Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-02-10
PAUL.


"And there shall be no night there"
The above is the closing sentence Of let
ter l received this morning
If it had contained no other words than
those given l would have understood its i'm.
port but that the reader may better under
stand, it is necessary to go back little in the
year so recently dead, and live over again
those few early summer days in which be-
came acquainted with the hero of this story.
aud the little town nestled amid the hills of
the Green Mountain state where first met
him.
Perhaps you will say when have finished,
there were two heroes, and l have designated
the wrong one be that it may, leave the
decision with you.
A ride on the deck of an old-fashioned
coach, behind four spirited horses, with
careful driver, is always pleasant; but doub-
ly SO when taken in the evening, Just as the
full moon begins to climb the heavens, and
to tint with silver the babbling stream, the
leaf shaken by the cool night air, and the
fields of billowy grain.
A ride of two miles at brisk gait, brought
our party from Claremont, N. H., to East
Claremont, to connect with the night express
for Windsor, Vt, where was to spend few
days.
The train was late, and the time, which al
ways drags at a railway station, was passed
listening to the sweet songs which foated on
the evening air from a camp meeting, less
than quarter of q mile distant near Sugar
river.
Suddenly the singing ceased, and all was
quiet, when voice of rare power and beau
ty rose on the hushed air.
Hark 1t is that old familiar song, whose
melody and trustful words will live and burn
when we are dust
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
He will not, He will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
He'll never, no never, no never forsake.
The melody had scarcely died away, when
the whistle of the on. coming train was heard,
and all was hustle and confusion for the mo-
ment but after securing a seat, and being
whirled rapidly away, the words came TO me
with fresh power, and l could but repeat
them over and over, until the brakeman cried
"Winzer" and found myself at my destina-
tion.
Everything about Windsor bears the i'm
press of age; and night but brings its antiqui-
ty into bolder relief. 1 noticed it while being
driven to the hotel, and after reached that
broad-piazzed, rambling structure, the flavor
of age was unnistakable.
The following morning, after breakfast,
and a stroll along the one street of the village
to the covered bridge, which, by the way, is
one of the established features of New Eng
land scenery, stopped a moment to note
the progress of the sun, as he scaled Mt. As
cutney's misty height, and threw his jaI elins
of light into the valley below.
A lsborer approaching, 1 asked him what
points of interest could be seen by a short
walk.
Had seen Buena Vista ?"
''No."
"Buena Vista lies on the heights; cross the
bridge take the fust road to the right, foller
it, and if you're good at climin' you can get
good view of Winner, and see some neat cot
tages as well, in Vista"
Thanking my informant, and chiding my
self for not learning through what circum.
stance the hamlet obtained its Mexican name,
l trudged on and up for a half mile or more,
when, ct a sharp turn in the road, on a mar
row plateau Buena Vista lay before me uu-
der the morning sun. / walked leisurely
along, noting the trim cottages and general
appearance of thrift until l came to a cottage
whittier and handsomer than the others, shad-
ed by magnificent elm in the rear, and the
entire front yard filled with flowers tastily ar
ranged in beds and exhibiting careful cultiva-
tion.
Under trellis half hidden by wealth Of
morning glories, which clambered all about
it, a man perhaps thirty-fve years of age was
engaged in the laudable occupation of she'll
ing peas with four fingers and two thumbs.
Noticing l was passing slowly, that might
better admire the beauties of the garden he
cheerily invited me inside the inclosure. l
thanked him, and entered. In short time
he Joined me, and mutual introductions fol-
lowed Conversation flowed freely, during
which had opportunity to study him more
closely.
He was not handsome man in the gener-
al acceptance of the term. Neither was he
plain looking. He wore a full beard, some
what lighter than his hair, which was a dark
chestnut color. His eyes were blue, with
frank. though saddened look; his nose was
aquiline, with thin, high-bred nostrils
His knowledge of botany and Horticulture
was wonderful, while he was intelligently in
formed on the topics of the day. discover
ed also he had been considerable of trav-
eler.
On leaving, he presented me with hand
some bouquet, which he had seemingly care
lessly plucked as we had passed along aud
begged me to call again, stating that visitors
were rare and time hung heavily on his hands.
Iventured to remark that amid so much
beauty it seemed almost impossible.
Yes" he replied with an attempt to sup
press sigh, "there is much beauty but
there is also much care, and it makes differ
is in it or simply as means to an end.
did not then understand him fully, but
did afterward.
Paul lie Fargo, for such is the name of the
florist of Buena VISTA had a history which l
learned after many pleasant visits. He was of
French descent, his father having been we'll
to-do wine merchant. Bereft at an early age
of a fathers watchful care and a mothers
love, he was in charge of a guardian until his
eighteenth birthday, when he was told he was
penuiless through unfortunate Investments,
and must shift Tor himself
Having read glowing accounts of the land
beyond the sea, and opportunity presenting
itself, he left Ia belle France and the graves
of his kindred, to seek his fortune in the new
world. Arriving in New York his funds were
soon exhausted, and he was well nigh discour-
aged with repeated failures to secure employ
ment until, through the aid of a Frenchman
who had known his father, he secured posi-
tion in printing Office, and entered heartily
into the mastering of the mysteries Of the art
preseryatiye After serving his time he trav-
eled as a ''jour" over the great West and
South, visiting all the principal cities, until
1878 when he found himself in Boston. At
a small fire in the building of the publishing
house in which he was employed, while en-
deavoring TO run the elevator to the floor
above, where a number of female employees
were working, he had the misfortune TO lose
the fingers of his right hand by their being
caught in the machinery; but the elevator
went on its way, and the panic was averted.
This disabled him from working at his trade,