The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-06-19
Vol, 10, No. As. Whole No. SIG.


melancholy sadness, which is seldom cured
And no treatment could restore his reason
Throughout the dull wintry days he watch
ed for sunbeams, and when they came no
he Wept but as the Spring opened, and they
became more frequent no appeared less mel
ancholy, and so continued TO improve as the
weather frightened Then he desired to be
at home again, and at length his wish was
complied with, and he came back, better.cer-
tainly, but still poor shattered thing. Poor
Bobby! his minds like the Summer flowers
it lives only in the sunshine,and droops when
his rays are Withdrawn.
"Such, my children, is the history of your
little schoolmate. lie is now with us once
more, for this is the season ofsunbeams; but
his health is falling fast and the flowers he
has planted in the churchyurd will soon prob
ably bloom over his grave; then the dark
shadows of his life will have pissed away,
and in Heaven there is no Winter to make
poor Bobby crazy"
The old man ceased and we all remained
silent for several minutes; his eyes were clos
ed, and his lips moved as ifin prayer. When
he at length arose we slowly followed him,
and all seemed nstinctvey 10 turn toward
the church yard. The grave of Janet was in
one corner OF it and for the greater portion
ofthe day lay in the deep shade of some o.
verhanging willows; indeed it was only when
the sun had reached certain part of the
heavens in his downward course, that n small
opening permitted his rays for short time
TO brighten the simple mound. Bobby need
ed no dial 10 discover the hour when this oc-
CURED, and never failed to he there, watch
ing for It with intense anxiety. AS we drew
near the spot, we saw him busily employed
with his flowers, trimming some and care
fully transplanling others. We remarked,
too, that many of them had been removed
from the grave of Janet and placed by the
side of tive knew not why nj the time
but it seemed to be presentiment that he
should soon be beneath ihem. We did not
disturb him, but quietly passed in another di-
rcction.
1t was in the afternoon ofa day in the ear
ly autumn, he and were stroling across the
fields; lie was leaning on me, for he had be-
come so weak as 10 he unable to walk far
without help. For several weeks he had
been confined TO The house, from no particu-
lar disease, however, but it was evident that
he was gradually passing away, and as his
physical strength failed his mind became
stronger. There was no in
dication of his rclapsing into lunacy; but he
any thing earthly that it seemed as though
he had prematurely put on Immortality
1T is painful TO watch the slow approach of
death TO the young-the buds of hope and
promise sinking into the cold embrace of the
grave--but III this case regret was lessened
by the melancholy circumstances attending
his fate. Indeed death was far preferable 10
the semi-eXistence he had known. On this
day he had asked me to take him near the
look once more on the grave
ofhis childhood's love. A we drew near the
place, change became visible in his appear
ance, aud, looking up at the sun, he sad:-
THE sunbeam will soon be on the grave,
and it will be on mine.
"Why," said "are you always thinking
1t would be better to discour-
age such thoughts"
discourage the thought of Janet" he said,
looking at me, reproachfully; "she is the sun
beam itseli-it has been all night to me
without it. They thought me mad, but was
not mad. felt that it was one weary, wea-
ry highland lougcd for the morning to
break. Are they all mad who watch and
pray for the day-spring? 1t is coming now.
know il. feel it.. twas whispered to me
when last sat by Janet's gravc-it spoke in
the sunbeam that like me loves the spot
the last farewell beam that kisses the rose
Which blooms over 4sr heart. Tell me not
TO think no more fsunbeams-l have lived
and | shall die in sunbeam"
There was melancholy tenderness in his
voice that went to the heart, and mine was
so full that l could not reply. So we walked
On in silence until we reached the gate, when
he felt exhausted and sat down completely o.
vercome with fatigue. The change that ]
mad before observed in his looks became
more apparent: was too young to under
stand the indications, or might have known
hat death was placing mark on his victim.
After a few minutes he spoke, but it was
scarcely above whisper. His desire was
% reach the grave, and after much difficulty !
placed him on his iavorie spot,and becoming
alarmed at his increasing weakness, ran back
70 his mothers cottage, and having told her
where he was. FASTENED to the house of Mr.
Bray, and we went back together His
mother was already there, and was sitting on
Inc grave with Bohby's head in her lap. A
las! how great change had taken place in
hat short time.
1t was proposed to convey him home, but
he looked so imploringly as he asked them
10 let him die there, that reluctant assent
was given, and was dispatched for the cler-
gyman,
The sun was just descending behind the
willow trees and throwing his beams through
the opening opposite the grave, when | re-
turned with the minister.
The dying boy beckoned me to his side, for
his mother was weeping bitterly, and point
ing TO the sun, and then to a particular spot
near him, whispered, "move me there."-
They did so, and the minister knelt by him
md prayed. He seemed to watch him with
much anxiety, and once whispered, sit will
soon he there" At length the shadows on
Inc grave increased, the sunbeams gradually
and as the last one fingered on the
'ose that grew above the heart Of Janet, he
gave one look, and family smiling, died, as he
lad predicted, Sin sunbeam"