The Columbian fountain., 1845-11-15

over him, ii seemed to her that there was
slight twitching of the muscles about the
neck. How suddenly did her heart bound
and throb until its strong pnlsaiions panied
her! Eagerly did she bend down upon him,
watching for some more palpable sign OF re-
turning animation. But nothing met either
her eye or ear, that strengthened the newly
awakened hope.
After waiting, vainly for some minutes,
until the feeble hope she had entertained be-
gan to fail, Anna stepped quickly to the
mantelpiece, and lifted from it small look
ing-glass, with which she returned to the
bedside. Holding this close to the face of
her brother, she watched the surface with an
eager anxiety that almost caused the beating
of her heart to cease. As slight mist
slowly gathered upon the glass and obscur-
ed its surface, Anna cried out with voice
that thrilled the bosoms of her mother and
sister
"He lives he livesp' and gave way to
gush Of tears.
This sudden exclamation, Of course,
brought Mrs. Graham and Mary to the bed
side, who instantly ccmprehended the ex-
understood the result The mother, in turn,
with trembling hands, lifted the mirror,
and held it close to the face of her son. In
moment or two, its surface was obscured,
plainly indicating that respiration, though al
most imperceptible, was still going on,-
that life still fingered in the feeble body be-
fore them.
Gradually, now, the flame that had we'll
nigh gone out, kindled up again, but SO
slowly, that for many hours the mother and
sisters were in doubt whether it were really
Frightening or not. The fever that had con-
tinued for several days, exhausting the ener-
gies of the young mans system, had let 60
its hold, because scarcely enough vital ener-
gy remained for it to subsist upon. In its
subsidence, life trembled on the verge of ex-
tinction. But there was yet sufficient stami-
ma for it to rally upon and it did rally, and
gradually, but very slowly, gained strength.
In an earnest spirit of thankfulness for
this restoration of Alfred, did the mother and
sisters look up to the Giver of all good, and
with fearful devotion pray that there might
ensue moral as well as physical restora-
ton. For years, they had not felt towards
him the deep and yearning tenderness that
now warmed their bosoms. They longed
to rescue him, not for their sakes, but for
his own, from the horrible pit and the miry
clay into which he had fallen.
90, if we could but save him, sisterI"
Anna said, as she sat conyersing with Mary,
after all doubt of his recovery had been re-
moved. If we could only do something
to restore our brother to himself, how glad
should ben'
81 would do anything in my power"
Mary replied, " and sacrifice every thing that
it was right to sacrifice, if, by SO doing,
could help Alfred to conquer his besetting
evils. / cannot tell you how feel about it.
1t seems as ifit would break my heart to
have him return again into his old habits of
life /: and yet, what have we to found a
hope upon, that he will not so return"
81 feel just as you do about it, Mary
her sister said s.The same yearning de-
sire to save him, and the same hopelessness
as to the means"
"There is one way, it seems to me, In
which we might influence him."
"What is that, Mary?"
aLet us manifest towards him, fully, the
real affection that we feel; perhaps that may
awaken chord in his own bosom, and thus
lead him, for our sakes, to enter upon new
course OF life"
1--WE can at least try, Mary. 1t can do
no harm, and may result in good"
With the end of his reformation in view,
the two sisters, during his convalescence,
attended him with the most assiduous and
affectionate care. The moment Anna would
come home from the store at night, she
would repair with smiling countenance to
his bedside, and although usually SO fatigued
as to be compelled to rally her spirits with
an effort, she would seem SO interested and
cheerful and active to minister in some way
to his pleasure, that Alfred began to look
forward every day as the evening approach
ed, with lively interest, for her return.
This Mary observed, and it gave her hope.
Three weeks soon passed away, when
Alfred was SO far recovered as to be able to
walk out.
aDo not walk far, brother," Mary said,
laying her hand gently upon his arm, and
looking him with afiectionate earnestness in
the face. ssYou are very weak, and the
fatigue might bring on relapse"
81 shall only walk little way, Mary"
ba renl;ed nc he opened the door and went