Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-11-19

"Voildhu piIuS WIRE singing thelr short songs
among The PUSHES and the heather, or a lark,
perhaps lured thllher by some green barley
field for its undisturbed nest, rose singing all
over the enlivened solitude, the little bleak
farm smiled like the paradise of poverty, sad
and affecting in its lone and extreme simpli-
city. The boys and girls had made some
plots of flowers among the vegetables that
the little garden supplied for their homely
meals I; pinks and carnations, brought from
walled gardens OF rich men farther down in
the cultivated stralh, grew here with some
what diminished %lusire o bright show of tu-
lips had a strange beauty in the midst Of that
moorland ; ard the smell OF roses mixed well
WIN that Of the clover, the beautiful fair clo-
yer that loves The soil and the air of Scotland,
and gives the rich and baliny milk TO the poor
mans lips. --
10 this cottage, Gilbert's youngest child, a
gln about nine yeats of age, had been living
for a week in a fever. 1t was Saturday even
ing, and the ninth day Of the disease. Was
sht to live or die q? 1t seemed IS if a very
few hours were between the innocent crea-
ture and Heaven. All the symptoms were
those of approaching death. The parents
knew well the change that comes over the
human fdce, whether il be in infancy, youth,
or prime, just before the departure of tie spir-
! rs Nv uS ilt1 SNOOu tOnt lUbT Nv Nld1uflTel S
bed, IL seemed TO them lhat the fatal shadow
had fallen upon her features. The surgeon
Of the parish lived soue miles distant, but
they expected him now every moment. and
many d wistlul look was directed by fearful
eyes along the moor. The daughter, who
WAS ont Il service, came anxicusly home on
llls night, ile ouIy one that could he allow
ed her. Tor the poor must work in their Vrief,
ahd tileif Servants must do their duty TO those
whose bread they eat, even when nature is
slck-sick at heart. Another of the danph-
tiers came in from the potato-feld beyond The
brae, with what was TO be their frural sup
per. The calGi noiseless spirit of life was
In and around The house, while death seemed
ueaiing with one who. a few DAYS apo, was
Ike light upon the floor, and the sound of
music, thdt always bfedtled up when most
wanted glad and joy Gus in common talk
."ee'' sil'ery' and nournful, when it Joined
IN lynn or psalm. One after another. tbcv
going up TO the bedside, ard Then
away. >obbiug or silent, TO sec their
merry little sister, who used 10 keep dancing
lll day like a bntierly in a meadow field. or
like a butterfly with shat wings on a flower.
Irlhlng for d while in the silence of her low.
now tossing restlessly on her bed, and scarce
y sensible OF tie words Of cHdearmenl whis-
pefed around her, or the kisses dropt with
ears, in spite Of themselves, on her burning
forehead. ...
Utter poverty often kills the affections, but
a deep, constant, and common feeling of this
worlds hardshipe, and an equal participation
In all those struggles by which they may be
soittned, unite husband and wife, parents and
children, brothers and sisters, in thoughtful
snbdued tenderness, making them happy
indeed while The circle round the fire is un-
broken, and yet preparing them every day to
bear tie separation, when some one or other
Is taken slowly or suddenly away. Their
souls are not moved by fills and starts, al
though, indeed, nature sometimes will wres-
Tie with necessity; and there is a wise mode
ration both in The joy and the grief of the in
telligent poor, which Keeps lasting trouble
away from their earthly lot, and prepares them
silently and unconsciously for Heaven.
do you think The child is dying :" said
Gilbert, with a calm voice 10 the surgeon who,
on his weary horse, had just arrived from an
other sick-bed. over the misty range of hills;
and had been looking steadfastly for some
minutes on the little patient. The humane
man knew The family well in the midst of
whom he was standing, and replied, " While
there is life there is hope; but my pretty lit
tie Margaret is, | fear, in the last extremity"
There was no loud lamentation at these words
all had before known, though they would
not confess it to themselves, W hat they now
were told-and though the certainty that was
In the words of the skilllul man made their
hearts beat for a little while with sicker throb-
blngs, made their pale faces palcr, and brought
out from some eyes a greater gush of tears
yet death had been before in this house, and
In this case he came, as he always does, in
awe, but moi in terror. There were wander
ing and wavering and dreamy d~elirious plan
tastes in the brain of the innocent child; but
the few words she indistinctlv uttered were
affecting, not rending 10 the heart, for il was
plain that she thought herself herdinq her
sheep In the green silent pastures, and sitting
wrapped In her plaid upon the lawn and sun
ny side Of the Birk-knowe. She was TOO
much eXhausted-there was too little life
too little breath in her heart, to frame a tune,
put some OF her words seemed to be from IA
Voflte old songs; and at last her mother wept
ana turned aside her face, when the child,
whose blue eyes were shut, and her Inns al
most still, breathed ou. these lines of the bean.
tiful twenty-third psalm:
The Lords my Shepherd. III not want.
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green: he leadelh me
The quiet waters by.
The child was now left with none but her
mother by the bedside, for it was said to be
best SO, and Gilbert and his family sat down
round The Kitchen fire, for a while i'm silence.
IN about a quarter Of an hour they began 10
rise calmly, and 10 60 each 10 his allotted
work. One of the daughters went forth with
the pail to milk the COW, and another began
to set out the table in The middle of the floor
for supper, covering it with a white CLOTH
Gilbert viewed the household arrangements
with a solemn and untroubled eve; and there
was almost the faint light of a grateful smile
on his cheek, as he said TO the worthy sur
geonI, = You will partake of our fare after your
days travel and toll of humanity" In a short
silent half hour, the potatoes and oat.cakes.
quite. and milk, Were on the board, and Gil
bert lifted up his toil-hardened, but manly
hand, with a slow motion, at which the room
was as hgshed as if it had been empty, closed
hIs eyes In reverence, and asked a BLESSING.
mere was a little stool, on which no one sal.
by The old mans side. 1t had been nut there
unwlltlngly, when the other seats 80 III