Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-01-03

Quietly they slept that night aud il no sweet
dreams visited them in their sIumbers, it was be-
cause the weary labor of the day had overpower-
ed them, and banshed from the brain aI The
thick coming fancies' Of an ideal world
And thus tho time wore on. The winter div
saw the pioneer amid Ihe snow, telling The great
trees around HIM, or pursuing herds OF deer, or
some grisly bear proving among the thickets.-
Mem while, her household abors over the moth
er was measuring up in the infant minds of her
children such lessons Of instruction as her store
of know ledge allowed. At evening how anxious
y did mother and children watch the first ap-
proach OF husband and father They were 10
each other friends, companions, the world and
when the huge logs blazed up from the hearth
through the oPen-nouthed chimney, Lighting up
every corner OF the snug cottage, the winds howl
ing and roaring among The trees, md the drifting
snow were all unheeded There around the fire.
side old legends were rehearsed, old friends were
talked of and all the events of their former days
were brought up anew Evening alter evening
100 lher few books were brought out, and read
over again, as ii their contents were never heard
before. file of old newspapers, which had
somehow been packed up with their little stock Of
goods, was re- perused with much avidity as it,
inc sheets were damp from the press the mar
rnges and deaths recorded years be ore, were to
them as events of yesterday old advertise n,ents
were faithfully Pored over from time to time and
Il must be confessed that some of them rekindIed
nnds, mud laces, of shops, and their long shelves
filled and surrounded with many an article of fe-
male fnery.
Spring came again, and with it also the scourge
OF new country, racking agues and burning fe-
vers The strong mau was bowed low; his frame
dropped, his eye rolled delirously and his tongue
spake strange things; the tender child too was
cohhned to It's couch of pain. Then came the tri-
ais oil lie upon thul lone wife and mother No
physician was near, with healing medicine no
friend to Keep with her lhe long watches of the
hight pnt me Lord Of the whole earlh' was
there, and He inspired her breast with fortude
Inc snpe remedies which she had learned from
some old prudent housewife she prepared with an
earnest care she culled the wild herb, and made
COOLING drinks; and after long months of patent
watching and nursing she saw her husband slow.
~ recover But meanwhile the summer solslice
, ,n come ann gone aud hnt they might not be
| leit destitute Of provisions her own hands had
planted the earth with corn; had pulled IN lbe
rank weeds which cloggcd its growth: and when
tIe harvest was ripe, she had gathered il ill.,
Thrice had SHE travelled, nlone long days Jour.
ney through the woods TO the nearest setIlen,rnt,
Tor medicine aud advice; and thrice longer dis
lance 10 rudely RECONSTRUCTED mill and from, i.
carried back suslenance 10 her sick houssL< elsDss
IL was weary way for womnL1Ius,, ,7IO'u:
scared by the sound OF her
own light loolsiep. Saddest OF ALL came Death
into that lonely abode-and The youIgesl nnd fair
! est child was no more! A rough box was nil the
, coffin its feeble father could make few shovels
OF loose mound WINS thrown up and the pale child
borne to It's resting pluce ny the hands Of its mo-
a lher, its ialher family following, covered will
= moist enrlli and matted leaves. Not word wa'
; spoken, bu, tears Tel like rain. The scene wa:
. more solemn than If oud.sounding requiems had
! been sung, or long procession drawn out TO bid
d the little sleeper farewell
|, The cool breeze Of autumn brought healing on
= it's wings-aDd the pioneer, strong once more
s made the old woods resound again with his thick
& falling blows He carefully put seed into tn,
g ground for the ensuing year. aud dreamed of pros
/. perity. But another enemy was at hand. Tn,
g war.whoop Of the Indian sounded ieerfuly il
70 their ears one dark night, and they fed, ighte,
1t by the flames of their own cottage with their lit