The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-04-26

that the lonely widow should almost idoliz,
the child as she grew in loneliness by he
side. As time flew by, and the fair chile
became the graceful maiden, the mother
love grew deeper in its intensity until i
seemed to constitute her very being. Al
light, all hope. all JOY, seemed centred il
that one only thought, and when she knel
in prayer. it was but to return thanks fol-
that one blessing. She was still her own
still the same loving, gentle being who had
nestled in her arms in infancy and the
widow felt that amid all her trials she had
been kindly dealt with. And when she
gave her only treasure unto one she deemed
worthy of her, and made her home with
them, she felt that an home of rest had in
deed arrived. During ten years her cup
was filled with peace. She was no longer
lonely, for the new name of grand-mam.
ma was hers, and the little prattlers who
clustured around her, left no room in her
heart for solitude.
The summer of 1888 arrived, and that
fearful scourge of the human race, the Chol-
era, ravaged the city, filling nearly every
house with mourning. Alice was one of
its earliest victims. Mercifully was she
taken from most fearful trial, for the NOR.
ow's sun looked upon the lifeless corpse of
her husband; and ere week had passed,
three Ct her children had gone to rest with
her. Mysterious are the dispensations of
Providence That aged one was spared
amid this deso!ation to perform the last sad
Offices of love for those unto whom she had
looked TO smooth her own death. pillow
She laid them by the side of her husband,
ard gladly would the wearied one have
sought rest with them, but she had now a
new duty to perform in life. There were
still two young, helpless beings dependant
upon her care. and she still struggled on
Mary, the eldest, was lovely girl of nine
years, and had she not been already her
grandmother's pet, her likeness to her moth
er would have endeared her amid this be.
reavement. Edwin was a little lispins
curiy-haired child of three, and his contin-
ual entreaty, Gamma, do let mume come
home,' was almost agony unto her soul. His
mother had indeed gone home, home to her
Savior, home to her God. Again was the
aged widow compelled to encounter the TIL
ais of the world alone. Yet she bowed not
Ii desolation as when The angel of sorrow
INST came to trouble the waters of love in
her young heart. 1t seemed as though she
had gained strength and frmness of mind,
which had never before been hers The
mourner of three score was to watch over
and to cherish the child of three. Well did
she strengthen herself for the task. She
would live TO be their guide and protector.
She would be father, mother, friend, all I'm.
to them, for they we're the children of the
loved who were with God. Mary was old
enough TO aid her in taking charge of Ed
win, and with the aid of the little which
had been left at their fathers death, she
contrived TO earn a scanty livelihood by
coarse sewing. knitting, and at her equally
humble employments.
A kind lady who lived near, offered to
give the children some instruction during
her hours of leisure, and sad trouble was
thus taken from her heart, the fear that they
must grow up almost in ignorance. As
Mary advanced In years her resemblance to
her mother grew more perfect she wanted
but the same merry smile, to almost pur-
suade her grand that she had won
her own dear Alice back. But there was
ever something in the calm seriousness of
her countenance and the subdued softness
of her tone, which told of the severe trial
through which her young spirit had passed.
Perhaps it was fortunate that the little Ed
win had been too young to know the extent
of his loss, for his buoyant and happy tenn
peramentwere often necessary to give cheer
fulness to their dwelling. He is now man
ly lad of thirteen, and his intelligence and
activity have procured him a place in a
store which enables him to share with his
sister in relieving their grand mothers la
bors. 1t must be him whom they are ex-
pecting this evening, and for whom their
supper IS waiting.
He has Just entered, and the large packs
ct which he holds in his hand tells the rea-
son of his delay. Grand mother, | have
brought you new Bible, you know yours
Is so worn and the print so small, you can
hardly read it, Her age-dimmed eyes are
still more dlmmed by tears as she takes the
gift, for she feels that God hath given her
rich blessing amid her poverty, in those
loving beings who have been spared to sooth
her declining years. The lad turneth now
to his sister, and his arms are entwined a.
round her as he whispers, Mary, had on
ly money to purchase the Bible, have
brought you nothing but love- The mai
den answereth not, but the unwonted smile
which lighteth up her pale countenance,
contrasting so strangely with that sudden
tear, tell US that to her brothers love is
the most welcome Christmas gift.
Philadelphia.