Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-08-05


will be your eyes, dearestP" Stella one
day whispered to him; "and now you are
so, my Philip; you make me see with your
eyes,"
Philip groaned, Hush, hush, cannot
bear it."
Nay, nay, look at me; / am not sad
indeed, Philip, you do not know how happy
| am. If were now, as once was--lone-
ly, helpless, with you my husband, ever with
me, giving up all for me, with the knowledge
that my infirmity only proves how strong is
your love, how can l murmur2 My own
Philip; you are the light of my eyes there
is no darkness for me when you are by"
And Philip could only press her to his
heart, and weep.
But though when her husband was by,
Stella appeared contented and cheerful, and
indeed was so, yet there were times when
she felt bitterly the deprivation Of all those
pleasures which had become so dear to her.
She longed to behold that beautiful world
which had been revealed to her sight, only
to be shut out again forever and more than
all did she yearn to look once more upon
the face of her husband-to watch it kin
ding into genius, until it became, to her at
least, as the face of an angel. She knew
by the tones of his voice, when it wore that
look, and then her heart sank to think that
she must see it no more forever. AT times,
too, when in her darkness she was attiring
herself, or arranging her long auburn hair,
natural sigh would escape her at the memo
ry of the days in which her unsealed eyes
first discovered that she was beautiful ; and
a throb of pleasure came to her heart at the
thought that she was thereby more worthy
of the long absent, but well-beloved one
Then, too, Stella would turn from the past
to the dim future, and sometimes even weep
that she would never behold the face of her
child-that the blind mother would not
trace, in its opening beauty, likeness to
the features more dear to her. And then,
with these mother-thoughts, came memories
of her own lost parent in solemn sweetness
leading her to heaven.
Thus the time wore on Philips anguish
was lulled by happy hopes for the future,
and Stella's brow wore holy calmness.-
One only, an aged woman, who had nursed
her in infancy, shook her head as she looked
mournfully on the changing cheek and trans
parent hands she knew well that the mys-
teries of the coming birth alone kept away
the dread phantom, whose shadow already
hung over the blind mother
The trial came it brought moments
Joy, and then the gloom of despair. In a
few days, the faint wailing cry of the young
spirit which had entered this world of care
was hushed and silently, slowly, the moth.
err was following her babe to heaven. Nc
earthly power could save her, and Philip
knew it. As still and speechless as hel
whose life was ebbing away on his bosom
the husband waited for death to take his treas
ure from his arms.
Stella lay in the heavy sluraaer which {
temporary delirum had left behind. She
did not even know on whose anguish-river
bosom her head rested. Once only she
spoke like one dreaming.
g see her-there, there, with white gar
ments. Mother, am coming only let mt
bid him farewell" And her lips closed
murmuring Philips name.
An hour before death her senses returned
She babe Philip kiss her, then whispere,
family
81 am content, my husband, my beloved
You will come, too, soon, oh soon. Their,
is no darkness there"
She felt for his hand, laid it on her heart
and spoke no more. Death stole over tina
gentle one, not with gloom and sorrow, bu
with the peaceful shadows of child's ros
sleep.
Let us pause for moment to think G
Death-Death, as he comes in the midst c
life, and youth, and love, when the world
yet sweet and the journey has been too shor
for the limbs to grow weary. Yet, even so
blessed are they who never know the bun
then and heat of the day. To them tn
Dread Presence comes as a white-winge
angel, ere they have time to invest him wit
shadows that are alone the creation of man
fearful heart. He comes smiling to wal
them from earth's pleasures to those whic
are eternal. 1t is better to depart Will
loves roses are blooming, than to linger III
til they fade. Therefore, blessed are tn
young who die beloved and loving still !
And for those, few i'll years, but many /
sorrows, who have already seen the sun {
hope set ere noon-who would keep the poe
mourning ones from their rest Thus lC
us think of thee, oh Death gentle unloose
: of life's burthen, who foldest thy calm, sti
arms round the weary frame, and leavest tn
immortal spirit to rise rejoicing unto God
For months after the death of Stella, tn
world was blank to Philip Armytage. Hi
noble mind was wreck, and if at time
glimpses of reason and intellect came, lill
wandering meteors through the ruins, the
only showed more plainly the mourniul de-
olation around One soft woman's voice
and gentle woman's hand had power owe
him in his widest moods they were thos
of Mrs. Lyle. Many thought that his brai
had never recovered from the fearful hgh
ming stroke, so that any great sorrow wa
sure to overthrow reason forever. But tn
love which had suffered so much, and the
been riven by death, was cause sufficient
Rarely do men love to such intensity, br
when they do it is fearful thing.
After long season, Philips mind awok
from its sleep With declining health cam
restored reason. He lost that deusor
which had constantly haunted him, in whic
he fancied that the lost one was ever preser
by his side. 1t might have been dream c
not God only knows, If the departed be
come ministering spirits, as may be, whi
office would be sweeter to that blessed al
gel than to watch over and soothe the b,
4