Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1832-08-16
FoR fhE ENaurRkR.
THE DROWNED INFANTS.

wy w 'H'cK masses aIOng the valley. Nature seemed
wrapped in that pUIenness Of gloom which indicated
that the reign Of Winter had indeed begun. Not a
'ea trembled in the forest, not blade sprang mp in
the held The earth frozen like mailed iron, and
the stream that wont 20 glide along in beautiful
transparency, gUrgIng with melody through its peb-
bIed channel and rejecting its wavering light upon
the green leaves Overhangng ts banks ceased to
play and sparkle ia the sun-beams-bound as il was
IN letters Of congeaing ice. The smoke Of the dis
TAM dwellings curIed in blne wreaths over the russell
h'I-s'de sending forth the cheering signal, that their
quiet inmates not unmindful Of the dread inva-
ders approach, who came with his cutting blasts and
artillery % storms and they heaped high the blazing
'ue TO exPe the unwelcOme intruder, and leave him
to rage nnshellered over the bleak desonton he had
made IN his own frosty element. ...
The schOOl-bOuse poured forth its happy urchins,
whose childish glee and animoting voices went Up
ike silver tones Of music the bright cold airs their
daily task was over and each in the joy Of his unbur
the"ed heart, trudgiDg homeward in anticipation
OF sharing the enjoyment Of maternal fondness, and
the gathering at the blazing re-sde, to his
delighted father the advances he had made in the
growth OF the unfolding mind. The building where
they were accustomed to assemble situated in the
midst of plain, in the Reighborhood of few scatter
ed arm-houses. II was small, hut sufficiently large TO
accommodate the young brood Of the district. To-
wards the NORTH the plain was bounded by long and
slipping hill, which the road leads to the village
Near the foo, Of this accivy, meandersa river,
ing in its serpentine course through this now UxMri-
ant and delightful plain, until ,s pure mingle
with the little lake. that spreads it placid bosom like
mirror, towards the The river at this time,
was imprisoned i" icy bondage, yet not SO firmly fro
zen as to admit OF its being crossed without danger
plain and substantial wooden bridge the base
Of the height conducts the traveller over the stream
The children living i" opposite directions had
" reached their homes-happy in the enjoymen, of
their 6re-sides, and that parental love which makes
home so dear, aud creates earthly paradise well
in the humblest cottage, tie most stately mansion.
Little George and Emeline were walking along
hand in hand-ior they had still some distance co.
before they could reach the pa,ernal dwelling the
hillside. Their spirits light and elastic the
bounding fawn and the pure breath Of the atmos-
phere, although chill with December's bitter lrosts
only served cxhilirate their innocent hearts, and
flush their blithesome countenances with brighter
tinge Of infantile beauty.
"Come, Emeline," said the delighted boy, let US
60 down by the river and slide across the smooth ice.
You don't know how pretty il seems"
80 no, George" answered his tmid sister, " am
af aid it won't bear-and then II we should fall down
and get hurt, you know mamma would not like it,"
You can't tell how hard the river 10 irozen," re-
piled George. 40 if you had seen how often the
boys and girls used slide the river last win
ter, and how swift they weni--and some had skates
on, and went almost fast the little swallows fly
over the pond 10 the snmmer-and when get bigger,
Papa will buy me some skates too-and then, Eme-
line, how should like to have you see me skim over
the ice like the other boys. DO come with me, aud
we will slide across great deal quicker than we can
walk across the old bridge. Besides, you take
hold Of my hand 80 tina, will not let you fall md
then you know we have but little ways to 60 before
we get home.''
Thus persuaded. Emeline suffered herself 10 he led
by her young brother the margin Of the stream
The rushing gale sighed mourniulIy along che dell
and wantoned rudey among their sunny locks. They
dreamed not Of death-ihey only thought Of playful
pastime, and the joys Of chIdhood which car
dampen, no apprehension ALARM and no griefdcstroy
Both glided along with buoyan. hearts and sparkling
eyes, Bot the ice yields beneath them, light ns they
were, and ere they had reached the centre Of the
stream, ruddcnly broke under their feet and they
sank down beneath the cold waters in the lev en-
bruce ofdcaih.
Melting indeed was the sight, when sympathixin ing
neighhors down TO that fatal stream and found
the bodies Of those beautiful little infants beneath the
overspreading ice, locked in each others Ma
ny an eye Of stern manhood was melted to tears, ms
they bore them homeward to their bereayed parents.
There stood the table from which they receive
their waiting evening meal. There bIazed the rous.
ing fire at which they were TO warm themselves
There sat the fond mother asxously expecting their
return, and the doasg father, solicious to embrace
them, and hear their guileiess prate. And they did
RETURN cheer those bereaved parents no more for.
ever. ~
Silently and mOurnfaly were they laid out--and
oh the wrngi"g Of that mothers hands, her groans,
and tears and agony and the deep, unu,terabe grief
Of that fathers heart-anguage hath no power to de-
scribe them-speech no tongue 70 give expression
Oh il was a heari-rending sight 10 see the strength
Of maternal affection burH forth, until reason was
rostrated and distraction took possession Of her very
soul. She accused herself no the autioress Of her
chdren's death; and il was long time before her
paroxysms Of anguish yielded 10 the calmer sway 81
6xed aud i"curabIe mourning. There they lay side
by side. in the appareIling Of the sepulchre their
cOuutenances still lovely 10 DEATH bearing the placid
impress Of smiling innocence. Like two spo,less