Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-03-12

counted blessings upon the head of the generous
son of Neptune, our happy Jane set her face home
ward in good earnest She was on the moor now
but soaked to the skin by the penetrating snow
and chilled almost beyond the power of her slight
enfeebled frame to bear At every step she took
her strength grew less and less. The snow fell so
fast and thick, that objects at a trihing distance
were obscured, and her little feet sank deeper eve
lry instant.
Onto die upon that lonely moor-how horrible !!
TO sit lranticaly down, and--as she remembered
to have heard it told that people had pcrished-
to heap the snow wildly around her, and build her
self trightful tomb Herewith! Were such to be
her end through the long hours of that bitter win
ters night, how would her old grandmother rave
in mad despair, and call vainly upon heaven to aid
her darling child!
Thicker and faster yet No sky, no horizon, no
OBJECT on which TO rest the eye but all one sheet
OF snow, that made the eye-balls ache to look upon
Faster and faster yet and feebler and feebler grew
her steps. dizziness came over her-a strange
sensation spread around her heart. She could not
hold out much longer. She felt herself sinking
yet once more struggle for her young life.
A chirp, as of little bird, sounded in her ear
1t was close beside her-a robin-a winter robin
Inc moor was, in summer, particularly barren
even for moor. There was not tree for bird
to perch upon. Only few shrubs, and they were
now hidden by the snow.
Chirp-chirp.
II was olllN u SIllt TODlll--Dul you UlOlc KNOWS
how greatly its presence cheerod our little maiden,
battling against the storm on that sheteress and
dreary moor What trifling circumstances nluse
new life INTO the Responding breast. The Scotch
warrior CLEANED new vlgor from watching the Of
forts of a spider. Mungo Park, when resigned to
die in the African desert, beheld tiny weed lift
ing its obscure head TO the Heaven that encloseth
all the world, and felt that God who planted that
humble vegetation there, and did not withdraw
from 1t His sustaining hand, and sent the breeze to
ian 1t, and the rain to water it-woud succour the
child Of his own likeness also and from that con-
soling thought there grew such energy that his
limbs received new strength thereby, and he pros
ocuted his path anew, and arrived safely at the vii
lagc he had despaired to reach. And this little
this humble robin, dearly beloved by tale
and fable, and homely rhyme-of the music of its
speech, of its chirp, chirp, chirp-were begotten
such resolutions and courage in the heart of the
sinking child, that there was no longer any ques-
ton OF her dropping and dying but certainty
that she would behold her grandmother again, and
live please God to bless him in after years for pre-
serving her amidst the dangers of that afternoon.
The robin, too became her guide Not that she
could have missed her way, but the trodden path
being hidden by the snow, one direction, so that
she did not wander far from the conectured track
was as good as another And the robin went right
onward, hopping now now flying, and ever strength
cnng her resolution. And so she found herself.
/
and then she saw the robin no more.
She related her story to her grandmother while
warming herself at the fire which blazed on the
hearth. And oh what fervant thanksgivngs as
cended that night from that lowy roof to the throne
of Glory
The next morning there came n knock at the
cottage door, and when Jane opened it, who should
present himself but the sailor who had given her
five shlllings on the previous afternoon He star
ted with surprise at seeing Jane, and inquired
whether Dame Foster lived there, when Jane re-
Piled that she did, the seaman gave a cry of 10y
:" That's Richards voice." exclaimed the old wo-
man from within. 9 know it is. God be praised,
He has sent back ~ SON."
"My mother, my dear MOTHER" cried the sailor
rushing into the cottage.
Wo pnss tho scene which followed.
"And so this is my Jane my own child" said
the seaman, presently, taking her in his lap and
kissing her for full five minutes without drawing
breath.
eyes, that is poor dead Marys child" said the
grandmother. " 1t was her mothers wedding-ring
that she pawned Yesterday
The old woman the neighbors Jane herself, all
assert it robin; but an angel from the skies,
that led her over the moor that afternoon. Who
shall dare laugh at their belief? For are not the
resolves which, nobly taken, enable us to battle
successfully with the storms of life and conduct
us safely HoME-angels and guardian angels, too
So, here's God speed the Winter Robin on repeat
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