed it not. Since the annui
2 has been cut of / have learned as nev,
before that Supreme Providence kin
q ly watches over all, even the humble
OF his creatures, and that scripture
q verified which tells me that when n
father and my mother forsake me, thu
. the Lord will take me up have /
knowledge or consciousness of all ant
2 natal existence, but to me life is pu
zle, mystery, unless it is preparato
: for, and leads to, the great hereafte
= which shall mature our being and De
feet our knowledge in the light of I
6 everlasting day. But for the hope OF
!, brighter future, | should wish Lo
0 Humphrey had never loved a peasa
f girl" c..
:. Girls and Young Men.
!, There is thing of which l want