The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-10-09

will Of God; and though her feeble tabema-
Gle was shaken, and was likely to be dissolved,
through years of anxiety and affection, yet
her faith seemed to acquire more and more
strength, and to fasten with firm hold upon
the divine promise.
One day, as L sat conversing with her, she
alluded to the faithfulness of God, and ex-
pressed her unwavering confidence in Him.
She said it had been her desire to acquiesce
in the Divine will, and she hoped that she
should be able 10 do so, whatever it might be
in relation TO herself or her absent son. But,
continued she, have prayed long and fer
vently that l may once more see him-see
him true penitent-and l cannot relinquish
the belief that God will hear and answer.
l was about TO say something which might
tend to soothe her, in case her hopes were
not realized, las must confess saw little pres
ent reason TO expect they would be, when
she stopped me, and observed, You may
think me presumptious, but my faith must
enjoy its hold on the divine promises. Has
not God said, Call upon me in the day Of
trouble, and | will answer thee, and thou
shalt glorify mel Ihave called-yes, l have
called, by day, and by night, and God has
seemed TO help me. Has he excited such
strong, such intense emotions for nothing?
Has he enabled me to wrestle so with him,
only to be disappointed! l am aware that
probabilities are all apparently against me. |
must soon fail; this heart will soon cease
| beating, and the narrow house be my resting
place, but still have confidence in the faith
fulness of my heavenly Father. What though
| see no immediate prospect of the return Of
my poor boy! believe l shall yet press that
poor child to my bosom. Years since wrote
in a pocket Bible gave him, His loving
kindness changes not;' and do you think it
will fail now!'
confess admired the steady faith of the
mother-a faith strong in the Lord and in the
power of his might; and yet it seemed scarce
! ly possible that her hopes should be realized.
At length my faith faliered, for it was ap-
parent that her hour of departure was not far
distant
That night, two or three female friends,
fearful of her failure before morning, offered
to stay with The mother of Alice. This the
latter cheerfully assented to, though she had
decided not to leave her mother. The nee
cessary arrangements for the night were made,
and at an early hour all was silent in and a
round the humble cottage.
| 1t was glorious night abroad-clear, soft,
mild-just such night as saint might well
choose in which to take departure and soarto
the templs above. The poet must have had
some such night in vision when he penned
those beautiful lines:-
''The moon awakes, and from her maiden face
| Shedding her cloudy locks, looks meekly forth,
And, with her virgin stars, walks in the heavns-
Walks nightly there, conversing as she walks
| OF purity, and holiness and God"
1t was just such night. and Alice had ris-
en- from her seat to hide her emotions, as her
dear parent breathed more heavily, had gone
| to the window, the curtain ofwhich she drew
aside, and was standing leaning her arm on
the sash. In the distance, just beyond the
gate, she deserted as she thought, the figure
of man who seemed to be approaching
For moment she started back, but again
looked and his hand was on the latch. The
gate was opened with great caution, and the
stranger approached slowly toward the house.
Presently gentle knock was heard at the
kitchen door. Ii was impossible for Alice to
summon courage to attend to the nurse. who
upon unlocking the door, inquired the reason
for so late and unreasonable an intrusion.
| Does Mrs. Grant still reside here!' in
| quired the stranger, in kind and earnest
| tone.
She does replied the nurse; but she is
| dangerously i'll, and we fear cannot live many
hours; you cannot see her.
Gracious heavens exclaimed the stran-
ger; and SO audibly were the words pro-
nounced that they fell on the ears Of Alice,
and her heart beat with strong and distressing
emotions. Il must see her. continued the
stranger; 'donot deny me madam, quick
quick and he gently pressed open the door,
still held by the surprised and even terrified
nurse.
Alice listened to the sounds without being
able to decide their import; but at length
fearing that her mother might be disturbed,
she stole softly out of the room for the pur-
pose Of ascertaining what the stranger wish
ed.
'Alice-Miss Alice said the nurse, as she
approached.
But before she had finished what she was
attempting to say, the stranger inquired with
countenance wild with emotion, Is this
Alice Grant! and the next moment he swoon-
ed and fell on the floor.
Miss Alice exclaimed the agitated nurse,
what does all this mean who can this be ?
| what shall we do?
Alice herself stood amazed, but as the light
fell upon the features of the apparently life
less stranger, thought flashed across her
mind.and the following moment she was near
ly falling beside him.
Nurse said she, softly but quickly hand
me some water This she applied literally
to the temples of the stranger, who slowlyre
| covered his consciousness, and at length sat
up. He looked round,a presently fastened
his eyes most intently and inquiringly on the
pale and morionless Alice. Yes, yes he ex-
claimed, it is she; it is my own beloved AL
icei'
'Charles-Charles, my brother! uttered
Alice, as she fell upon his bosom. oh, heav-
en- be praised! Charles, is it's you? Oh,
mother-motheri'
The sound of voices reached the dying mo-
Their, and she inquired, Alice, my child, what
what did hear, Alice!'
Alice, scarcely able to stand, fastened to
her bedside, and taking her mothers hand,
already cold with death, spoke in accents
tremulous-for her whole frame was agitated
-tremulous, but kind.
what did hear, Alice 2 the mother