Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-10-17

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indications oflha, too fatal malady. consump.
ton. were too apparent 10 he mistaken. Its
approach indeed was slow and insidlous and
for time was kept at bay by the assiduous
attention Of our village physician but med.
ical prescription at length lost its power, and
she became at first confined 10 the house
then to her room-and finally to her bed.
l often visited her as did other friends.
Her room was no longer the abode of gloom
and sorrow. She had for some months been
making rapid progress in resignation TO the
will of God sbd thAnoiat.sr iesble taber-
nacle was shaken, and was likely to be dis.
solved through years Of anxiety and affection
yet her faith seemed to acquire more and
more strength, and to fas,en with frmer
hold upon the divine promises.
One day, as | sat conversing with her,
she alluded 10 the falhiulness of God, and
expressed her unwaveriug confidence in Him.
She said It had been her desire to acuuiese
in the divine will, and she hoped that she
should be able 10 do so, whatever il might
be in relation TO herself or her absent son.
But continued she, Il have prayed long and
fervently that may once more see him--see
him true penitent--and cannot relnquish
the belief that God will hear and answer.
| was about to say something which might
tend to soothe her, in case her hopes we're
not realized, as must confess saw little
present reason TO expect they would be when
she stopped me, and observed--'You may
think me presumplious, but my faith must
enjoy its hold on the divine promises. Has
not God said, Call upon me. in the day of
trouble, and | will answer thee, and thou
shalt glorfy me 2 l have caled-yes. have
called by day and by night, and God has
seemed 10 help ME. Has he excited such
strong, such intense emotion for nothing
Has he enabled me to wreste SO with him,
only to be disappointed? l am aware that
probabilities are all apparently against me.
must soon fail this heart will soon cease
beating, and the narrow house be my resting
place, but still have confidence in the faith
fulness Of my heavenly Father. What though
see no immediate prospect of the return of
my poor boy believe | shall yet press
that poor child to my bosom. Years since,
| wrote in pocket bible gave him, His
loving kindness changes not And do you
think it will fail now?
l confess admired the steady faith of
the moiher-a faith strong in the Lord and
in the power of his might and yet il seemed
scarcely possible that her hopes should be
realized. At length my tra;,f. fa!;ored, for
it was apparent that her hour Of departure
was not far distant.
That night two or three female friends,
fearful Of her failure before morning, offered
to stay with the mother OF Alice. This the
latter cheerfully assented to, though she had
decided not TO leave her mother. The me-
cessary arrangements for the night were
made, and at an early honr all was silent in
and around the humble cottage.
1t was glorious night abroad-clear, soft,
m:ld-just such night as a saint might well
choose in which to take its departure and soar
to the temple above. TIE poet mus, have
had some such night in his vision when he
penned those beautiful lines
THE moon awakes, and from her maiden face
Shedding her cou iy LOCKS, meeky forth,
And, with her virgin stars, walks in the heavens
Walks nightly there conversing she walks
OF purity, and holiness, and Cod
1t was just such night, and Alice had ris.
en- from her seat; aud TO bide her emotions,
as her dear parent brea,hed more heavily,
had gone TO the window, the curtains of
which she drew aside, and was standing lean.
ing her arm on the sash. In the distance,
just beyond the gate, she deserted, as she
thought, the figure of man who seemed to
be approaching. For moment she started
back, but again looked, and his hand was on
the latch. The gate was opened with great
caution, and the stranger approached slowly
toward the house. Presently gentle knock
was heard at the1kilchen door. 1t was i'm.
possible for Alice to summon courage to at.
tend to the stranger herself; but she whlsp.
cred to the nurse, who, upon unlocking the
door, inquired the reason for SO late and un.
reasonable an intrusion2
sDoes Mrs. Grant still reside here = in.
CURED the stranger in kind but earnest
tone.
'She does replied the nurse; 'bnt she is
dangerously III, and we fear cannot live many
hours you cannot see her,
Gracious heavens!' exclaimed the stran.
ger; and so audibly were the words pro.
nounced that the sound fell on the ears o.
Alice, and her heart beat with strong and
distressing emotions. Il must see her. con.
tinued the stranger; do not deny me, mad
am. quick-quick = and he gently pressed
open the door, still held by the surprised and
even terrified nurse.
Alice listened 10 The sounds without being
able to decide their import; but at length
! fearing that her mother might be disturbed
she stole softly out Of the room for the pur'
pose of ascertaining what the stranger
wanted.
Alice Miss Alice said the nurse, a
she approached.
But before she had finished what she wa
attempting to say, the stranger inquired will
a countenance wild with emotion. is thi
Alice Grant, and the next moment HI
swooned and fell on the floor.
! Miss Alice exclaimed the agitated nurse
'what does all this mean3-who can this be
what shall we dor lv
Alice herself stood amssed; hut as tn
light fell upon the features Of the apparent,
lifeless stranger, thought flashed across he
mind. and the following moment she wa
nearly falling beside him.
, Nurse she said, softly but quickly, 'han'
me some water This she supplied liberal
/. " to the temples Of the stranger. who slowI
recovered his consciousness, and at lengt
sat up. He looked around, and present.
fastened his eyes most intently and inquir
! inely on the pale and molionless Alice
Yes, yes he exclaimed, iii is she It is
L. IL