Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-05-05

sible. Oil Could she have foreseen the
consequences Of this rash act-could she
have known the bitter anguish which it
would aherward cause her, worlds would
lnot have tempted her to do il; but Clara teas
|angry! Helen was seated just on the edge
Of the stone, and she fell into the water. 1t
was not deep. She had waded there MANY
"a day with her shoes and stockings of. and
rae easily got out again, but it frightened
or very much and took away all herstrenpth.
Nhe could not even call to her sister or cry.
strange feeling came over her, such as
49, I'd never had before She laid her
the stone, closed her eyes and
he was going to die, and she wish
4uiother was there Then she SEEM
to sleep for few moments but by-and-
she felt better, and getting up she took
NJ empty basket and walked on, as fast as
She was able, toward school.
y'It was nearly half done when she arrived
thSre, and as she entered the room, all no.
tided her pale face and wet dress. She took
Der seat, and placing her book before her,
i'afied her aching head upon her hand, and
attempted to study, but in vain. She could
not fx her attention at ALL The strange
aetkug began to come over her once more
|lhCletters all mingled together,-the room
grew dark,--the shrill' voice of the little
chsd screaming its A B Gin front Of her
DESC, grew fainter and fainter her head
SUM upon her book. and she fell to the
floor.
fr-a.ing was so unusual in this school,
that all was instantly confusion, and it was
sonlC minutes before the teacher could re.
stossrorder. Helen was brought to the air,
two Of her companions were despatched for
water and pone were allowed to remain
near except Clara, who stood by trembling
from@head to foot, and almost as white as
the ilgensible object before her Oh what
a monent Of anguish was this, Deep bitter
anguish. Her anger melted away at once,
and SIC would almost have sacrificed her
own life, to have recalled the events of the
morning, That was impossible. The fu.
ture however, was still before her, and she
determined never again to indulge her temp
err, OF be unkiad to any one If Helen onig
recosergd, the future should be spent in
atoning for lger past unkindness. 1t seemed
for q short time, indeed, as if she would be
called upon to fulfil these promises. Helen
gradually grew better And in about an
hqu y APPARENTLY as well as usual, Ii
va Jug ,uu.s-ssO vSsy ior her ros rcturn
home, and al 'S~liner, who happened to pass
in new gig, kindly offered to take her.
Clara could not play with the girls as
usual,-she could not study Her heart
was full, and she was very impatient TO be
once more by her sisters side The recess
was spent in collecting pictures notes, and
little books and the long study-hours were
employed in printing stories In this way,
she attempted to quiet the still small voice,
whose secret whispers were destroying all
her happiness. Oh, how eagerly she
watched the sun in his slow progress round
the school-house; and when at last be threw
his slanting beams through the west win
dow, she was the first to obey its joyful sig
nal: and books, papers, pen and ink instant
ly disappeared from her desk
Clara did not linger on her way home
She even passed the "halfway stone with
no other notice than deep sigh. She hur-
ried to her sisters bedside, impatientto show
her the curiosities she had collected and to
make up, by every little attention, for her
unkindness. Helen was asleep Her face
was no Longer pale, but flushed with burn
ing fever. Her lutte hands were hot, and
as she tossed restlessly about on her pillow,
she would mutter to herself, --sometimes
calling on her sister, to "stop, STOP and then
again begging her not to throw her to the
fishes
Clara watched long in agony, for her to
wake. This she did at last; butt it brought
no relief to the distressed sister and friends.
She did not know them, and then continued
to talk incoherently about the events of the
morning 1t was too much for Clara to bear.
She retired to her own little room and lone
ly bed, and wept till she could weep no
more.
BY the first dawn OF light, she was at her
~ sbedside; but there was no alteration.
For three days. Helen continued in this
state. would not if could, describe the
agony Of Clara, as she heard herself thus
called upon, and deservedly reproached by
the little sufferer. Her punishment was in
deed greater than she could bear. AT the
close Of the third day, Helen gave signs OF
returning consciousness,-inq if the
cold water which she drank, would iniure
her,--recognized her mother, and very anx-
iOusly called for Clara. She had stepped
out, and was Immediately told of this. Oh,
how joyful was the summons She hast
ened TO her sister, who, as she approached,
looked up and smiled. The feverish flush
from her cheek was gone,-she was almost
deadly pale. BY her own request her head
had been raised upon two or three pillows
and her little emaciated hands were folded
over the white coyerlid Clara was entire
ly overcome she could only weep and as
she stopped to kiss her sisters white lips,
the child threw her arms round her neck,
and drew her still nearer 1t was long
embrace ;--then her arms moved couvulsive-
ly. aud fell moiionless by her side there
were few struggles, --she gasped once or
gain.
n