Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-02-26
from the New.York Mirror.
THE TEMPTATION OF RACHAEL
MORRISON.

THE TEMPTATION OF RACHAEL
MORRISON.
1t wass clear, sunny September morning
--bright,nd cheerful. Autumn was steal.
ing not riding over the landscape, and
Rachael NIorrison looked out upon joy.
Gus pictue as she sat within the window
of her fad er's house.
Her two younger sisters had spread a
richly fri,ged carpet beneath a verandah
that was :utaIned by clustering vines the
elder of hen had filled basket with the
rich c'usarso the purple grape and held
it up, d,ube temptation to little Miriam
and bounding greyhound. the pet and
torment Of TIN family. Kate Morrison, the
tcmp,er, would not however, suffer either
Of them 10 tou;h a single grape until she
had first ,reseIted the basket TO Rachael
indeed her youthful sisters loved Rachael
dearly. a,d loved her the more for that the
rose was fading from her cheek, and her
lips seldom smiling as was their custom in
former times. lhave often observed that
| the love Of chd'en increases with the i'll
ness of friend o. companion, beautiful
Illustration of the disinterested nature of
true love.
There is burch, Rachael, bunch fit
for queen! The doctor said you might
eat grapes"
"Thauk you, dear Kate, they are very
fine. indeed; but you should not have tempt
ed Miriam and Flna with them"
"Oh" replied Kate, laughing, 81 love
10 tempt them, to tease them little, il
does them good"
"No, do not think so," said Rachael
IL AIN not fond of quoting from the holy
scriptures on trivial occasions, but you
must remember we pray not to be led into
temptation and, Kate, looking on the
temptation with which you tempted YOU
little sister and the pretty hound, made mt
think -"
What, sister ?"
"Upon mine own !"
"Yours, Rachael did no, tempt you
with grapes"
Grapes !" repeated Rachael MORRISON
smiling. though there was sadness in tn
smile. mo, not with grapes; yet | hav
had my temptation"
81 will tell you when you are old enoug
to understand its nature"
But am old enough, Rachael. sha
be seven next month. Perhaps, sister
you were tempted to tell slory'"
No"
ITO wear tight shoes a. the dancin
) lesson ?"
mo"
To go into tho garden and gather cher
rles without leave 2"
"To ride the kicking poney ?"
"Indecd, my Kate, you need not attemF
, to find out. Listen to me; II it please
| heaven tina, ! should live until you bav
J completed your seventeenth year, | WI
relate to you my temptations; ifQisten
ne, Katharine) am taken from you I'M
y the world of spirits, before you attain th
beauty and incur the dangers of woman
i hood, | will leave written testimony thu
h may warn you how to AVOID the sorrow
/; which have planted and wstered the wi
! lows that are already growing over n
e early grave"
Kate did not quite understand what hi
II sister meant, but she saw that her ey,
y were filled with tears, and so she crept S
en,ly to her side ond looked up into h.
face, and felt her heart sad within her.
little time and The sharp winds of an u
d usually cold spring sent, the physician sal
" poor Rachael MORRISON to an early gray
ID There was one who knew otherwise, wi
y knew that the iron had entered her sol
;, and teslered in its core, and that her DO,
h was too delicate to Withstand the struggl
o of her mind. Her mother closed her ey
~ aud sorrowed over her bier, but not as O
|. Having no hope, for her last blessed wor