The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-10-01

| MS destiny. But he was not hard hearted man,
! though very proud, and his wife was repository
of heavens own influences. Under her anxious
| superintendence the sufferers were placed in
warm beds, and every used for the resucila
ton of the one and the renovotion OF the other,
while MIR Blake, with the male part of the house
| hold, fastened TO the scene ofthe confagration
The main building now onveloped in fire, but
the kitchen was still standing, and he reoced TO
the servants rushing to and fro, trying to cave
sonnet thing, perhaps their own property, from the
runs. lie looked around in search of the unhappy
master, and trembled at the suppositon that he
mi ht have found funeral pyre
There was nothing to be done-lhe work of de-
struction was almost consumatod, and he was turn.
\ ing away sick at heart, hen he thought he a
bundle, lying near the wall whore he stood. He
stopped down, aud beheid with astonishment a
| sleeping infant. At first he thought it dead, but
when he raised II and touched his cheek TO its
cold face. he felt It's sweet breath stealing softly
over his lips, and its little hand nstincively clasp
ed his neck. lie was inoxpressby afle cited, and
gathering the folds of his cloak around it,, he press
ed 1t to his bosom with iarther's tenderness.
! Never had he been struck with the spec ia Prov.
dence Of God, as IN the preservation of this little
! outcast. Angels must have brooded over it, and
| impressed their heavenly warmth upon its chilly
bed. But Who had laid it so tenderIy in its snowy
cradle, aloof from the smoke and the blaze? Who
but she whose flia arms had borne her mother to
! his own door! As he answered this interroga
lion TO himself, his heart smote him for his injus
tice to the heroic girl who had made such unpara
leed exeruons. lie almost wished Harry was at
home but this was Il moment of excitemoni;when
he became calmer, he rejoiced at his absence.
| MIR Frank In had tot persisted in the ruins. Al
ter Kate had left him, his newly awakened feel
ngs of remorse ragged with frenzy in his bosom
No longer soothed by his daughters eafesses and
sustained by her prayers, the blackness Of despair
| rolled over him lie could not compose himself
10 rest--the room seemed too small to contain the
mighty conflict Of his feelings. lie could not bear
10 look upon the blazing hearth, and feel the
fires raging within. He went to the door, and as
the cold wind blew on his brow, he felt inexpress
| ble relief, and leaving the door Unattached he
rushed abroad, reckless where he went, provided
he could cscupe from himself Tho farther he
roamed from his own home, the more he seemed
to lose the consciousness of his identity, till
exhausted in body and mind he threw himself
down the floor Of an uuinhabited dwelling,
which had often been the scene OF his drunken
orgies. There he lay, while the fire which he
left blazing on the hearth, famed by the blast
bowling through the open door reveed uncon-
troIIed and unconqnerable.- When at morning he
sought his homestead, hn found it heap Of slnoul
dering ruins and he knew the work Of destruction
was his. lie remembered how the door creaked
in the blast, and in his madness he would re-
turn. While he stood gazing in speechless agony
on the wreck, Mr. Bake approached, and taking
him by the arm, drew him to his own dwelling
Like the friends of job, he spoke not, Cor ''he
his grief was very great" His wife, whum he
had once tendery lovsd, and who, in his chasten-
ed mood, came back to his memory clothed in
all The sweetness Of which! his vices had robbed
her, lay her death bed. Though rescued by
fiIia devotion from fiery grave, sho had swallow
| ed the breath of the Rame 81 her chafled Il wound
ed spirit was passing in the presence OF her Maker
Sho could not speak, but she knew him as he
| entered, and stretching out her feeble hand her dy
Ing glance spoke only pity aud forgiveness The
unhappy man knel by her side and burying his
face in the bed cover, gave way burst Of an.
gush, that like the rending asunder of body
| and soul And Kate, too, lay there beside her
dying mother, with frozen feet, blistered hands
and fe verish brov-with her bright locks scorch
| ed and disheveIlod her eyes bloodshot and dim.
This was his work There are calamities
which come immediately from tho hand OF God,
and man bows in weak ness before the majesty of
tho power which ove-whel:ns him. The pestil
ence that walked in darkness--the tempest that
| wasteth at noon day--the earthquake--he flood
a.e ministers of his vengence, aud come clothed
with authority so high and sacred, the boldest
and strongest dare not REBEL. But when the sui
ferer stands amid ruin his own hand has wrought
when conscience tells lin he has arrogaed TO
himself the fearful work Of destruction, and stolen
and winged the daIs OF death there is uniath
enable wog, and immediate would an uudying
remorse - antepast earth Of the re,ribuiion
Of heaven. Let say tho horrors of intern
perance are exaggerated! Here fire aud death had
done their part but murder had not yet Redeemed
the black catalogue OF sin. Happy, comPar
atvely happy the inebriato who Is arrested IN
his headlong career, before the blood OF inno
cence min Cling with the bati"ns of Bacchns,
brands him with the curse Of Cdn--the indeiibls
stamp Of infamy which his own life, poured out
The scafi0ld cannot eii;ice, and which is handed
down, an inalienabIe heritage, to his children =