The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-02-21

genial employment Of gazing out upor
/ the landscape, over which his kindlinl
! eve might have been seen to wander.
/ till il rested, in rapture, on the broad
empurpletl side and bright summit OF
the lofty Equinox Mountains whose
! cOntrasted magnifiCence was growing
every moment more striking and beau
tlful in the beams Of the low descend
ing sun. On the opposite side of the
room stood the mild and gentleman ~
Nathan Clark, the future speaker of
the first legislature of Vermont; and
by his side. the dark and rough
featured Gideon Olin, an embryo mem
Der Of congress, was leaning against the
wall, with a Countenance of mingled
sternDess and gloom. a.
BY the side of one of the tables, in
front Of the president. might also have
been seen the stout, bury frame, and
the matterof fact and business like
countenance of Paul Spooner. engaged
in writing despatch. And as the
last, though not as the least. among
the strongly Contrasted characters of
this assemblage of whom We propose
to take note, let US turn to the youth
ful secretary of the council, Ira Allen.
Db blQtIl lllt Jun iDI Ol his tOllpdgutS
was he, indeed. that a spectator might
well have wondered how he came to be
selected as one of such sage and
elderly body of councillors. But those
who procured his appointment knew
full we'll why they had done so; and
his history thence forward was destined
TO prove a continued justification of
their high opinion of him He was of
an active, mercurial turn, and, as
might have been seen was not inclined
To remain long in one place or posture.
He had now thrown aside his rapid
pen, and with a quick, light step and
deeply cogtatiug air, was traversing
back and forth the open space between
his table in front of the president aud
the closed door of the apartment. Both
in form and feature he was one of the
men Of his day: while
mind, at once versatile, clear, and
With perceptions as quick
As light. was stamped on his Grecian
brow, or found a liyelier expression in
lis lucid black eyes and other Inca.
nents of his strikingly intellectual
,ountenance. Such as he appeared for
he first time on the stage of public
!ction was the noted Ira Allen, whose
rue history, when written, will show
lin 10 have been, either secretly or Z
penly. the originator, or successful
prosecutor, of more important political
measures, affecting the interests and |
If the state, and the issue
f the war in the Northern Depart l
lent. than any other individual in l
'crmont. making him. with the many |
ocular traits of character he pos I
ess one of the most remarkable men of
he times in which he 50 conspicuous \
, figured. |
Il have finished. Mr.. President" I
aid Spooner, now breaking the gloomy t
Hence which had, for an unusual in I
arval, pervaded the assembly-"I Y
ave finished the despatch, suggested
y your honor. requiring the attend t
nee of the absent member from the
asst side of the mountain General
ayley. And having put it into the
nm of a familiar letter, | have
antured to enlarge somewhat on our
erpleXing situation, especially in
after of the miserable Squire Spen
r, whose reasonable desertion little
reamed, when [ commenced writing.
should have the modification of an
THAT is well, " responded the presi-
mt: land we must look up some
litable messenger to convey it to its
But | had hoped to for
ard. by the same hand the despatch
questing the aid and cooperation of
ew Hampshire. which has been de-
rred till some definite action of our
vn should enable us to inform the
= h.. ,..t, g 10
rants propose to do ourselves towards
lie object for which we invoke their -
sistance. This they will doubtless
'nsider essential to be known, be
re listening to our call, as otherwise