Litchfield enquirer., 1831-10-20
DOMESTIC BLISS.

led all roHnd with well filled hook casea ] A lady's. harp stood in one corner. and in
 another two fine globes aud an orrerv.
 Some small flower baskets, filled withros-
 les, were dispersed about the room and at a table, near the window, sat gentleraasn. . writing, or rather leaning over u writing desks with a pen in his hand, for his eyes
 were directed towards the gravel walk be- fore the window, where lady tan elegant looking woman, whose plain white robe and dark uncovered hair well became the
 sweet, matronly expression of her faceand
 fgure) was anxiously stretching out her en-
 conraging arms to her little daughter, who
 came laughing and tCttering towards her on
 the soft turf; her tiny feet, as they assay
 ed their first independent steps in tho
 eventful walks of life. twisting and turning
 with graceful awkwardness. and unsteady
 pressure, nnder,he disproportionate weight
 of her chubby persons It was ya sweet,
 heart-thrilling sound, the ioyous,- growing laugh of that creature, when, with one last,
 bold, mighty effort, she reached the matsf4
 nal arms, and was caught up to the mater- nal bosom, and half devoured with kisses, in an ecstacy of unspeakable love-. As if provoked to enIulous loudness by that mirthfnl outcry, and impatient to mingIe its clear notes with that young, innocent voice, n blackbird, enlbowered in a tall neighbOr. ing bay-tree, poured out forthwith sacha flood of full, rich melody, as stilled the ba-
 by's laugh, and for moment, arrested its Iobservant ear. But for moment. The kindred nature burst out into full chorus; the baby clapped her hands. and laughed aloud and. after her fashion, nocked the unseen songstress. The bird redoubled her tuneial efforts, and still the baby laugh- ed, and still tho bird rejoined; and both together raised such melodious din, that the echoes of the old church rang again; and never since the contest of the nightiN- gale with her human rival, was heard such an emulous conflict of human skill.
 could have laughed for company from my
 unseen lurking-place with the dark shadow
 ofithe church bpltrcsses. It was altogeih-
 CT such scene as shall never forget, one
 from whicl. I could hardly tear mysalf .. way. Nay. Idid not; Istood motionless as a statue in my dark, graY niche, till the objects before me became indistlnct in twi. light, till the last slanting sunbearns had withdrawn from the highest panes of the church window, till tho blackbird's song was nushcd. and tho naby. vUics was stilL
 and the mother and her pursling had re treated into their quiet dwelling. and the evening taper gleamed through the fallen l,wllte curtain and still open window aE-t But yet before that curtain fell, another act of the beautiful pantominie had passed in review before me. Tho mother with her infant in her arms, had seated horself in a low chair within the little parlouF. She united the frock strings, drew of that. and the second upper garments, dexterops- ly md at intervals, as the restless frolies of the still nnWearied baby afforded opportl. lnity; and then it was in its little coat, the plump white shoulders shrugged up in an- tic merriment, far above tho slackenOd shoulder straps. Then tho mothers hand
 slipped of one shoe, and having done so.
 her lips were pressed, almost as t seemed,
 involuntarily, to the little naked foot she still held. The other, as if in proud love
 of fIiberty, had spurned oG to a distance the
 fellow shoe; and now the darling, disar- \ rayed for it's innocent slunibers, was hush- | ed, and in moment tho small hands were lpressed together between the mothers
 hands, and tho sweet serious eye was Fais- N ca ana Uxeu uppH sn6 usVsusE 0yU NsHyAE
 beamed as yet the infants heaven 3 and X one saw that it was lisping out its uncOn- scious prayers unconscious, surely not uIl-
 accepted. ' A kiss from maternal lips was Lthe token of Gods approval and then she
 rose, and gathering up the scattered gar | ments in the same clasp witltthe half naked babc, she held it smiling to it's father and I one saw in the expression of his face, as he upraised itafier having imprinted kiss
 on that of his child, one saw in it allthe
 holy fervour of "a falher's blessing. gsp 1 Then the mother withdrew her little
 one, and then the curtain fell, and still I Ilingered, for after the interval of . fow
 minutes, sweet sounds arrested my depart- ling footsteps; a few notes of ths harp. a low prelude stole sweetly out, d voice still l sweeter, mingled in tones with Q sOft quiet
 accompaniment, swelled ont gradually ip- to a strain of sacred hgrmony. and tbe words Of the evening hymn came gafssd
 stewards ihe house 0f prayer. Vhen all
 was still in the cottage and around it; and lshe perfect silence, and deepening shad-
 ows, brought to mind more f0tcihly he l latsness of the hour, and warned me 70 turn I my face homewards. So | moved . fpw
 steps. and yst again lingsrad, lGlgsrsd still for fhp moon was rising and tbe lstars wore shining out in the .elenr elaud-