The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-08-14

lures, rs with the earth, it was tho spring of
liio--to them it was beautiful, hopeful joyous
morning.
The mother cntcrcd--a sweet, delicate
looking woman, fragile and graceful, in her
robe Of pure white; and then the father came
in, like n shadow after sunshine. lilo was a
tall man, of middle age; but the sharp lines u.
bout his mouth, and the crown entirely bald,
gave him tic appearance of being much old
or. Yet, not single gray hair mingled with
the thick brown locks At the bnck of his head
and his form was unbcnt Ills cold, clcar
blue eyes cleaned from under hanging browS
and his noble forehead was full of intellect.
Iio looked like n man in whom mind held IA
prominence over heart, The little ones tim.
idly advanced towards him.
'Why, Edmund-Stcla- early this morn
ing?" he said and stopped mechanically TO
kiss them, willie smile like winter sunshine
just bent his lips. Edmund the boldest, aud
the favorite, stayed to show his wonderful
wood carving TO his father, with boyish pride;
but little Stella crept along by tho iabIc, and
nestled beside her mothers knee.
'What has my little girl been doing" said
Mrs. Brandreth, twining her fingers in IlIG
long silken hair.
Il have been listening to the birds, mamma,
and feeling the sunshine, it is so warm and
pleasant
a light sigh hcavcd the mothers bosom.
"That is well; like 20 sec my.darling hap
py and gay she answered TREMENDOUSLY.
And now came the pleasant breakfast hour
the peasantest meal ofall to country dwell
lcrs, and visiiants, How cheerful, and fresh,
and blithc all look; how welcome is the balm
morning air; nay, to descend 10 common
things, how fragrantly rises up the stream of
coffee, and how grateful both TO sight and
taste arc the'country viands-snowy new laid
eggs, and golden butter and crcnm--rich and
luscious and nectar. Commend us to nIcouuv
try breakfast. Who could come down with
sour looks, and bitter speeches, on n sunny
morning, and not feel all the hardness and i'll
temper melt away from his heart beneath its
influence?
NIerrily the children laughed and talked,
making, mt times, even tho sedate father look
up from his reading, and winning the gentle
mother TO smiles less pcnsiVc than Ordinary,
At last Mr. Brandrclh collected his papers,
and laid them carefully aside; he was learn
cd man, wise in geology and natural philoso-
ply, and always devoted the breakfast hour
TO the re pcrusal and arrangement ofhs lu-
cubrations. The twins received the signal TO
"e!irn. and Edmund hastily rose, while Stella
moved slow!y from iief scat, As she passed
her stretched out arms, by which she ghded
her steps, came in contact with the hemp OF
papers so carefully arranged, and they fell i'll
confusion on the floor. MIR lSrandrcth start
cd up angrily-
Careless chiId--always doing some mis-,
chief or other no said, and thrust Stella
rudely away. The child fell, and began 10
wcep-not loudly MS most chldreu-but with
the silent tears of advanced life. The moth
or took her to her bosom, and soothed her.
DO take the child away--Mnrion,' said
MIR Brandreth. i'll vcXed tone, 'sho aunovs
one so much.
Mrs. Rrandroth looking with meek re-
proacli TO her husband-Ilush, hush-you for
get she answered, imploringly, still pressing
her little girl closer to her bosom, where tho
tears at last ceased. Stella walked or rather
crcpt, to her fathers knee, and said gently
Papa, | did not mean to do harm. For
give poor Stcllu-she is blmdN
1t was so-thoro was no light in these
large, blue, impid eyes, that were lifted
so mcckly to tho fathers face. Six
years had the little child looked on the beat.
tlul sky, and seen the flowers, and then q
shadow grew over her vision; gradually il
darkoncd and darkcncd, and the world grew
DINNER, until, at last, she saw it no more.
Now, all the visible earth was become 10 her
like II scene once beheld in II dream, and
then shut out forever. Yet, but for an unesy
wandering ofthc eyes, no one could have
told that those beautiful blue orLa were
sightICss The sweet face wore, at times,
that peculiar mourntul look which the blind
always have, but this was the only oatword
token ofthc affection which had fallen upops
her. Affection it could hardly be called for
the child scarcely felt it as such; her blind.
ness had come on so gradually, that Stella
had become accustomed 10 her helpless Gou..
dition And, besides, from her very infancy
the child had been quiet and thnugAl(ul, car,
ing little for the sports attractive TO her age5
us ifwith toreshadowing of how soon she
was to be deprived of them. Gentle and
subducd she was, as became her helpless
condition, it seemed as file, who knew hoW
dependent her whole life must be ON tho aft
lection of others, had endowed her with tina!
Irresistible beauty which wins love; and the
meek spirit which preserves II.
But now Stella hardly felt her darkness,
so Illuminated was by the light Off moth,
er's love. More than her own life, moro thar
her handsome, frankhcarted boy-naY, more
even than the husband OF her youth, did Mrs
cling to her blind child; with
passionate fervor, an all absorbing love, that
ltoncd to Stella for the loss of the blessed
gift of sight. Perhaps her own delicate
health made this love more intense, from tho
ceiling that she would not always be Will,
md shield her there from all contact will.
he rough world which the poor STRICKEN ono
vas so i'll fitted to brave.
Tho mother knew well that every yoar
which uniolded, in new beauty, StolIa's mjn,.
md person, drew her own life nearer towards
Is close, At last when Stella and Edmund
till fingered on tho verge of childhood the
mother was called away. Gently not rudely,
anne tho summons, and yetit was sudden
ust as an autumn leaf (luttcrs aud iluttera
mt! it drops at once and is seen no moro.
Thus did Mrs. Branoreh dic--even belprp
er husband, who, all unconscious ofdunger,
vuS ON Il Courtney could reach his home, tho