The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-11-18
Moral and Religious.
pHE EMIGRANT,s sABBATH.
From he Opal.
"Vill tho baby die, motherl"

Inc inquirer was heTseI u enid, ana the look OF
earnest curiosity with which she watched her moth
ers face, to gather from that the reply which the pa
could not speak, testified to that precocy of in
teec that early development Of intelligence which
Is the lot orhc children ofthe poor. To u.s. this union
Of matured perceptions with juvenile features, is
nong the most painful Of tho traits which distinguish
Che offspring OF tn" whose every step is conen-
tion with obstacles, Whose every gesture seems
buffet with the world But if the face Of the daugh-
Ter painfully interesting, that of the mother was
no less Though still young, toll, anxiety and
care, and above ALL grief, had marked her counte-
nance with the evidences thal young though she might
be in years. in experience she had lived GU; life
time, She bending the cradle Of an infant,
whose quiet sleep seemed the suspension of its little
being. Pale and wan, she seemed scarce farther
from the grave than her infant charge, in watching
whose almost imperceptibe brealhings, her whole
attention was absorbed
"Wili little sis die nop, motherl" the elder child
again asked. There was a volume of meaning in the
tone in which the inquiry was put. II expressed the
resignation which all in that little household had
nade--the conviction that their well beloved infant
companion was sick death: and alt that Mary
could hope in that the moment Of the
departure Of the child was not yet-not that instant
halt an honr seemed long ruture-a day seemed
years, Who that has watched the life OF a child
wasting nway has forgotten it? The unconscious
sufferer incapable alike Of approaching its danger,
of communicating its feelings 10 the earnest aiIec-
hon which surrounds its he'd the meekness of en-
duranca the suppcating glauoes from the eyes of
dying chid-oh' how deeply do they move the heart
When man sinks from his strength, or woman wastes
from her loneliness into the Of DEATH ut each
stage of the disease tho invalid can communicate
with attendant friends; at each pause-like respite in
the journey through tho valley of the shadow, adeux
may be rock chnnged between those who to part
at the grave, hut to meet ngain beyond H. But where
the babe, in pain, bnt unconscious from what cause
or to whit end, looks up imPloringly to her who,
though poweress to aid, has hitherto been its
Solace the mother feels she could willingly die with
her child, she could make the sufferer understand
that is death-he death appointed to all-whch is
slowly but surely sitting the pulses o. its little heart
So Gnt the young wife and moher-but still she
spoke not. No sound broke the stiffness of that
house in the forest mo hum Of passengers, note
Of busy lilo in dlscord with tho scene, Knocked the
silent grief Of the mother and sister OF the dying child
There melancholy apposeness in the solitude
OF the place, and in the stern and natural simplicity
without and within the dwelling. The light vernal
winds moved the branches of the prilnevnl tree of
the forest which shaded the humble cabin and ms the
stole in between at the open door among the
leaves the shadow of lesser branch OF the tree trem-
bed to and fro upon the infants lips, if it emblem
cd hure the Pickering Of its breath. This painfully
beautiful thought entered the mind of the mother
and Wilde she still dwet upon it, the door was dark
ened the poetic vision was lost,-and her husband
and her brother entered with noiseless step The
boy had plucked vole in the vain hope of attract
ing the dying chld's attention 1t had wthered in his
hand as he walked and while he stood over the couch,
struck with the alteration which had in few hours
iaisen place, he lot it fall upon the pillow. The
mother took it up-she looked at the withored bios
som of spring, and then looked the withered flower
of maternal hopes Turning to her husband she
SINK upon his neck, and wept
The child dear to them Exiled in par, per
maps by ruunt disposition, and tina, restless spiri,
of enterprise and adventure which is characteristic Of
the American people, they had wandered far, before
they had pitched their tent Accustomed in New
England to the comforts which industry places within
tho reach of oil, to the refinement of mind which ed
ucation creates, to the social habits which the nst-
tutions and manners of New England roster-and n
bove ALL to the religious privileges which bless the
NSSNN'N'''"'' W ''"9S
ship God after their consciences, the Far West
for many weary month seemed to them u solitude
dreary indeed, but never quite solitude. They had
early learned that there is One from whose presence
no creature can be banshed; and insulated as they
in the mighty forest, the little family never for
got that He lives Of whom it is written, 'sIf take
the wings OF the morning and dwell in the uttcrmost
parts of the sea, there shall Thy hand lead me-
and Thy right hand uphold me-"
To mother, to father, to sister, und to The brother
who had accompanied them in their wanderngs, the
birth of that child had been as a new creation--it
had consecrated for them hoine and created
tie which had bound them to the spot The gifts
of Gods mercy to them, had been as ray of light
which made the desert blossom as the rose. All their
hearts chung to the little stranger; every feeble OPEN
ing OF the precious bud was watched-every glim-
me of future intelligence in the child was to them as
The earnest of coming perfect day, Tho smiles of its
infantlc joy had been tine sunshine or their hearts
The tree before their door appeared greencr and
stronger when the little one crowded its admiration