Litchfield enquirer., 1847-03-11

be all buried up 10 The snow
God will take care of me, ANNIE she
answered. laying the blue-eyed dove in
the chid's lap.
you shall not go alone, cousin Marion,
said Richard, whose better feelings were
all awakened by little reflection.
I'll carry the lantern,' said James, for
rough boy as he was, he knew how to ad,
mlre her heroic resolution, and he knew
the peril ofsuch an errand.
While they are hastily wrapping coats
and cIoaks around them, we will follow
The beggars on their lonely path.
That house looked some like our old
home' didn't it pa' said the pale, sad
hearted girl as she looked back on the
lighted house, where shelter had been re.
fused ,hem. 'Oh, how I wish we were
back where we used 10 live she added
us the old man walked on silently.
You have forgotten, haven't you, that
the old place don't belong to US now,' he
answered horshly; don't worry abou:
i, for we can't help it now
Il know it, she said sadly, we have no
home anywhere Oh, how mouInfully
those simple words we're spoken, bearing the
tale of young heart crushed and hlighted,
fyoung hopes chilled forever. 1t touched
even the heart Of the hardened father, and
he drew his motherless child close 10 his
side, murmuring, poor dove, poor Isabel.'
Ay, the beggar girl lore that proud name
and she had graced it in happier days;
when her father was an honored and trusted
man-when the noblest vessel on the broad
lakes was his own-before rum had ruined
God-like intellect, and wasted princely
fortune.
II was dark now in those forsaken hearts
even as on Gods earth, and their path was
lost Faster and faster came down The blind
ing snow, and in their utter desoation the
wanderers sat down, unable to proceed,
and weary with exertion. And now the
neglected Isabel lay folded in the bosom of
the father whose fallen fortunes she had so
devotedly shared, and hot tears fell from his
eyes on her pale face Isabel, darling, can
you forgive me that have deprived you of
love and home, and every thing on earth !?
can you forgive me for being d.unkard p
oh, father, do not talk of those things
now-l am happy in dying with you, dear,
dear father
Shadowy phantoms gathered dimly round
the relentins man, pointing far back to
lost home ard character, 10 the grave of
okenhear:ed wife, add TO the fast closing
eye.lids of his gentle daughter Broken
words of agony and contrition mingled with
the hollow drge tina. the old trees sung over
the dying.
lsabe's eyes were shut; the father
knew it by bending his cheek down till
it touched hers, and he felt almost glad
that he saw not the closing of those
beautiful eyes: so many weary day
their light had cheered him since power
ty and drunkenness had driven him out to
beg for daily bread they we're clear and
blue as the waters of their own beloved
lake, AMI they ever looked kindly on
Now they were closcd-,he eyes of her
weary spirit were opened, and she saw
such white winged angels as had often
hoatcd dimIy through her dreams, and
sun. bright flowers and gushing fountains,
and dwellings of wondlous beauty were
before her.
There they are perishing-though L.
abel has earnestly longed 10 die, and as
she revives little from the death leth-
argy, she nestles closer TO her fathers
bosom, like an innocent dove, ard feels
it is sad to lay down young life there in
a dreary tempest, SO far from all of life
and sympathy-and once more she ga
Zos round and sees the wild storm clouds
parting slowly, and one star trembling in
is distant homo.
No tits not star, tits light and there
are sounding footsteps and cheerful voices.
The father reused himself at he: hurried
words bnt they were too nearly exhausted to
call for help. Marion card faint cry as
of one perishing-it was just like the moan
ing of dove Here, Richard, this way
with the lantern she exclaimed, as she
bounded over the snow drift, by which the
wanderers lay. They saw a bright face
bending tenderly over them, and felt that
life was yet theirs. Marion seemed sudden
ly gifted with skill and energy to restore
them, and the boys could hardly believe they
saw their wild cousin in the snow-wreathed
figure before them. She poured warm cor
dials on the colorless lips of the old man,
while James took the light figure Of Isabel
in his arms and wrapped her in his own
| Iae II e. =: l. a.~I