Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-10-23

,, So tptouSh my litdlt HkC u hHiie. al
e what can | do to comfort ye? Come,
J. lizabeth, my bonny love, let us hope f
J. the best. Ye see before you a sorroV
;, ing mother, that fondly hoped to hn,
r, seen you and-I Gamma say i'll and a
o III qualified 10 give comfort, when my ov
S heart is like a furnace! But o! let Us Il
d and remember the blessed portion, 'who
the LORD loveth, HE chasteneth,' and il
: wardly pray for strength to say, His wi
d be done r''
: Time stole on towards midnight, an
r one by one of the unsuccessful party TT
turned. As foot after foot approached
! every breath was held to listen. ''Ne
no,no" cried the mother again, with il
creasing anguish, at is not the foot G
my own bairn''-while her keen gaze still
remained riveted upon the door and wa
mot Withdrawn, nor the hope Of despai
relinquished till the individual entered
with a silent and ominous' shake of hi:
head, betokened his fruitless efforts. The
Iclock bad struck 10; all were returned
save the father. The wind howled more
wildly; the rain poured upon the win.
lows IN ceaseless torrents; and the roar
ing OF the mountain rivers gave char
acter of deeper ghostliness to their sep
ulchral silence. For they sat, each rapt
In forebodings, listening to the storm; and
DO sounds were heard, save groans of the
mother, the weeping of her children, and
he bitter and broken sobs of the bereav.
ed maidet, who leaned her head upon
fer fathers bosom, refusing to be comfor-
J ted. en- M il'ss .05-l-s
| AT length the barking of the farm-dog
announced footsteps at distance. Eve
| ~ ear was raised to listen, every eye
turned TO the door; but, before the tread
was yet audible to the listeners, ooh, il
is only Peters foot!' said the miserable
mother, and, weeping, arose to meet him.
SJanet! Janet!" he exclaimed. as be
entered, and threw his arms around her
meek, ''what is this come upon US al
lastly ,r..,.-...-.5 (. 49, -
lie cast anlnquisitive glance around
his dwelling, and "A convulsive shiveI
passed over his manly frame, as his eye
lagaln fell on the vacant chair, which
no one had ventured to occupy. Hour
succeeded hour. but the company sepa
rated not, and low, sorrowful whisper:
mingled with the lamentations of the
! parents.
"Neighbors," said Adam Bell, ''tht
morn is new day and we will wait t.
see what twill bring forth; but, in thu
Emean lime, let Us read poruon O. the Dl
ts'or word, and kneel together in prayer
: that whether or not the day dawn caus,
light to shine upon this singular bereave
ment, the Sun of Righteousness may a
rise with healing on his wings, upon thu
hearts o. this afflicted family, and upoi
the hearts O. all present"
"Amen! Responded Peter wringing hi
hands; and his friend, taking down tn,
lila Bible," read the chapter wherein
1t is written-'.It is better to be in th,
house OF mourning than in The house o
ieasting;' and again-''lt is well for m,
that have been afflicted, for before wa
afflicted ! went astray." ..f... ...
The morning came, but brought no Ii
dIngs of the lost son. After solemn
farewell, all the visitants, save Adam
BELL and his daughter, returned to thc
own house; aud the disconsolate father
! with his servants, again renewed thei
search among the hills and the surround
ing villages.
) Days, weeks, months, and years role,
on. Time bad subdued the anguish @
) the parents into a holy calm; but thei
lost first born was not forgotten, although
no trace of his fate had been discovered
I The general belief was, that he had pei
ished in the breaking up of the snow; am
: the few in whose remembrance he sti
, lived merely spoke of bis death as ssver
J extraordinary circumstance" rcmarkin
that she was wild, yenturesome sort {
! lad"
2 Christmas had succeeded Christina,
, and Peter Elliot still kept it in commemc
, ration ofthe birthday of him who has moi
e For the first few Years after the loss c
r their son, sadness and silence character
sed the party who sat down TO dinner a
n Marchlaw, aud still at Peters right han
sIplaced the vacant chair. But as th
t younger branches of the family advance
e in years the remembrance Of their brotl
!. er became less poignant. Christmas va
e with all around them. a day of rejoicin,
] and they began to make merry with the
I friends; while their parents partook
: their enjoyment with a smile, half of al
o prevail, and half Of sorrow.
r Twelve years had passed away; Chris
e mas had again come; it was the counte
d past of its fatal predecessor. The bill
IS had not yet cast off their summer verdi,
b the sun, although shorn of its heat, ha
d lost none Of its brightness or glory, an
L looked down upon the earth as thong
l. participating in its gladness; and tt