Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-11-22


that lowered about his restless pillow. had
raised the window. that the pure and cool
ing breath ofthe morning might sweep over
his parched lip and brow listened Itis SO
still thought, il he sleeps, I shall hear his
deep breathing, as he losses about in his I'M
easy slumbering all was still; there was
not solitary sound throughout natures
kingdom, as faras the scope Of the ear ex-
tended. save the incessant and monotouous
wall of the water l turned again towards
home, with a benevolent curiosity yet unsat-
isfed.
] had proceeded but few steps, when
the low moan Of child fell upon my ear
Il was such a moan as child is sometimes
forced TO utter when sickness has prostrated
it's tender powers, and it is about to die. l
heard itagainl 1t struck upon my heart
with more appalling power than the wild
est shrek man could give These means
were followed by deep drawn sigh-sueh
a sigh as might come from the Utmost foun.
tains Of mothers love, when she saw before
her eyes her little one in the. very agonies
Of death, with no power 10 save, and no for
titude to relinquish it, That sigh. and The
moan Of the child were so full Of language,
learned the whole story from them Vol
umes would not have rendered il more in
telligible. 1t could be told in two short SEN
fences: "A child was dying: a mother
was agonizing in bitterness over il"
| went home that morning with heavy
heart The sun shone out mildly and beau.
tifully--nature looked as lovely as though
il were her bridal morn-and the birds twt-
tered their songs Of praise as gratefully as
though they knew the hand that made
them was divine" But Icould not rejoice.
| knew that. although the spiri, OF innocence
was passing from earth to heaven, moth
er's hear. was swelling with agony, because
she was bereaved ofthat little cherub
II was nottiIlt two or three days after the
time just spoken Of that again walked tow
ards the Point" 1t was pleasant and
quiet afternoon. The pleasant waters Of
Casco bay looked like broad field of glass,
they were SO passive in their beauty. The
visions Of that morning lreshened in my
memory as approached the scene. A col
lection Of People was about the house, as
my eye rested upon it. The sabled hearse
was at the door it was apparent that funeral
solemnites were about 10 be performed
Alas thought l. the last comfort OF the
mother is about TO be taken from her
sight. and be enbosomed in yonder pro-
montcry! How / pity her desola,ion |
could not press through the crowd. and
take one look at the object OF her love, be-
fore they closed the coffin lid foreyer2 The
group gave way in respectful silence. as
passed into the chamber Of death. The coffin
rested upon the table in the middle of the
room. The mourners sat weeping around.
uncovered my head with feeling Of awe,
as pressed forward to look within that mar
row house. l already had in my minds
eye the little face, and the closed eye and
the inanimate yet lovely expression Of the
dear babe. But the blood rushed from my
heart with triple velocity--an expression
like that of sufioca.ion came upon mel be-
came powerless as an infant al sight that
came well nigh blasting, for moment my
vision. as looked within that coffin | two as
beautiful babes as ever Enclosed their eyelids
to the morning light, lay therein, cold in
death Two as sweet little innocents as ey-
er chung around mothers neck, enrapiur-
ed mothers heart, or caused a fathers to
beat with,a prouder impulse--lay side by
side in their grave clothes deadl Their lit
tie faces were upturned to heaven whittier
their spirits had flown. Oh it was heart
:ending even to stranger. 1t was con-
temptation at which angels might have
wept. AS stood at the collins head,
could not for my life suppress the tears that
would gnsh from my eyes How easily now
could account for that heart rending sigh
which fell upon my ear. as | passed this
way few mornings before how easily for
the great assemblage of people that had
pressed to witness the obsequies OF these
children II WAS indeed spectacle that
few eyes had ever looked upon--two little
cherubs lying dead in one coffin, and about
to be inferred in one grave and they the
only children Of their parentsi
i turned away from the narrow bed OF