The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-04-29

lion. Mrs. II. was kneeling with her face
buried in the covering of the bed, her right
arm wound around my friend Miss NJ, who
knelt by her, and was murnuring in her ear
words of heavenly consolation. As my eyes
became somewhat accustomed to the light,
saw The occupant Of the bed. lie was a no.
BILE boy, of five years or thereabout. A high
and very broad forehead was half hidden by
luxnrient curs of dark brown hair, and his
full lips were matchlessly chiseled. But he
was pale and white now as the pillow on
which his head lay, and il was with difficulty
that we perceived any indication of breath
ing. Yet as he lay there, so still, 20 pale, so
very pale, he was emnently beautiful A
boy around whom n mothers love might be
supposed to entwine its strongest cords. |
never saw fnirer. But it was the wreck of
golden hopes, the wreck of glorious fancies
that lay before me. A breaking heart was
yearning TO hear again the merry voice of re-
ioicing infancy. But he needed not that
heart. Never before had he been silent if
she called. In his bright sleep of childhood,
watched by angels, did she even stand by his
side, and look at him, he smiled holy
smile,& if she pressed herl lips to his, his tiny
arms were around her neck, aud he was
wide awake, and giving buck his warm ca
resses, murmuring with many laugh, "dear
mama" Did she look into his eyes, they
were brim full ofgladness and fun and if she
wept, he wept with her, albeit he knew not
why nor cared, only that he knew she grev-
ed. But now-another hour, young mother
and his cold forehead will be colder yet, and
his dear limbs irigid for the grave. Another
hour, and you will have one less, and God
one more within his fold. Another hour and
the big heart of your bright boy will cease to
throb even with these heavy painful pulsa-
tons, and you will look 10 heaven as the
home ofyour long cherished one.
'Oh, Mr. W. said she, at length, looking
up and seeing me standing by her bedside.
fiXedly regarding the face other boy Oh,
Mr. W., Harry is dying.
Il fear that he is, Mrs. T. l fear for your
sake, but for his am gad.'
JEANNE has been telling the all that
But it is hard TO listen, harder TO believe il
necessary. j cannot realize that he is dying.
cannot realize that need such comfort
But yesterday he was so full Of life
you forget Mary calmly suid Mr. T.,
you forget 1t is three days since lie was
huri.'
And what have days been to me? 1t has
seemed but one long hour
1t will he more difficult, my dear Madam
said !, TO realize the lime thafwil have pass
ed when you meet him again.
Shall meet him again ? Ii scems TO me
was losing linn forever. shall meet him.
JEANNE, why didn't you tell me this?'
Il did, again and again, but you would not
hear me-
BY careful leading of the conversation
thus, we at length succeeded in cnlming the
excited mind of the mother, and she listened
and joined in a low-toned conversation, in
which DR.. Williams proved as good a
nh - IN tho mind ~ it,n hnIV I l,,,,I
been in the room nearly an hour, and bad
sent for the horses TO he brought around
preparatory to starting, when | observed n
motion ofthe lip of the boy. His wntchful
mother had seen the same, and in an instant
her head was bent down over him. Five
minutes passed in perfect silence.
All eyes were directed to the bed, and all
hearts beat in the first return Of hope. All
save one. The calmness of DIR. Williams
face was unchanged, as he said in Il low tone
to Mr. r., You must prepare Yourself now,
dear sir
Is this an indication of death p eXcam-
ed MrT
1t is one of many Indications
Then God he with his mother She has
not giveu up hope
Not yet-oh not yet, Doctor. He is not
dying yet You said he might live till the
morning-don't say he is dying now
'He is dying, Mrs. 4. Every effort has
been vain 10 excite any action of his brain,
and there are indications of the close APP
proach ofihe end
A sob of agony was the only reply, rs she
turned her face to that Of her boy. And NJ
that instant he opened his eyes 1t was too
dark TO see their blue debths, yet she-oh.
she needed no light TO catch the smile OF love
she knew was there. We saw n smile,
knew the brave boy smiled, for it stole across
his face Ikea CLEAN of the sunshine he was
passing into. He did no, move hand,or foot,
or lip, but only fixed that holy gaze of earnest
love on the face of her he had known as fond
est, from the first day of his short life
then closed his blue eyes dreamily, ms if TO
sleep. But he was dead.
Que nsiaut---ony one-the mother strain
ed the lifeless form of her boy to her heart,
and then the almost instructive conviction
that what SHE held was clay, and nothing
more, oyerpowered her and she fell into the
arms other husband.
A Coon One. We heard the following
good one yesterday. Whether it was ever
in print before we knew not. fit ever were
it will bear republication. On n certain &C.
cason there was promiscuo,ls crowd dis
GUESSING the chances of success IF the sever