Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-03-24

VIM Nihl w iNk w UIN thN NOFto " Ni01l
heavenly consolation. Az my eyes became
somewhat accustomed to the light, | saw
the occupant Of the bed. lie was a noble
boy, OF five years or thereahonis. A high
aud very broad forehead was half hidden BY
IiuAuriani eurls Of dark brown hair, aud his
full lips were mafrhlcssly ehiseled. But he
was pale and white nov as the pillow on
which his head lay. and it wasv.th difficult
y that We perceived any indication Of breath
lug. Yet as he lay there, so still, so pale,
so very pale, he was eminently Beautiful
A boy around whom a mothers love might
be supposed 10 enIwine its strongest chords.
J never saw a fairer. But il was the wreck
Of golden hopes, the wreck of glorious
f%ancies that IL, before me. A breaking
heart was yearning to hear again his pratt
Ting, to see again the merry eye Of rejoic-
ing infancy. But he needed not that heart.
Never before had he been silent as she cali
ed. 10 his bright sleep. sweet sleep Of
childhood, watched by angels, did she
even stand by his side and look at him, he
smiled a holy smile, and If she pressed her
lips 10 his. his tiny arms were around her
neck, aud he was wide awake, aud giving
NAtN W WITH JdfCtttts mutUluI liI WI
many a laugh, Dear mamma" Did she
look into his eye, il was brimful Of gladness
aud fun. aud If she wepl he wepl with her.
albeit he knew not why nor cared, only that
he knew that she grievcd. But now-anoth.
er hour. young mother, aud his cold fore
head will DO colder yet and his dear limbs
rigid for the grave. Another hour, aud the
big heart OF your brigh, boy will cease to
ihrob even with these heavy painful pulsn.
tons and you will look to heaven as the
home Of your long cherished one.
"Oh. Mr. w." said she, al length, look
ing up and seeing me standing by the bed
side, hxedly regarding the face Of her boy
"Oh Mr. W., Harry is dying"
II fear that he is. Mrs r. | fear
for your sake but for his | am glad"
"Jeannie has been telling me all that
But il is hard to listen, hard TO believe II
necessary. cannot realize that he is dy-
ing. ! mi realize that ] need such
comfort. Du, yesterday he was so full oil
life"
"You forget, Mary" calmly said Mr.
=, 'yoa forget. II is three days since
he was hurt"
hUu Wuht ufC oalo DNtu " hiNs
seemed but one long hour"
at viii be more difficult. my dear mad
am" said ! 'io realize The time that will
have passed when you meet him again"
"Slall | meet him again. II seemed to
me was losing him for ever. shall meet
him JEANNE. why didn't you tell me this T.
~ did. again aud again, but you would
not hear me-"
By a careful leading Of the conversation
thus we at length succeeded in calming III,
excited mind Of the mother, aud she listen
ed and joined in a low toned conversation
in which DIR. Williams proved himself al
good . ptysicicn for the mind as for ih'
body. | had been 10 the room nearly al
hour, aud had sent for the horses to b
brought around preparatory to starting
when | observed a motion OF the lip Of th'
boy. His waicaful mother had seen III,
same, and in an instant her head was ben
down over him. Five minutes passed il
perfect silence. All eyes were directed 4
, the bed aud all hearts beat in the first re
turn Of hope-alI save one. The calmnes
; Of DR.. Williams face was unchanged, as b,
! said in a low tone to Mr. P, "You mus
prepare yourself now, my dear sir" 81
this al indication OF death 7" exclaimed NJ
T.. 1T is one OF many indications
"Then God be with his mother she ha
e not yet given up hope"
mot yet-oh, not yet, Doctor! He
no, dying yet. You said he might live ii
morning; don't say he's dying now"
"He is dying. Mrs p. Every efor
has been vain 10 excite sny action Of hi
brain, aud there are indications of The clos
$ approach Of the end"
A sob Of agony was the only reply, as sh
o turned her face 10 that Of the boy aud 1
$ that moment he opened his eyes. It wa
z too dark 10 see their blue depths, ye, She
e oh she needed no light 10 catch the look
love she knew was there. We saw smll'
y | know the brave boy smiled, Tor it stol
y across his face like a CLEAN Of sunshine !
was passing into. He did not move a han
or loot or lip, but only 6xed that holy gaz
of earnest love on the face OF her he ha
known as fondesi, faiihfules,, from The 6r
day Of his short lifc-ihen he closed b
n blue eyes dreamily as il to sleep. Blu,
T. was deadl
One instant only one--the mother strait
D. ed the ~lifeless form of her boy to her hear
D. aud then the almost instructive conyiclic
that what she held was clay aud nolhir
e. more, oyerpowered her, aud she fell in
30 the arms OF her husband.
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