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NUMBER 346-NEW‘
ORVVALK ox
P“b”5"e‘1 Evie?!’ Vvedllesday M°""i"'a'v b3’ JAMES “E339: at Two Dollars Per Annnm in Advance. Office on thc.DoeK9 \Vest Side of th
OLUME 29‘-NUMI3 '26.
snares. '
NORVVALK, CT. VVEDNESDAY, JULY 1,
'7)-
” 1846.
TTE-
V
e Brl
_ _
dge.
._._.__...-.._.._________
Terms of the Gazette.
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Riitcis of Advertisiiiiig.
0ries.pi:ire—-ltiliiiesorundei'—1iiisertion-. 0 75
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Three insertions ..................... . . 1 00
Each followinginsertion . . _ . _ . . _ _ , _ _ _ _ __ _ 20
F.\'eciitoi"s an.-l Arliiiiiii.<ti':itor’s Notic-cs-_.. . 1 ()0
Conintis.-‘.io1ier’s notices. -._ , ____ __ 1 Q5
C—ii:irdiaii, Divorce, and other notices . _ . _ . . . 1 ()0
the square.
Yearly advertisers, on square, . _ . . . . . _ , _ _. 10 00
payable quarterly. The privilege of yearly ud-
vatrti.-iers is limited to their own immediate busi-
ness.
Casual :idvci‘tiscinentsseiit to this Ofiice, MUST .21:
ACC().\l['.\.\'ll-ID av 'rHi-: CASH T0 INSURI-I INSERTION
JOB PRINTING,
ALL KINDS
o F
iixeeiitesil at the Gazette omce.
SCRIBNER & RILEI’,
Merchant Tailors.
HE subscribers re-
- spcctfullyaiinouiice
to the public generally,
_ that they have taken the
store formerly occupied
"I
/4‘
.1-
by MALLoitY dc BANKS,
where they intend car-
rying on the Tailoring
Business,in all its various
branches. As Messrs.
Mallory 6.: Banks have
‘ ’ given up the Tailoring
Business in this place, we having succeeded
them,and would rcspcctfiilly solicit the patroiia go
of all those who have been accumstoined to pat-
ronize the late firm, believing that we can give
entire satisfaction to all those who may favor us
with a call.
VVith our experience in the business, we feel
confident in saying that. our work will be done
in a. manner not to be excelled by any other
similar establislimcnt in Norwalk. If any doubt.
this fact, let them gives us a call, and we will
demonstrate it. EIIOCH SCRIBNER.
THOMAS RILEY.
Norwalk, January, 1846.
7//u;/m'M.
’.;,.’,’.".-’»Z':*" ‘I’
C7!
Cash Tailoring Establisluiiiient,
MAINE ST.—NOR\VALK,
Three doors 72.07‘!/I. of the Conneclicuz! Hotel.
LBERT CURTIS has just placed upon
his shelves a large stock of Staple and
Fancy Goods in his line, to which the attention
of purchasers is invited. They were selected
with care, and all the advantages of the market -
were taken which ready cash could command,
Th 5 rd A rri v:: I
illlllll Sl’lil%.\-"IQ Ill Sllllllllllli llfiflllll
AT NE\V,__CANAAN.
RAYNIOND &:,Co. Dealers in A-
o merican, French, Italian, German and
India, Silk, W01-stcrl and Fancy DRY GOODS,
have just received the past week, an extensive
assortment of the latest and most fasliionable
styles of Dress and fancy Goods, adapted to the
season, embracing a variety in extent and rich-
ness unsurpassed by any in the country.
Among these Goods may be found French
Muslins, Ol'gt1l‘)dlGS, printed Lawns, Paris Reps,
Delaines, Gingliams and Gingham Lawns, Bal-
zorines, both worsted and cotton ; Silks for
Dresses, and blk Silk for Shawls, and one of the
largest assortnients of Prints in the country.
Shawls.—Silk, Damask, Berage, Balzorine
D€LtilIle, Cashmere and worsted “Shawls; to-
gether with a great variety of Ladies Cravats.
Vvliite Draw Goods.——Swiss, Book,
Mull, Cambric, plaid, figured, striped and Bal-
zorine Muslins for Dresses. Also a very large
stock of Linen Canibric Handkerchiefs, some
very low priced.
Ladies’ Hats. Floreuce,Englisli Straw,
Rutland, and Neapolitan Hats, with Ribbons,
Ruches and flowers. -
Also, a great variety of Summer Goods for
Men and Boys wear, consisting in part of Drab
dc Etc, Croton Cloth, Tweeds Ganibroons,
Brown Linens, Moleskin, Fustians, Bangup
Cords, striped, plaid and plain Cotton Goods,
very cheap, and a very large assortment.
Ladies and gentlemen are respectfully invited
to call and examine our stock, and we think any
one wishing to purchase Dry Goods, or any
other goods usually kcptiii a country store, can-
not fail to be suited.
New Canaan, April 27, 1846.
New Dry Goods.
C0lYIS'l‘0CK & IIALL
TAIIE pleasure in announcing to their very
numerous patrons, and the public generally
that they havejust received a select assortment of
Staple and Fancy Dry Good,
for Gentlemen and Ladies‘ ’\Vc-ar, adapted to the
.S'pring and Summer Fas/zions Q/' 1846.
‘We feel it altogetherunnecessary to enumerate
articles, but simply say, that. the re_pulali0n t/zis
cslablislimcnl has honestly earned, not only by
sell-ing cheap, but in keeping a large and well
scleclcd stock, shall bcfully suslaiincd.
\Ve have availed ourselves largely of the re-
cent rcduction of prices in New York, conse-
quent upon the very severe pressure in the ino-
ncy market, and our stock never was more com-
pletc in every particular ; and as. the greater
part of the goods of most of our merchants were
probably bought some three weeks ago, at the
spring prices, we are safe in saying that we are
well prepared to OFFER BARGAINS in all
kinds of Goods to Cash Purchasers.
Those who favor us with an early call, will
have the satisfaction of selecting from an assort-
18
and he has no hesitation in saying that induce-
ments are offered at his establishment of no
common kind. His stock comprises in part :
French, Yorkshire «S5 London Broadclotlis,
of various colors and prices.
Large stock of plain& fancy French & English
Cassi Inercs, very fine 6? extraordinary cheap.
Also a supply of plain and fancy Velvets, Silk,
Marine, and Cashmere Vcstings, to which
the attention of the purchasing community is re-
spectfully invited.
FANCY GOODS.-—In this department his as-
sortment is complete. Bosoins, Collars, Ci-avats
Stocks, Suspends, Gloves, &c. &c. which can-
not but commend themselves both in quality
and price.
Orders faithfully and punctually executed,
and all garments warranted to be as tasty, easy,
gcnteeland fashionable as the work of any other
establishment in the place.
\Vith many thanks to old friends and custom-
ers for past favors, his efforts will be unreinitting
to merit continued patronage. April26, ’46. 18
lie is invited to the large and elegantassort-
merit of Harnesses, Saddles, Bridles, Whips.
Trunks, &c. to be found at the establishment of
the subscriber. It is believed to be no exagera-
tion that this place, nor any other in the vicinity
has been able to produce so rich a variety, par-
ticularly in the Harness line. They are ready
made and complete at a moment’s notice. \Vho-
.ever will take the trouble to examine, will find
that the workmanship of these articles cannotbe
surpassed. Among the lot are several sets of,
double Harnesses, whichare worthy the atten-
tion oftliose fitting out pleasure equipages.——
or
. I z '; . . . . . , _ : . -
d “he bgstmnt . l_ d mbmcinothe d0uh,e,iate. 1llso—one faiin of about fblty-f0.1l1 acies;womed seriousness had fallen upon Lois
9 ° 3 em‘ “'3” e 8 with a good dwelling house, barn, carriage and at the
merit of security and tastefulness. Every article
needed in the line, may he found here, of the
best quality, and on very moderate terms. Be-
airing as usual. WM B SVVAN.
Norwalk, April 29, 1845. 1
Rooms to Let.
LOFT suitable for Mechanics’ Shops—-
the same recently occupied by David
Platt, as o. Carpenter Shop. Apply to
E. PRICE 65 SON.
Norwalk, March 30, 1846. 13
Ladies’ Hats! Hats! 2
THE subscribers have now .on hand a fine
' assortment, embracing all the [new and
fashionable styles.
Also, a beautiful lot of Bon-
net Ribbons. JAMES
Ladies’
MALLORY & CO.
\VEAR.—A large and beau-
tiful assortment for men and boys. just rc-
cpived by J AS. M.u.1.oav 66 Co.
D DENTAL SURGERY. _
_ R. HILL offers his services to the public
in every department of his profession as a
DENTAL SURGEON.
His Ofiice continues where it has been for the
last seven yea.rs——a-few doors west of the Bridge.
No personal consideration or private prejudice
will deter him from faithfully serving those who
‘may solicit his professional aid. '
ment unrivaled in extent and variety, and at pri-
ces which we pledge ourselves shall prove sat-
isfactory to the closest Cash Buyers.
\Ve would especially invite an inspection ofour
stock of MILLINERY GOODS, as it is quite
large, and a branch of the trade to which we
pay pa'rtz'cular attention.
New Canaan, May 8, 1845.
NORVVALK ENGLISH AND CLASS-
ICAL SCHOOL.
HE House recently occupied by Henry. Sel-
- leck, Esq. is fitted up for this Institution.
The Summer Term will commence on
\Vednesday, May 6th.
TUITION.
In Common English Branches, $4 00 pr qr.
Languages, 5 00 “ “
Music on the Pia na, including use
of instrument—cxtra 12 00
Incidental expenses, 25
STORRS HALL, Pri7zcz'pal.
Norwalk, April 14, 1846. 15
‘K H
6‘ H
1300!, Shoe, Leather and Finding
S'l‘0IlE.
I{ENRY HANDES, renews again his an-
nal acknowledgements to the public for
their generous patronage during the year past,
and renews, also, his efforts and hopes to merit
an uninterrupted continuance of the business re-
lationship which he has so long maintained with
this community. He will be found now at his
new stand, opposite the store of Chas. Isaacs,
where he will be happy to see, and serve
his old friends and the public. The character
of his work is too well known to need a word of
praise. It comprises every article of men and
childrcn’s wear, with Rubbers and Overshoes,
in their season, for ladies and gentlemen.
F inclings of the best quality, and in any quan-
tity, suited to the ‘vVt'tl2tS\Of the craft. H. H.
Norwalk, June 18-16.
FARMS FOR SALE.
() NE farm of about tliirty-one acres with a
dwelling house, barns, écc; adjoining which
isa farm of about sixty-one acres, to be sold on
i
corn house, etc. Also—a large two story dwell-
. ing house with about 2 1-2 acres ofland. Also
.'—several tracts of land, together about eighty
'acres——-considerable wood on each tract. For
further particufars apply to '
SAi\i'1., F. LAMBERT.
\Vilton, Dec. 30, 1845.
NEW BOOKS.
HE History of Wyoming, in a series of
letters, by Charles P. Miner.
D’Aubignes’ History of the Reformation, 4th
vol. with portraits.
The Puritansand their principles, by Rev.
E. Hall, just received and for sale by
JOHN A. WEED.
53
May 12, 1846.
ROCKBRY—A handsome assortment,
‘ just received,‘ and for sale cheap.
Geo. VV. SMITH.
ALriu-:1) KNAPP.
South Norwalk, Feb. 9, 1846.
—‘ UMBRELLAS.
UST received a. large assortment at the
Branch Store of T. L. 65.1’. R PECK.-
, May12,1S}6.
NAILS i NAlLs 2 :
KEGS Neils,aasorted sizes for sale by
May 1-2, '46. T‘. L&: IR. Pzcx.
POETRY.
GUARDIAN ANGELS.-
’Tis sweet to think, an Angel band,
From the unknown,-the spirit land,
\Vith watchful care our steps attend,
And every hour our lives defend.
They come, with morning’s purple light.
Nor leave when fall the shades of night;
But hovering still on noiseless wing,
A spell of gladness o'er us tling.
In sleep, they come, with dreams of bliss,
Too pure for such a world as this :
And bring that land of beauty nigh,
Ne’er seen except with Fuiicy’s eye.
Or ifa lonely watch we keep,
Nor woo the soft embrace of sleep,
They guide with a divine control,
The midnight musings of the soul.
‘When sorely pressed with toil and strife,
Upon the battle field of life;
They. sweetly whispering in our ear,
Proclaiin the hour of triumph near.
If. lured by pleasure’s siren song,
\Ve tread the path that thousands throng,
They tell us. thus, of danger nigh——
“The soul that sinnoth, it shall die.”
In hours of anguish and despair,
VVhen earthly friends neglect our prayer;
In soft, celestial tones we hear
\Vords, that our drooping spirits cheer.
\Vlien memories of other years,
Call from their fount iifi‘ection's tears ;
They tell us, “weep not for the past——-
VVe’ve joys for thee, that always 1ast."
’Tis thus, that Heaven kindly sends
These unseen, ever constan t friends;
They guard our way with holy power,
Nor leave us in the final hour.
They bear us. then, at Dcath’s command,
To their bright home, the Spirit-land;
\Vhere all the blest forever share
The joys that spring immortal there.
MISCELLANY.
From Art/mr’s Jlfagazine.
LOST AND FOUND.
A Tale of Truth.
BY E1\IMA c. EMBURY.
From her earliest childhood, Lois Lay-
ton hal been one of the most untameable
ot merry maidens. Her free, bold,joyous
spirit, seemed to mock at all control, and
to find a sort of perverse pleasure in ven-
turing to the very verge of error, without
goinga step beyond. The gleeful music
of the summer wind, the unmeasured carol
of the forest bird, the glad play of the
sunny waters, all might have furnished
similies to a poet of her wild and lawless
joyousncss of temper. But, unhappily
while thus assimilated to all lovely things
in nature,Lois was was most unlike the men
and women among whom her lot was cast.
Born and bred in one offilie most primitive
of New England villages, where the usages
of puritan ancestors still existed in all their
uncompromising rigor,and where all natural
impulses and instincts were regarded as
necessarily sinful, she was continually
offending against the proprieties of time,
place and circumstances, so that at length
she came to be regarded asa sort of scape
goat for the whole community, a creature
on whose head was visited the offence; of
all the less frank or more orderly damsals
in the place. Yet Lois was liked in
spite of her wayivardness, for her cheerful
ood humor, her kindness, and readiness
to help others, were merits of no trifling
value among those who were taught by
their own needs to hear each other’s
burdens. Everybody liked her, everybody
scolded at her, and everybody piiicd her,
for the step mother who presided over her
father’s household, had little love for the
child that from infancy had revolted against
her rigid discipline.
An object of perpetual censure at home,
and of ill natured gossip abroad, Lois had
gradually acquired a sort of outlawed feel-
ing, a kind of indifference growing out of
Iber despair of doing what people would
lthink right. So she did what she pleased,
; worked when she could not help it, laughed,
lfrolicked and flirted with every luckless
wight who approached her in the guise of
a country Corydon, until she passed her
twentieth summer. At that period a change
came over her spirit. She grew grave and
sad, her cheek lost its rosincss, and as the
spendthrift is apt to become the closest of‘
misers, so the wildest of merry maidens
eemed now likely to fall into the extreme
f moping dullness. Some ill natured
d to suggest that this un-
s s
I
0
, precise moment of Ralph Holford’s
l departure for the far west. but the open
‘ scorn with which the girl treated this piece
of scandel, soon silenced all such rumors,
and left her to the full indulgence of what
was deemed a new whim in this creature
of caprice. '
On a certain dark and stormy November
evening, a small party was assembled in
the best parlor of the Layton farm house,
to witness the marriage of the wayward
and pretty Lois. Strange to say, notwith-
standing all the predictions of wisdom and
illnature, she was about to become the
bride of a grave middle aged clergyman,
and those who know in what: estimation
the profession is held among the descen-
dants of the Pilgrims, may imagine how
envied was good fortune, and how unac-
countable it seemed. Lois had never
looked lovlier thanwhcn, attired in a sim-
ple muslin dress, with her beautiful hair
braided smoothly over her fair forehead,
she sat in the midst of a circle of friends
awaiting the appointed hour. It was not
their the custom to’ allowa bride the priv-
ilegaof privacy until the moment when
l
was expected to be attired early and seated
by her lover’s side, to receive the visitors
as they assembled, while the curious ey
of all present speculated upon t
and manners of the conscious pair.
this occasion, however, the bride was
alone—tbe company had gathered, the of-
ficiating clergyman was in attendance, but
the biidcgroom had not yet come, and as
minutes passed, whispers were interchang-
ed, and looks of wonder cast from one to
another, until even Lois began to feel as
if she was about to wed a laggard lover.
At length about an hour after the time
in the midst of that weary sort of silence
which betokens impatient exp'=ctation, the
door opened and the tall form of the
bridegroom entered. With a slight salii-
tation to the company, be accounted for
his delay by simply stating that he had
been called to attend a funeral some miles
off, and while more than one of the com-
pany were struck by this ominous prelude
to a wedding, be approached Lois and
asked her to afford him a few minute’s
private converse. Uiiheeding the looks of
wonder and reproach cast upon them from
all sides for such a glaring breach of de-
corum, Lois arose and led the way into a
small room on the opposite side of the
hall. Ashe closed the door and found
himself alone with the pale and trembling
girl, the stern features of the bridegroom
lost their settled expression of rigid gravi-
ty. “You will think this strange conduct,
Lois,” said lie, “but it is for your happi-
nessl would speak bzfore it is too late.
As I stood to night beside the cofiin of
one as fair and young as you are, Lois, a.
strange dark fear came upon me. They
told me she (lied broken hearted, because
she loved not him to whom her friends had
wedded her, and as I knelt beside her life-
less form, I bethought me of you, Lois.
For the first time—God grand it be not too
late! the horrible idea crossed my mind,
that perhaps I was about to consummate a’
similar sacrifice. Tell me, tlien—by all
your hopes for time and eternity, l adjui-e
you to tell me whether of YOUR OWN Fires,
. _ 1
WILL you are about to become my wife l”=
The girl’s cheek becamebs white as her
bridal dress, and as she gasped for breath
as she faintly replied:
“My own will has ever been too much;
‘hood.
my guide, Herbert; why should you think
I have taken other counsels now 7.”
“Because.” and his brow become stern-=
er as he spoke, “because I have heard but
now, as I wended my way from the burial.
.to the bridal, a tale of disappointed love,
of fickleness, of desertiou.
my companion on the road mentioned to
me a name you have never uttered. Ralph
Holford—"
“And what of him '2” interrupted Lois,
while her cheek, and brow, and bosom,
were crimson with the sudden flush of in-
dignant excitement.
“They tell strange tales of devotion on;
your part, of falsehood on his, Lois.” ‘
“And you listen to the slander—-a shame;
on you Herbert Wilton, that you spurned_
not the man who dared defame your bride, j
ev.-n while she was waiting you at the,
alter.” l
“Forgive me, Lois, ifl distrust my ow
l)1'lppll)t'SS ; but it has ever seemed strange
to me, that one of such cold and unlovea-,
blc exterior as mine should have won your
glad young heart; and to night my vague
fears were shaped into definite form b
the words of another. I came determine
.
I
.
d
to learn if the tale of yourlove for another:
was one of truth, and I tell you Lois, that!
I would rather die this moment than bind-
the unwillinghand, when the heart forbade
the thraldom.
“If this strange scene be designed to
acquaint me with your change of feeling
and purpose, Herbert, say this in plain lan-
guage, and I am ready to go forth in the
face of the cold sneerers who now wonder
at our conduct, and proclaim that I. have
met the recompense of_ many a past fully,
in the open scorn of him whom I would
have wedded.”
“Nay, Lois, you would wrong me cruel-
ly; I hold it so wicked to put fettcrs on
the soul, tliatl dared not make you my
wife until I was assured no such sin could
rest upon my conscience. I doubt not
your faitli,but my own deservings. Had
I learned that your affections were other-
wise disposed, I would gladly have sacri-I
ficed my happiness to secure yours; but
now that I know there exists not the shad-
ow of a barrier between us, I am happy
even beyond my hopes. May heaven grant
that the heart which I have so long kept
sealed against early affections, may not
now, in its latter days, be given up to
idolatry.”
A cold shudder ran through the whole
frame of Lois as he spoke, and her check
and lip grew ashy pale. A world oftroub-
led thought was in her conscious look, as
she bent her eyes to the ground to avoid
his earnest gaze. At that instant the sharp
voice of the step mother rang through the
hall, and Lois, putting her hand in that
of her strange lover, said,
‘‘I have no friend on earth sil_V9 Y0"
Herbert, no hope or comfort save in 37°”
affection.”
“Enough, dear Lois;
never be deceived.” An
he drew her arm through his and led her
from the room. Ten minutes afterwards,
the bewildered and agitated girl was re-
ceiving the congratulations and kisses of
those who secretly envied the “minister’s
wife.”
Herbert Wilton was a man of deep pas-
sion, of intense earnestnessand of wonder-
your truth shall
(I with these words
she was called to plight her vow. -Sh_o
«
ful power of repression-
1 many incongruities ofher condi
One who was 3
‘ passi
-0!‘ 1'8
1
fl
To outward,
seeming it
promising,
the usefulness, as well as happiness of
most men. But they who judged him
from without, knew little of the terrible
struggle between a passionate nature and
an over rigorous sense of duty, which had_
been the torture of his early life. He was‘
one to do battle with every earthly passion,l
and to distrust every natural emotion.
He had looked upon the affections of hu-'
manity as so many obstacles thrown in the-
way of spiritualit.y~—forgetting that the
God who had implanted those qualities
within his, is a God of Love as well as‘
Power, and speaks oftener in the still small‘
voice than in the wliirlwind_or in the fire.‘
He had now reached the middle of life,‘
and the crude fanaticism of a youthful
zealot had been shaped and tempered by
circumstances. The force of an iron will
bad enabled him so easily to resist tempta-
tion, that he could feel no tolerance for
those who were overcome of evil. He
had not the skill to garb religion in that
“beauty of holiness” which is her true or-
nament. Pictured by him she wore. the
stern and foibiilding features of a‘ des-
pot, whose claims, even when most just,
were put forth like exactions.
Some fifteen years before, during a tem-
porary suspension of his clerical duties, in
consequence of ill health, he had taught
school in the village where Lois dwelt.
There was something in the wayward, but
winning child that touched the heart of
the stern and rcpellant minister. The
stirrings ofthat mysterious impulse which
makes the firmest nature yield to instinc-
tive tenderness in the presence of child-
hood, taught him to love the merry crea-
ture who had nestled in his bosom uncon-
scious of awe and fear, who could only be
governed through the awakening of her
affections. The feeling was too innocent
to alarm his rigid self denial, and there-
fore this one touch of softness, in a usually
stern nature, had time to leave its lasting
impress. The vicissitudes of a somewhat
troubled life had not effaced the recollec-
tion of the pretty and joyous child, when,
after years of abscence, he returned to find
her in all the bloom of unfolding woman-
He saw her, too, evidently mis-
placed in life, unhappy in her associations
and destitute of proper guidance. Lois
had welcomed him as an early friend, and
had found in his society a relief from the
tion. The
‘result has already been seen. The giddy,
onate, unstable girl, to whose limited
tber ill trained perceptions moral
responsibility was an incomprehensible
idea, became the wife of the stern, cold
jmannered, but high principled minister, in
{whose eyes every weakness incident to
éhumanity was but another form of sin.
Immediately after his marriage, Herbert,
with his young wife departed for Alabama,
where was to be the future scene of his
spiritual labors. They found a home on
the borders of a new settlement, which,
though rapidly filing up, aflorded little com-
'ty of social interest. A comfortable
mum
log cabin, surrounded by some acres of
-cleared land, had already been provided
',for the expected preacher, and here they
:took up their abode. In a scantily peopled
fcountry, where miles often lay between
itlie nearest neighbors, there was little
temptation or opportunity for levity of
conduct, even had Lois seemed disposed
to exhibit her freakisbness. People rarely
I met together, except on Sunday, when all
';within twenty miles were accustomed to
assemble in the school house forreligious
ivorship; on such occasions, the minister’s
fwife was in too much awe of‘ her stern
lhusband to'venture any display of her frol-
ic spirit. Indeed, Herbert’s deep affection
jliad fled from his eyes to hide itself in his
‘heart. He loved her with a degree of in-
ltensity which rendered him doubly sensi-
,tive to her very fault, and while his stern
self denial repressed every outward de-
imoiisiration of tenderness, his love, noless
‘than his sense of responsibility, made him
, rigidly exacting towards her on every point
3of duty.
But Herbert \Vilton was little skilledin
:woman’s nature. He knew not that in
crushing instead of guiding the wrong vo-
lition which had made Lois'the wayward
creature that she seemed, he was, in reali-
ty putting out the pure light of her soul,
and leaving her in the darkness of igno-
rance. To influence her will, while awak-
ening the perceptions of moral truth,
would have been right, but to bend and
break it beneath the iron rule of power, was
to leave her without the only sure defence
which her naturally pure instinct could,
claim. Poor, poor Lois! She was a crea-.1
ture to be petted,’caressed, humored and
watched over, like a beedless child. The
consciousness of dimly understood duties,
the weight of household cares, the neces-
sity of continual self examination, was too
oppressive to her feeble but loving nature.
There was a wild, vain yearning ever
within her heart—an unrecognized need
of that sympathy which is the atmosphere
of life to woman’s heart. .
Two years passed away, and Lois was
now a mother, but even this new affection
failed to occupy her restless na_tu_re. She
loved her child with a sort of girlish fond-
nese, but she had none of thin deep sense
of maternal responsibility which her hus-
band so earnestly endeavored to teach. If
left to herself, the -natural instincts of we-
man's tenderness would have given her an
insight into many of ‘her new _d3itiq__s, but
DOW,
.
l
was stern, cold and uncom-_
' full of religious zeal, and devoid I
eslof those gentler moods which make theland new restrictions and exictions of all
he looks _ comforts of domestic life so essential to , kinds, there were times when her increas-
On'
lien she found he: babe made’
the theme of new lessons in meals, new
lectures on the sinfulness of human nature‘;
ed cares seemed to her for exceeding lie:
'new pleasures. She grew sad and silent;
her spirits were unequal and capricious,
and her voice became tremulous, as if her
words were uttered through the weight of
some abiding grief.
One evening she had seemed unusually
wayward and disturbed in spirit. A deep
flush burned on her cheek, a wild light
gleamed in her eyes, and her whole apt
pearance denoted a degree of feverish in
mind or body, to which even the absorb-
ed liusband could not be blind. With his‘
usual stern contempt for weakness he could
not share, he vepi-oved Lois severely for
what he considered her wnywardness ‘bud
nervous folly. Tears were her only reply‘,
and annoyed by her silent perversity, Her-
bert at length gave over his admonitiom,
and after the usual evening devo1ion,in
which he took occasion to pray fervently
for a better spirit to descend upon his wife,
he retired to bed, leaving Lois at the fire
beside the cradle of her sleeping‘ child.
He had fallen into a light slumber, when
he was awakened by the openingof the
door. ,Hc started up and saw Lois in the
act of leaving the cabin, as she turned and
met his eye, she shut the half open door,
and approaching the cradle, took up tho
sleeping babe. Pressing it fondly to her
bosom, she kissed its round check again,
and again, then placed it in her lrusband'I
arms, and telling him, she was only going.’
to the woodpile, she bade him keep it un-
til her return. Overcome with drowsiness,
Herbert remembered nothing more until
the gray light of morning broke through
the narrow casement, and discovered to
him that be was alone. He spmn from
his bed and looked eagerly aroun . The
ashes lay dead and cold upon the hearth,
but the chair where Lois had last sat, the
table on which lay her work, the lamp she
had lighted still burning dimly in the day
liglit—all seemed as if she had just risen
to prepare for her nightly slumbcrs. Yet
no trace of her could be found either in
the dwelling or in‘ the neighborhood.
Of course the country was aroused, and
parties of men went otfin all directions to
seek her. At first the belief was that some
untoward accident had bcfallen her, but
Herbei-t’s agonized remembrance of her
disquietude for some days, led to the sur-
mise, that in a fit of__ temporary insanity,
she had wandered off into the woods. For
days and weeks was the search continued,
est had been explored did they give up all
hopes of finding at least the lifeless body
of the unfortunate Lois.
To ii mind accustomed to grasp the re-
alities of things, and to" reject every thing
which is indefinite, the vague, when, for-
ced upon its contemplation, is always the
terrible. Herbert's imsginationbusied its-
self in all kinds of friglitftrl conj'e’ctu'r'eo
respecting the mysterious disappearance
ofLois. As trifling curcumstances hitherto
iinregarded, now came back upon his ree-
ollection, he uttered a thousand incongru-
isies and inconsistencies, blaming himself
at one inoment for undue severity, and at
another reproacli-ing her for having had so
little confidence in him. His prevailing
idea evidently was, that she had been led
by despondency to the commission of the
fearful crime of self-murder. There were
some, however, who gave diffirent inter-
pretation to the iii'co‘he‘reneies of passionate
grief; some, who, from that time, refused
to sit under the pi-eachings of that beaenv-
ed and sorrowiug man, though they ventur-
ed not to utter the dark thoughts that
lurked within their minds. _ .
Weeks, months and years, had fleetcd by
without revealing any tidings of the fate of
Lois. People had half forgotten the cir-
cumstances of her sudden disappearance‘,
when they were recalled to their recollec.
tion by a frightful revelation of some long
hidden crime. A few rods from the cabin
where Herbert Wilton dwelt, stood an oak
tree of great size,but so aged tbot its whole
trunk was cavernous. During a severe
storm, this tree was prostrated by the wind
and to the horror of the whole neighbor-
hood,its cavity was found to contain human
bones. Further investigation proved that
it was the skeleton of a female, while the
regular and perfect teeth, and the long en-
tangled locks of soft brown hair, showed
that death had come to her in the very
bloom of youth. A frightful surmise, II
sudden and pervading as the lightning flash,
made each man look suddenly in his neigh-
- boi-’s face as they stood by the side of these
frail remains of mortality. It neezled but
a,bi-eath to give detiniteneas to this vague
,-suspicion, and a word uttered by one of
Herbert Wilton’s’enemies, was sufficicnt.
With the ficrceness of blood hounds they
rushed towards the cabin _and found the
unconscious minister watchingby the (loath
bed of his child. Awed by the scene they
hastily retreated,
armed with legal pOW€Ts _
sun shone upon the childless father through
the bars of a prison.
The cup of Herbert’: .min_foi'tun_e was.
new full. Circumstantial evidence‘ we-goo.
strong against him that few were found to
doubt his guilt, and the public indignagion
was deep’nd into somethinglikc vindictive-.
ness,when it was remembered that this mgr:
had been for years ministering to them in.
holy things, desecrating an very altar of
God, while the stain of murder was U
his soul. But the secret‘ lwliicli death
,..; lqng kept was _not'_y1at td'_5_:U_.‘tcV_oI_Io‘do-.
.I-Iei-but ‘was triéd_fot_ otwflblig
and not until every nook of the wild for- -
but it was onlyto rctu!n._
and the next day’; .
Norwalk Chronicler