Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1838-10-05
HOPE AND MEMORY.

A babe lay IN It's cradle. A being Will
bright hair, and a clear eye, came and kiss
ed it. Her name was Hope. It's nurse deni.
ed il a cake, for which it cried but Hope
told il Of one in store for tomorrow. Its lit
tie sister gave it a flower, at which it clap.
ped its hands j~oyfully, and Hope promised
il fairer ones, which ii should gather for IL
self
The babe grew to a boy. lie was mu.
sing al the summer twilight Another be-
ing, with a sweet, serious face came and sat
by him. Her name was Memory. And
she said, Look behind thee, and tell me
what thou %seest."
The boy answered, II sec a short path,
bordered with flowers. Butterflies spread
out gay wings there, and birds sing among
the shrubs. 1t seems to be the path where
my feet have walked, for at the beginning
of it is my own cradle"
What art thou holding in thy hand ~
asked Memory. And he answered, "A
book which my mother gave me-" Come
hither." said Memory with a gentle voice,
land | will teach thee how TO get honey
out Of il, that shall be sweet, when thy hair
is gray"
The boy became a youth. Once, as he
lay in his bed, Hope and Memory came 10
the pillow. Hope sang a merry song, like
the lark when she rises from the nest to
the skies. Afterwards she said, Follow
me, and thou shalt have music in thy heart,
as sweet as the lay | sung thee"
But Memory said, "He shall be mine
also. Hope, why need we contend For
as long as he keepeth Virtue in his heart,
we will be 10 him as sisters, all his life
long" So he embraced Hope and Mem.
DRY, and was beloved Of them both.
When he awoke,th blessed him, and
he gave a hand to each. He became u man,
and Hope girded him every morning for
his labor, aud every night he supped al
the table of Memory, with knowledge fol
their guest.
At length Age found the man, and turned
his temples white. To his dim eye, it seem
ed that the world was an altered place
But it was he himself who had changed
and the warm blood had grown cold in hi,
veins.
Memory looked on him with grave anc
tender eyes, like a loving and longtried
friend. She sat down by his elbow-chair
and he said to her. Thou hast not KEEP
faithfully some jewels that l entrusted tc
thee. | fear tina, they are lost"
She answered mournfully and meekly
1T may be so. The lock OF my caskei j,
worn Sometimes | am weary. and fall as
sleep. Then Time p~urloins my key. Blu
the gems that thou gavest Inc when life wa:
new, see ! | have lost none of them. They
are as brilliant as when they first came
into my hands"
Memory looked %pititully on him, as sh,
ceased TO speak, wishing to be forgiven
But Hope began to unfold a radian, wing
which she had long worn concealed be
meath her robe, and daily tried its strength
in a heavenward flight.
The old man lay down 10 die. And al
the soul went fourth from the body, tn,
angels took it. Memory assembled by it
side, and went through the open gate o
heaven. But Hope paused at the ihresh
hold. There she expired, like a los,
family giving forth its las, odors.
A glorious form beat over her. He
name was Immortal Happiness. Hop,
commended to her the soul, which she hat
followed through the world. Religion
she said, planted in it such seeds as bea
the fruit of heaven. 1t is thine for ever"