The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-04-24

bosom, and whisper. 'WIIIie, dear, |
wish the moon would not keep loo ing
at me. She seems to say something to
me- and il makes me afraid.
All susceptible souls have felt thus,
particul rly under the influence of grief.
1.-THE snow Of deepest silence
o'er everything doth fall,
So beautiful aud quiet,
md yet so like pail
As fail life were eadsd,
And rest were GENE to ell"
Such state of feeling, lopg indslged,
could no. be otherwise than inl-rieus TO
bodily frame originally deHcaLe. The
sensitive ch'ld soon became subject to
fits, the severity ofwhich at times tnreat-
ened her life, On coming out OF these
spasms, with piieous tones and bewild
cred looks size would ask, where is my
mother"
At the end of q year an important
change came over the lonely household.
A strong, active sepmother was intro,
duced. Her Iond voice aud energetic
tread, so different from her own quiet
and timid mothers, frightened poor Liz
zy, Her heart more than ever turned
back upon itself, aud listened to the ech-
oes Of Its own yeaynln5s. Willie, being
old enough TO work on the fam, was
now absent most Of the day; and the fair
girl, so richly endowed by nature with
all the deep feelings and beautiful Gu
pacities, go lavish Of her affections, so
accustomed to free outpourIngs Of love,
became reserved, and apparently cold
and stupid. When her stepmo!her gave
birth to al infant, the fountains Of feel
ings were again unsealed. 1t was her
delight to watch the BABY, and minister
to its wants. But this development of
her affections was likewise destined TO
be nlpped in the bud TIE slepmolher,
though by no means hard hearted, was
economical and worldly wise She deem
ed it most pro1tabIe to empl y healthy,
stout niece OF her own, somewhat older
than Elizabeth, and have her step daugH-
ter bouud out IN some family where she
could do light labor. Ii was also deter
IN ned that William should 90 tc service;
and his place Of destination was bIly
miles from that OF his sister.
The news Of this arrangement was
very bitter to the children. Both an
swered their father, very meeklY, that
they were willing to go; but their voices
were deep, sad and almost naudibe =
Without saying another word the boy
put on his hat J.. aud the girl her sun bon
net, and taking each other by the hand,
they went forth, aud roamed silently to
their mothers grave. There they stood
for long time, still stilI-and their tears
dropped fast on the green sod, AT last
Elizabeth sobbed out, Ooh, il dear moth
er was alive, Willie, we should not have
to go away from home But Willie
could only answer by fresh outburst
of grief A llle cIump of wild flowers
nodded over the edge Of the mound. -
The allectonate boy cut two of them,
and said, Let US keep these, Lizzy, to
remember mother by
The flowers were carefully pressed |
between the leaves of Lizzy's iesta-
ment land when the sorrowflI day OF part
ing came, one was nicely folded i'll a
paper for Willie. 'Now, dear sis, give
me that nice liliie curl said he, putting
his fnger on soft, golden brown ringet
that nestled close 10 her ear, and lay
caressing on her downy cheek. She
glanced in The fragment of glass that
served them for mirror, and with eyes
brinful of tears, she answered, Oh vii.
lie, cannot give you tAa! Don't you
how dear mother used to wet
my head all over with cold water, 10
mae my hair curI2 She used to au h
when shook my head; and she would
kiss that little curl in particular. She
said it was such darling little curl
Thus chIldshiy did the Innocent ones
speak together. The brother twisted
the faVerite curl round his finger, and
kissed it too; and bright tear tell on it.
and glttered in the sunshine.
William left home few days earlier {
than his sister, and bitterly did the lone>
Iy one sob herse!fto sleep that night
She shuddered in the dark, and when
the moon looked in at the window, its
glance seemed more mournlul than ever.
The next morning she Tell from The break I
fast able In tit more severe than usu.
al. But as she soon recovered, and I
these spasnls now occurred only at disc
tant intervals, her stepmother thou8 bit
she had better be in readiness to depart
at The appointed tune. .,.
The wagon WAS brought to the do or
and the father said to her -'Lizzy put on
your bonnet, and bring your bundle. 1t
is time to CO. On! how the poor child .
fingered in her bed room, where she and
Willie slept in their infant days, and
where the mother used to hear them say
thei: pra yers and kiss them both, as
they lay folded in each other $ arms. -