Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-02-05
From the Boston Pearl.
THE INC ENDIARY,

! 1t was past mdnigh,-the hum of bust.
ness and the pursuits of pleasure had ceased
the noise and hustle Of the world was
hushed in natures still repose, as if the
general pulse OF lie stood still No sound
was heard but the voice of the watchman in
his nightly vigil, and the roar of the wind
dense masses of black clouds were rolling
up before the blast from the Southwest and
overspreadlng the heavens, shutting the stars
out, and making the darkness more deep
and foreboding Albany was in quet-the
residents Of -- Street and vicinity were
reposing securely, alike unmindful and un-
conscious of sights or sounds portentous
There was, however, one lone watcher who
had looked out on the darkened heavens and
lurld clouds, as those who watch for the
morning From her solitary chamber there
glimmered the faint rays Of the nurse-lamp.
She, hablted in the weeds OF widowhood-
though young, beautiful and accomplished
sat anxiously bending over the cradle of
sick infant now feeling its feeble pulse now
listening to its painful respiration and infant
meanings, with all mothers agony The
husband of her youth, the object of her early
love, had died of the yellow fever. while on
business at New York few months preyi
Gus. She had received the intelligence of
his death at an hour when she looked for
I his return--an hour, above all Others when
she needed his presence. his sympathy, and
support. Surrounded by all that wealth and
affection could procure, she felt that her
house was left unto her desolate, and that
she needed support which the world can
| neither give or take away.
To God, in that fresh hour Of wo,
She He'd in humble prayer,
Chung closer to throne Of grace,
And lay more lowly there.
AS she assumed the new relation and re-
sponsibilities of another, she seemed 10 hear
the voice of Providence saying TO her
Weep not for him, but turn Your care
To Graded your breast.
This loved object, now sick, demanded her
solicitude AMI attention She had taken up
her pen TO write her family at u distance,
and solicit her mother TO come to her assist
ance. She had refused the proffer of aid
from several of her new acquaintance, prin
cipaly from the maternal feeling, that she
could not leave her sick child ia other haaAs
so long as she had health TO have the charge
of it herself She had even dismissed her
| household servants 10 repose, and sat thus,
with a feeling of understandable loneliness
watching thP progress Of disease on the only
earthly Object for whom she was willing 10
live, ard toll, and suffer She had listened
with some impotence TO hear the welcome
sound of the waite hman's voice breaking on
the silence, One o'clock, and all is 'eeH =
when she imagined she saw a flash Of light
ming break on the darkness without, and she
expected to hear the thunder murmur in the
distance, or roll athwart the heavens--but
all was silent Again light cleaned through
the folds of the window curtains, but on GO
| ing to the window, all was dark and sill as
the bosom Of the night
In circumstances like my own, il is not
strange that Imagination should exert pow
Ell iul influence over a timid, sorrowful mind,
said she to hersef-'but will not give way
TO superstilous lears-l will look for lor,l-
tude and strength equal 10 my day, from
Him who is everlasting strength
Her babe had now become FESTIVE; she
laid its feverish head on her own aching
bosom. and kneeling, poured out her full
heart into the ears of the Lord OF Sabaoth.
As she arose from prayer, she observed
change in the countenance of her child
Il will call servant, and send for physl-
cian,' said she, moving toward the door
i At that moment a broader, brig liter light
streamed in at the window several bells
simultaneously gave the alarm and Fire
fire fire Iesounded from hundred vol
ces. Her first effort was to awaken her
sleeping servants. AS she hurried from
room to room in the beck part OF her house,
clouds of smoke, through which fire occa-
sionally flashed, were every where seen.
Before she had accomplished her errand
of mercy the whole block TO which her
house was appended was literally in flames
Anxious only for the safety of her child her
inquiry was, Where can fly with my dy-
ing childP Her servants were too much
terrified to render her either counsel or as
sistance and thought only of their own per,
sonal safety. She had the presence OF mind
to secure purse containing a small amount
of money, and her watch in her bosom
then Selling a cloak and bonnet, to shield
herself and child from the biting wind, she
FASTENED to the street door, the only possible
way of escape from the consuming element
Here a most appalling spectacle was pre-
scented. The fire was by this time raging
on either side of the street; men, women
and children, in their night-c lothes, were
pouring from their fiery dwellings, some
from windows and upper stories mothers
: were calling for their children, and children
; CRYING for their mothers-husbands in search
: for their wives and children-wives search
E ing in return for their husbands; consterna
ton and terror preventing recognition O
their nearest relations. The widow paused
i for moment, overpowered by this scene o.
| in