Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-06-13

iers, and drew them away from the water
gliding by l have followed you hither to
offer consultations
Benjamin gazed up into the face of the
| venerable man, and after moment he seem
ed to conceive the nature of the visit.
You have come 10 offer comfort? Well.
| whe g is II =
1t is here said the clergyman, and he
drew from his pocket Bible.'
Benjamin's mind seemed to rally again,
and the wonted expression returned TO his
features. He took the book, and opening !, j.,
pointed to the passage: Lover and friend
| hast thou put FAR from me, and mine acquain-
| lance into darkness"
The clergyman augured well from the at
tenion thus exhibited. Sorrows in our
day are as certain as in the time of the
Psalmist-man IS born to them as the sparks
that fly upward-but the consultations of re-
| llgon are also as atlainabie now as then, and
You may as readily as he excaim: II is
good for me that have been Affected
Could Benjamin have felt fee to contest
a point with the clergyman, it might have
been useful but in that vicinity it would
have been deemed disrespectlu toward any
divine; but toward that one, in moments
even of social intercourse, few ventured on
familiarity, and Benjamin felt the chill of
respect and Difference come over him. He
had no answer, and in the goodness of his
heart the clergyman proceeded TO offer COM
fort TO the heart of his afflicted parishoner,
and to try to awaken in HIM hopes of bet
ter state--hopes that should animate him to
renewed activity of mind and body. He
paused suddenly, however, for he saw that
Benjamin was watching IA mass of foam that
was floating by, and seemed TO be deeply in
terested in the gyra,ions which It was maxi
ing, as it yielded 10 the influences of the
wind and the current.
The good man led the patient quietly away
from the place, and conducted him to his lonely,
silent house. There was no greeting of moth.
ers voice, no atiectonate welcome of his wife,
and the cheering ringing of his children's laugh.
ter Tor which hehad been wont TO listen with
80 much earnestness, was all hushed. He ate
/ sparlngiv OF the food that was set before him,
and as soon as day dawned he would 90 and sit
upon his favorite mound. It was Unnecessary
to follow or to seek him. He returned az nlghi,
but returned weaker and weaker Il was
thought that Benjamin had an inward sense O,
his losses and misery, which he had not the
power to communicate, aud that the fire of his
mind was wasting away his body without in.
forming 1t OF the cause-the7c seemed to be a
loss of some link in the chain OF connection
] he body was wasting as ii by grief and vel
there was evident only the melancholy Of s,o
lldi'y. Strange solutions of his case were sug.
gesled, but Benjamin seemed insensbe tc
them all.
lie will explain all before he dies said one
VINO mad experience in dea,',-bej scenes, and
It viii not be long before we shall know it, fol
he is failing FAST
The winter passed away. and Benjamin wa
seen moving slowly down to his favorte haunt
Every day found him weaker than the last, an,
early in May he was unable to leave his bed
AS death approached, Benjamin gave utteranct
10 lew words, and it was then remembered
That he was 10 explain all before his death. |
was The 10Th OF May, clear, lovely morning
mat Benjamin awoke from a heightened sleep
ihe attendant remarked that his voice was IN
usually strong, and his eye had the cearnes;
and orilllancy of childhood. These tokens were
t"o well understood To be neglected. and the
minister was soon called in. He addressed a
few words to the dying man-not at that mo-
ment OF sin and its punishment, but of forgive
ness. JOY, and hope.
lhe good are therer said Benjamin.
YES
And what is goodness =
1t is love and It's fruits in the soul and con-
duct of man.
MY mother, Mercy, and my children-hov
we loved each other! How have loved Their
mere even when they had gone How have
carried about in my heart, in beautiful compan.
lonshP' those that had constituted my world o
: life 7
And yon would be with them, for where
they are in heaven
You should rely on mercy, the free gift o
Mercy" exclaimed the dying man, in AZ
agony OF affection, yet with a wandering eye
Mercy oh, she ,cas the gift of heaven
Inc clergyman forbore; he saw that the
mind. but not the reason, had been aroused, ant
as he breathed a hope stirring aud love-awa.
King prayer, the spirit Of Pour Benjamin passed
away, The desire to be with his departed fam
y was literally construed and he was buried
not ~ The moist, grassy margin of the river
where he had loved to SIT, but amid the pebbles
OF he graveyard; and as one of these pebbles
| dropped upon the coffin, before the earth wa,
shoveed in, some remembered the desire of hi.
heart tor another resting place and hundreds
at this day look at the simple slate stone tia
stands at the head of The grave, and remember
ing the story Of him that sleeps below, heave
! sigh for Poor BENJAMIN!