The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-04-10

not conveniently take the child for two or three weeks
till the haying is overland that il certainly "ue
enough"
"CertainIy, Mrs Wslters, for am fearful mother
would consider the child some trouble just now' anu
will request her to send the message
"y.rv well. :" replied Mrs. Walters; CHATS all
wish You 10 do: for verify believe" continued 'he
benevolent old lady, "that this child was sent by DE-
vino Providence to recover my masteri rom MS
strange melancholy; and will take care to put her
in his way as much as possible"
Nearly n fortnight had passed since Mrs Walters
had told James Winter her scheme. In the first few
DAYS but little progress made; but the child, by
her constant endeaments, laid close sege TO the good
doctors heart and soon trumphed, and found in him
a friend "a second father. James Winter was sent
for and informed of Mr.. Forester's decision 10 make
tho child his own; and it gave him great joy. AL
though the doctor aroused to perceive and do
what he thought to be his duty still secret sor-
row weighed heavy upon his heart. He was very
melancholy, and ut times seemed almost heart-bro-
ken; but his uiiectionate and merry hearted little com
pauon had genial an influence that he was really
much improved.
Four years have elapsed
since the toned voice and merry laugh Of the
little Margaret Seaton had been heard in the cottage
Of the kind Doctor Forester. 1t is glorious morn
ing in June and Mr. Forester and Margaret are seat
ed in the shade OF thick-leaved chesnut, the
cot,age-he with his book and she with her drawing
when the old postman hobbled up to the GATE
Mr. Forester came forward to meet him. repeating,
with deep feeling,
"Give me but
Something whereun,o may bind my heart,
Something to love, TO lean upon, to clasp
Affections tendris round"
"Dut now, how is hs?-old Simon again, ''-leis-
ureIy opening tho letter. cha, what means this
Do dream 20 he exclums He reads with eager
attention. and To- the irresistible truth is before him.
1t is glorious certainty of happiness. Little Marga-
ret much astonished at this violent emotion, throws
her round his neck, and bursts into tears; her
aHeconate and tried friend presses her TO his heart
in silence, for how can ,oords express the overflow
ngs Of his t!ankfulness But what can this wonder
ful letter have revealed? Read the following, and
you will perceive the cause Of MIR. Forrester's long,
long suffering.
Dear sir,-I have, at length, the happiness to in
form you that the investigation in which, at your de-
sire, have been SO long engaged, has now termna-
ted most successfully One Of my agents has just re
turned from the West Indies, and has furnished
with certain proofs that Captain Richard Forester did
not perish in the terrible aray the river; when, in
self defence you raised your hand against your broth
crs life. have documents 10 prove that he perfect
" recovered from his injury, and that, two years af
ter he died in the West Indies"
This information completed Mr. Fonester's recov-
sry G!.is ia; 20 ,-c,y mean.) and Margaret
i.z9py the, CT, aud as the days and week:
passed away, she continued to gas. %nowfaass, and
with her kind protector would frequently NsiI the
great cty of LoDion but nothing could induce them
TO leave their much attached nome in the county
Every opportunity was improved by them 10 make
others happy. TIE benevolent and kind-learted
James Winter, in particular, was thought of, bO-
loved, and every thing done for his edrcat ion, and
eournscment in the path Of virtue and hAPpn and
thus he found, besides internal peace and satisfaction,
the reward of benevolent action.