Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-10-27
NOS.

shrinking parent, and slowly left the room
and neither father OF sister ever beheld him
more on this side the grave u 81 d
lu1 When the dim and misty light Of win
ter's morning penetrated into the narrow
court and struggled through the begrim-
med window Of the wretched11Dm War
den awokelirom bis heavy sleep and found
himself alone He rose. and looked around
him the old flock mattras on the floor was
undisturbed every thing was just as he
remembered 10 have seen it last; and there
were no signs of any one save himself hay
ing occupied the room during the night
He inquired Of the other dodgers and of the
neighbors; but his daughter had not been
seen or heard Of He rambled through The
streets, and scruiinized each wretched face
among the crowds that, tbronged them with
anxious eyes But his search was Gruitless,
and he returned 10 his garret, when night
came on desoate and weary. a0os .aseasa
For many days be occupied himself in
the same manner but no traces of his
daughter did he meet with, and no word Of
her reached his ears. Atlcngth be gaveup
the pursni, as hopeless. He had long ibot
of the probability Of her leaving him. and
endcavoring 10 gain, her bread in quiet else
where. She had left him at last TO starse
alone. He ground his teeth and cursed
her .i,s II, ,..
|, Hebegged his bread from door to door
, Every half-penny he could wiring from The
pity. and crcduliiy Of those to whom he ad-
, dressed himself, was spent in the old way.
, A year passed over bis head !, the Ioof ola
5 Jail was the only one that had sheltered him
' Tor many months, He slept under arch
S ways and brick-felds- any where, where
, there was some warmth, or shelter from the
) cold and rain But in the last stage of pow
erty, diseuse, and houseless want, he was
drunkard still.
, Atast; one bitter night, he sunk down
on doorstep in Piccaddily. faint and ILL.,
, The premature decay of vice and profit
4 gacy had worn him to The bone. His cheeks
: were hollow and livid his eyes were sunk
q en-, and their sight was dim His legs
trembled beneath his weight, and cold
Ishiver ran through every limb.
4 And now the long forgotten scenes Of
4 m:sspent life crowded thick and fast upon
= him. He thought Of the time when he had
( a home--a happy cheerful home and Of
= those who peoped it and focked about hun
!. then, until the forms of his elder children
seemed to rise from the grave, and stand
=, about him. SO plain, so clear, aud so dis
tinct they were that he could touch and feel
h them. Looks that he had long forgotten,
,s were liked upon him once more; voices
: long since hushed in death, sounded like
the music Of village bells BUTT was only
~ for an instant The rain beat heavily upon
:, him; and cold and hunger were gnawing
~ at his heart again
I'd. lie rose, and dragged his feeble limbs a
" lew PAGES farther The street was silent
70 and empty; the few passengers who passed
VI by, at that late hour, hurried quickly on.
and his tremulous voice was LOST in the vio-
lence OF the storm Again that heavy chill
70 struck through his frame, and his blood
ne seemed TO stagnate beneath it. He cooled
himself up in projecting doorway, and tri-
az ed 10 sleep.
= But sleep had fed from his dull and gla-
IN. zed eyes His mind wandered strangely
We but he was awake and conscious The
he well-known shout Of drunken mrth sounded
&c, in his ear, and the glass was a. his lips, the
en- board was covered with choice, rich food
they were before him; he could see them all
he had but 10 reach out his hand and take
them; and though the illusion was but real
TO lily ITSELF he knew that he was sitting alon.
ro- in the deserted street. watching the rain drop:
I'm as they patted on the stones,-that death wa.
Ter coming upon him by inches, and that Their,
aid were none 10 care for or help him. Sudden
ly he started up in the extremity Of terror
He had heard his own voice shouting NTH,
nix night air, he knew not by whom or why
Harki A groan! Anotherl His sense,
yht were leaving him; half formed and ncoher
ent words burst forth from his lips, and hi
lrsl hand sought to tear and lacerate his flesh
The He was going mad, and he shrieked for hell
son hill his voice failed him.
He raised his head and looked up the lons
on, dismal street. He recolected that outcast,
bic like himself condemned to wander day ant
use night in those dreadful streets had sometime:
Wy gone distracted with their own loneliness
APP He remembered to have heard, many year:
ng before, that a homeless wretch had beer
found in a solitary corner, sharpening rust,
md knife 10 plunge in bis own bosom, prefcrrne
to death TO that endless, weary wandering tt
'ud and fro. In an instant his resolution wa,
- taken; his limbs received new life; he RAJ
q Iquickly from the spot and paused not fol
9th breath until he reached the river side
ng He crept softly down The steep stone Stair
that led from the commencement of Water
zen loo Bridge down to the waters level III
- crouched into corner and held his breath as
no the patrol passed. Never did prisoner.
YER heart throb with the hope of liberty and life
half so eagerly as did that of the wretch ec
nni man at the prospect of death The Watch
nd passed close to him, he remained unobserved