The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-12-21
inhabited by flowers, and visited only by the ia

ed pleasant dwelling. Its roof, overgrown WIN
grass and moss, was almost as green as the ground
out of which its wtather-stained walls appeared
to grow Tho moss behind it separated from
little garden, by narrow slip of arabic land, the
dark color of which showed that it had been won
from The wild by patient industry retained. 1t re-
CURED bright sunny day to axe Moss side fair;
but then it was fair indeed; and when the little
brown moorland birds were singing their short
songs among the rusbes and the heather, or a lark
perhaps ured ,hither through some green barley
field for its undisubed nest, ringing all over
the enlvened solitude, the little bleak farm smiled
like the paradise of poverty, sad and affecting in
its lone and extreme simplicity.
The boys and girls had made some plots of fow-
among the vegetables that the little garden sup
Piled for their homey meals; pinks and carnations,
brought from walled gardens of rich farther
down in the cultivated sirath, grew here with
somewhat diminished lusture "a bright show of
tulips had strange beauty in the midst of that
moor land; and the smell of mixed well with
that Of the clover the beautiful fair leaves that
loves the soil and the air OF Scotland, and gives
the rich and balmy milk to the poor mans lips.
In this cottage, Gilbert's youngest child, a girl
about nine years of age, had been lying for week
in fever 1t was now Saturday evening, and
ninth day of the disease. Was she to live die !?
1t seemed as if but few hours were between the
innocent creature and Heaven. A the symptoms
were tn ose OF approaching DEATH The parents
knew we'll the change that comes over the human
face, whether il be IN infancy, youth or prime, just
before the departure of the spitit and they stood
| together by Margaret's bed it seemed to them tina
the fatal shadow had fallen upon her features
The surgeon OF the parish lived some miles dis
tant, but they expected him now every moment,
and many wishful look was directed by fearful
! eyes along the moor. The daughter, who was out
! at service came anxiously home this night, the
only hat could be allowed her, for the poor
must work in their grief, and hired servants must
do their duty TO those whose bread they eat, even
| when nature is sick sick at heart. Another of
the daughters came in frcm the potatoe' field bo-
yond the brae with what was to be their frugal
supper. The calm, noseless spirit of lite was in
| and around the house, while death seemed deal
ing with one who, few days ago, was light upon
the floor, and the sound OF music, that always
breathed up when most wanted; glad and joyous
in common talk, --swoet, silvery, and mournful,
when it joined in hymn psalm.
One after the other, they all continued going up
to the bed side, and then coming away sobbng or
silent, TO their merry little sister, who used to
keep dancing all day like butterfly in meadow
field, or like a butterfly with shut wings flow
err, trihing for while in the silence Of her Joy,
now tossing restlossy on her bed, and scarcely
sensible to the words of endearment whispered
around her, or the kisses dropped with tears, in
spite Of themselves, on her burning forehead.
Utter poverty often kills the affcctons but
deep, constant, and common feeling OF this worlds
hardships and an equal participation in all those
struggles by which they may be softened, unite
bneh and nd ,r,fo and Oh; bro,
and sisters, in thoughtful and subdued tenderness
making them happy indeed while the circle round
the fire is unbroken, and yet preparing them every
day TO bear the separation. when some 9th
er is taken slowly suddenly away. Their souls
are not moved by fits and starts, although, indeed
nature sometimes will wrestle with necessity; and
there is wise moderation both in The joy and the
grief of tho intelligen, poor, which keeps lasting
trouble away from their earthly lot, and prepares
hem silently and unconscious'y for Heaven.
'Do you think the child is dying'' said Gibort
with a calm voice to the surgeon, who, on his
weared horse had just arrived from another sick.
bed over the misty range Of hills; and had been
| looking steadlaslly for minutes on the little
patient. The humane man knew the family well
| in tho midst ofwhom he standing aud replied
while there is life there is hope but my pretty lii
tie Magaret is, fear in the last extremity. There
was no leud lameniation at these words-all had
before known though they would not confess 1t
to themselves, what they we're told-and
though the certainty that was in the words fthe
SIX lliul man their hearts beat for lille with sick
| TN obbings, made their pale faces paer, and
brought out from some eyes greater gush Of tears;
yet death had been before in this house. and in this
case he came, he always does in awe, but not in
terror.
There wandering, and wavering, and
dreamy delIrous phantasies in the brain of the in
nocent child but the few words she lndlstinctly
uttered were affecting rendlng to the heart, for
1t was plain that she thought herself herding her
sheep in the green, silent pastures, and sitting
| wrapped in her plaid upon tho sunny side of the
Biik- knowe She was too much exhausted--;here
was 100 little life little breath in her heart, to
frame a tune; but some of her words seemed to be
from favorite old songs; and at last her mother
wep,, and turned aside her face, when the child
whose blue eyes shut, and her lips almost
still breathed out these lines of the beautiful TWEEN.