The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-12-21

er by the bedside, for ii said to be best so;
and Gilbert and his family sat down round The
kitchen fire, for while, in silence. In about a
quarter of an hour, they began TO rise calmly, and
to go each TO his allotted work. One Of the daugh-
ers went fol- tn with the pail to milk the COW, and
another began to set the table in the middle Of
The floor Tor supper, covering it wiha white cloth.
Gilbert viewed the usual household arrangements
with solemn and untroubed eye; and there was
almost the faint light Of grateful smile on his
cheek as he said to the worthy surgeon, "You will
partake of fare after your days travel and toll
of humanity"
In short silent hour tho potatoes and oat cakes,
butter and milk were on the board; and Gilbert,
lifted up his toll hardened but manly liand with
slow motion, at which the room was as hushed as
1T had been empty, closed his eyes in reverence,
and asked blessing. There was little stool, on
which no one sat, by the old mans side. 1t had
been put there unwi,tingly, when the other seats
were all placed in their usual order; but the golden
head that wont rise at that part Of the table
was now wanting. There was silence-no:
word was sad-their meal was before them,- God
had been thanked, and they began to eat.
While they were at their silent meal, horse.
man came galloping up to the door, and with
loud voice, called out that he had been sent
press with letter TO Gilbert Ainslie; a. the same
time rudey with an oath, demanded dram for
his trouble. The eldest son, lad OF eighteen
freely seized the bride OF his horse and turned his
! head away from the door. The rider somewhat
alarmed at the flushed face of the powerful strip
| ling, threw down The letter and rode off.
Gilbert took the letter from his sons hand, cast
ing at the same time, half upbraiding look on his
| face, that returning 10 its former color. Il
feared said the youth, with a tear in his eye, q
feared that the brute's voice. and the trampling OF
| the horses feet would have disturbed her Gil.
bert hold the letter hesatingly in his hand, as if
afraid at that moment, TO read it, at length he said
| aloud 10 the surgeon: "You know that am poor
man ,anG debt, if justly incurred and punctually
paid when due is no dishonor.' Both his hand and
his voice shook slightly as he spoke;bul he opened
the letter from the lawyer and read it in silence.
! AT this moment his wife came from her child's
bed side and looking anxously at her husband,
told him mot mind about the money, that n"
man, who knew him, would arrest his goods or
put him in prison, Though dear me, il is cruei 10
I be put to it thus when our BARN is dying, and
when if so il be the Lords will, she should have
decent burial, poor innocent, like them that went
before her.. Gilbert continued reading the letter.
with face on which no emotion could be discov.
ered and then, folding up he gave it to his wife
told her she might read it If she chose, and then
put ii into his desk IN the room, beside the poor
dear BARN. She took it from him. without reading
it, and crushed it into her bosom; for she turned
her ear towards her chd and thinking she heard
il STIR run hastily to its bedside.
Another hour Of trial past, and the child was
still swimming for its life The very dogs knew
there rs grief in The house, and lay without stir
} - al. lol al,
at the window. One sister with unfinished
gown on her knees, that she had been sewing for
The sick child and still continued at the hopeless
work, she scarcely knew why; and often, often put
ting up her hand TO wipe away tear 'What is
that?' said the old to his eldest daughter:
'What is that you are laying the shef?' She
could hardly reply that it was ribbon and an
ivory comb that she had bought Tor lille Margaret
| against the night of the dancing school ball.
And "a, these words, the father could not restrain
a long, deep, and bitter groan; at which the boy,
nearest in age his dying sister, looked up weep
ing in his fuce, and letting the lailered book OF old
ballads, which he had been pouring but not
readng fall out of his hands, he from his seat
and going into his fathers bosom, kissed him,
and asked God TO bless him; for the holy heart
of the boy was moved within him; and the
old he embraced hun, felt that in his
innocence and simplicity he indeed COM
forter. 'The Lord giveh, the Lord taketh away,'
said the OLD man; blessed be the name of the
| Lo-d ..ts.l .-
The outer door gently opened, and he who had
for many years brought peace and resignation hith
err, when their hearts had been tried, even as they
now were tried, stood before them. On the night
before the Sabbath, the minister of Auchindown
never left his Manse except as now, 10 visit the
sick the dying bed. Scarcely could. Gilbert re.
ply to his first question about the child, when the
surgeon came from the bedrooms and said MAR.
garet seems lifted up by Gods hand above death
and the grave: think she wis recover. She has
allen asleep; and when she wakes hope-I be.
eve-that the danger will be past, and that
your child will live
They were all prepared for death; but now they
were found unprepared for life. One. wept that
had till then locked up all her tears within her
heart, another gave short palp,tating shrek; and
the tender hearted Isabel who had nursed the
chi han; IL n ba,y ptaA he