The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-12-26

1
eyes, | remember now. One night was
sitting alone in my little cottage, when dis,
lincty heard three deep eroans, succeeded
with heavy fall without"
"And what did you do p asked the boy.
creeping closer 10 him, and fixing his large
eyes eagerly upon his countenance.
81 got up directly, and opened the door
there was nothing TO be seen, although 10 be
sure. the night was dark. l had, however
hardly resumed my sent, when The grooming
was repeated in somewhat fainter accents"
'How frightened you mus; have been, u
said Lily.
Il was startled / confess and this time
look the lamp with me, bu. when opened
the door there came another gust Of wind
and blew il out. SO that was no better of
:han before. In Stepping over fhe threshold
stumbled against something which lay pros
Irate on the ground, and another heavy groan
succeeded. 1t was poor wandering ped
lar who had lost his way, and was hall frozen
TO death by the cold, so that he bad not suf-
6cient strength left 10 demand Ambulance al
the door, 10 which the light burning within
providentiaIly directed him."
''Then il wasno ghost, after all 7" exclaim-
ed Eric, with ID disappointed air.
"We might have suspected as much,n OBJ
served his sister Lily.
Gertrude put her hand into her lovers and
smiled, did The poor man recover J" she
asked.
Yes, and you will doubtless see him some
day, for he never passes by this way with
out calling"
Suppose that you had sal still and feared
10 open The door," said Lily 81 am sure
should"
81 hope not" answered Paul, s'for then the
poor old man must have persisted with the
cold ; as Gertrude says, we should fear moth
ing but God.'' A
Lily smiled and remained silent, for she
well knew that whatever Gertrude said or
thought. or did, was sure 10 be right in the
eyes oil Paul, and tie young girl wondered if
she ever had lover-a possibility which she
often seriously ontempaed-wheIher il
would ever be las Lily says" Time enough,
sweet Lily. Thou art little more than a
child, as yet, although thou wouds toss Thy
pretty head, and curl thy small rosy lips, ii
any body should venture 10 tell thee so.
Assisted by her mother and sister, Ger
lrude spun all her household linen, and ar
ranged her simple wardrobe against the now
fast approaching period which had been fig
GU oDOu iOI HtuuIi9 W ldhC pidCC. IL
was so delightful 10 think that she was not 10
be separated from her family, but could see
them every day and go in and out oil the old
cotiage, and ascertain that her mother had
everything comfort able, and put Lily in the
way Of doing many things which would seem
| strange 10 her at first for the active and
| busy Gertrude had been hitherto the presid-
ing spirit OF her cheerful home There were
| liffIfs articles ,cI,
Gertrude wanted 10 complete her trousseau,
and which could not be procured nearer than
the market Town of s., situated al the ex-
iremiIy OF The wood about five miles off; but
she knew the path well, having been thai
way many times before.
Accordingly, one fine morning, Gertrude
started for S-,accompanied by LILY, who,
as their mother appeared unusually WELL and
Eric prom lsed not 10 leave her, asked per-
mission 10 90 with her sister; for there was
nothing that Lily enjoyed more than going
10 s., which, small as the town was,
seemed to her like another world.
Paul Vanderpant prophesied that there
would he Il heavy fall of snow before night ::
but it certainly did not iook like il then. Ii
was agreed, however, that in case he should
be right, the sisters were TO sleep al The
house oil a distant relative who resided in The
The town, and Paul was TO come over the
next morning and fetch them home. He
would have been glad 10 have accompanied
| them, could he have found time but, if the
truth must be told, even Gertrude was moi
sorry that he did not; for she had, as we
have said, several little purchases 10 make
and men are sadly in the way on such an
| occasion.
Lily laughed heartily as she stood warmly
equipped for their long walk, and with the
early sunlight gIiliering upon her bright
| golden hair. ''Be sure that YOU bring the
sledge, Paul" she exclaimed :; for the snow
will certainly he 100 deep 10 admit OF our
walking back"
I'VE shall see." replied Paul Vanderpant,
good humorediy.
Il would lay you wager we are home TO-
night" persisted Lily.
| 81 hope so. il il be without danger. But
Gertrude, dearest, you will be careful, Tor my
sake"
Gertrude answered in low voice; and
Joining her sister few moments afterwards,
they passed into the thick wood, and were
soon out Of sight, although their merry voic-
| es, and Lilys clear, ringing laugh, fingered
in The air for several moments, and then died
gradually away. .a.
Notwithstanding that :hey are constantly
together, it is astonishing how many things
sisters always have 10 talk about-especia-
ly when il happens, as in the present case,
that one is on the eve OF MARRIAGE What
bright plans were arranged! What fairy
hopes Of future happiness! How the real
and ideal mingled together in their thoughts
and words, which, wander as they would,
ever came back 10 the one theme. How Lily
talked and laughed, and praised Paul Van
derpant and how Gertrude blushed and
listened, and loved her Tor that praise. The
time passed away so quickly, they could
scarcely believe that they had indeed come
to the termination Of that dreary wood. and
were entering into the liue market town of
s.. Neither had they perceived how
the beauty Of the morning had passed away,
and the atmosphere gradually thickened and
darkened around them.
Gertrudes simple purchases were soon
made-much sooner than Lily quite approx
ed oil for she fain would have fingered twice
as long, looking at the smart ribbons and
laces but, as her sister said, Of what use was