Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-05-20
Religious.
From the Journal Of Commerce.
A Forest Funeral.

that we might attend Church there-or rather
hear preaching, in log school house, from
clergyman, who once month visited the small
settlement. We worked hard during the week,
and we were not sorry at dusk on Saturday to sit
down in the comfortable frame house of Colonel
-, who is the owner of some thousands of
acres in that immediate vicinity. The school
in which service was to be performed, is beaut-
fully situated, in grove Of waving oaks on
point around which the river bends and runs ra-
I pidly, with lulling sound Did you ever notice
how different the voice of a river is in passing
different scenes! Up in the gorge above it is
wild, and RACES, as if angry with the rocks it
meets, and its voice is like the voice of a reused
warrior But here it goes slowly and sedately by
the little 'oak school house, as it is called, and
would seem to linger as if loving the quiet
scene
1t was nearly midnight of Saturday night that
a messenger came to Co., requesting him
to 90 to the cabin of a settler some three miles
down the river and see his daughter, a girl of
fourteen, who was supposed to be dying. COL
- awoke me and asked me to accompany
him, and | consented, taking with me the small
package of medicines, which always carried in
the forest But learned soon that there was no
need of these, for her disease was past cure.
Leaving the house, we descended to the bank
of the river, and stepped into a canoe that lay in
the eddy, and Selling pole, fattened at one end
for paddle, Col.--push the slight vessel
out into the current and we shot swiftly down.
| have described so many night scenes that
torbear giving you this. You may imagine the
scene if you choose, as lay in the bottom, and
he used now his pole and now his paddle, to
guide the bark in the rapids
She is a strange child, said the Colonel, her
father is as strange man. They live together
alone on the bank of the river. They came here
three years ago. and no one knows whence or
why. He has money, and is keen shot The
child has been wasting away for a year past.
have seen her often, and she seems gifted with
marvellous intellect. She speaks sometimes as
if inspired; and seems to be the only hope of her
father
We reached the hut of the settler in less than
half an hour, and entered it reverentialIy.
The scene was one that cannot easily be for
gotten There were books and evidences of lux
ury and taste lying on the rude table in the CEN
tire. A guitar lay OH BENCH near the small
window, and the bed furniture, on which the dy-
ing girl, lay, was as soft as the covering of dy-
ing queen. was of course startled, never hay
ing heard of these people before; but knowing it
to be no uncommon thing for misanthropes to 90
into the woods to live and die, was content to
ask no explanation more especially as the death
hour was evidently near.
She was a fair child, with masses of long black
hair lying over her pillow. Her eye was dark
and piercing, and as it met mine, she started
slightly, but smiled and looked upward. spoke
few words to her father, and turning to her
asked her if she knew her condition
4 know that my Redeemer liveth,' said she
in voice whose melody was like the sweetest
strain of an Eolian. You may imagine that the
answer startled me, and with few words of like
import, turned from her A half hour passed,
, and she spoke in that same deep, rich and melo-
dious voice:
Father, | am cold; lie down beside me'-and
the old man lay down by his dying child, and she
twined her emaciated arms around his neck, and
murmured in dreamy voice, Dear father dear
father
MY child, said the old man. Doth the flood
seem deep to thceP
Nay, father, for my soul is strong
'Seest thou the thther shore?
L see it father; and its banks are green with
immortal verdure.'
Nearest thou the voices of its inhabitantsP
4 hear them, father; as the voices of angels,
falling from atar in the still and solemn night
time; and they call me. Her voice too father,
Oh, heard it them
Doth she speak to theel
She speaketh in tones most heavenly
Doth she smile!
AN angel smile! But cold, calm smile
But am oId-cold-cold!-F there's a
mist in the ROOM You'll be lonely, lonely, lone
ly. Is this death, father?
= 1T is death, my Mary
Thank God!
| stepped out into the night, and stood long
and silently looking at the rushing river. The
wife of a settler arrived soon after, and then the
Colonies excellent lady and her daughter and we
, left the cabin.
The Sabbath morning broke over the Eastern
hills before we reached the school-house again.
But never came Sabbath light so soemnly be-
fore. The morning service in the school-house
| have not room to describe now, for | have
taken more time and space than | had any
idea Of
:, As evening approached, slow and sad pro-
cession came through the forest to the little school
: house. There with simple rites the good clergy
n man performed his duty, and we went to the
. grave. 1t was in the enclosure where two OF
$ Col.--s children lie, lovely spot The
! sun was setting as we entered the grove. The
h procession was short, They were hardy men and
q rough, in shooting jackets, and some with rifle;
on their shoulders. But their warm hearts gave
beauty to their unshaven faces, as they stood in
reverent silence by the grave. The river muir.
= INJURED, and the birds sang, and we buried her
l. l saw the sun go down from the same spot ant
n the stars were bright before left it-for have
IL always had an idea that graveyard was the near
L est place to Heaven on this earth; and with OLE
VI Sir Thomas Browne, | love to see church il
IS graveyard, for even as we pass through thu
N place of graves to the temple of God on earth
N so we must pass through the grave to the temple
Oh of God on high,
m L have always says Lamartine, loved tt
lg know the homes and the domestic circumstance
a of those with whom have any thingto do in tn