Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-03-28

was set down beside it, while the long procession
circled slowly round.-Severa went up and
looked into the dark, damp cradle of the dead
child; one observed to his neghbor that it was
very shallow; and another said that Tom Jones
always sighted his work when there was nobody
to see to it; anyhow, it was not much matter the
child would stay buried; and another let drop a.
Jest, hard but though not very witty one, though
it was followed by a smothered laugh All this
passed quietly nothing was spoken above low
murmur, but Lucy heard it all, and as she heard
and remembered, what a repuIsiye thing seemed
to her the human heart Poor Lucy Dutton!
Minister Green stood at the head of the grave
and said prayer while Lucy leaned against
sickly looking tree, alone, and pressed her cold
hands against her temples, and wondered if she
should ever pray again-if God would hear her
if she should. Then they laid the little coffin
upon ropes and gently lowered it. The grave
was too short, or the men were careless, for
there was a harsh grating against the hard earth,
which made Lucy start and extend her arms, but
she instantly recollected herself, and clasping
both her hands tight over her mouth, lest her ag-
ony should make itself heard, she tried to stand
calmly Then handful Of straw was thrown
upon the coffin, and Immediately shovel full of
earth followed Oh! that first sinking of the
earth upon the bosom we have loved What a
fearful shivering sensation does it send to the
heart and along the veinsl And then the be-
numbing fantness that follows, as though our
own breath were struggling up through that
damp covering of EARTH Lucy gasped staggered
and then she twined her arm about the body o.
the little tree, and laid her cheek against it:
rough bark and strove hard to keep herself from
falling.
Some thought the men were very long in fill
ling up the grave, but Lucy thought nothing
about it. She did not after the first shovelful
hear the earth as it fell and when, after all wa
done and the sods Of withered grass had beer
laid on, Minister Green came to tell her, she die
t not at first hear his voice When she did, sht
pushed back the hair from her hollow temples
looked vacantly into his face, and shook he
, head Others came up to her-a good-naturet
man who had been kind to her grandmother
then the deacon's wife, followed by two or three
IOCllCt WOIlthj DuI LuCJ Olly SHIlCu dllu ollOOl
! her head Chances full of trouble and myster
1 passed from one to another there was an alarm
ed look on many faces, which those more distan
h seemed to comprehend; and still others came t
t speak to Lucy. 1t was useless-she could fin
: no meaning in the words-the star of intellec
e had gone out--the temple was darkened. Poor
e poor Lucy Dutton!
e They bore her home--for she was passive an
d helpess-home to the sick old grandmother, VIII
laid her wlthered hand on those bright locks, an
n kissed the cold cheek, and took her to her be
| som, as though she had been an infant. An
II Lucy smiled and talked of playing by the brook
S and chasing the runaway bees, and of toys fc
: her playhouse, and wondered why they were a
If weeping, particularly dear grandmamma, VIII
J. ought to be so happy. But this lasted only
h few days, and then another grave was made, an
a yet another, in the poors corner; and the CRANE
is mother and her shattered idol slept together
Of The grave is blessed couch and pillow to Il
n wretched. Rest thee there, poor Lucy