The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-04-04

gravel walks, with here and there grape ar
Dor flung over them, and bordered with some
of the thickest and heaviest box TO be found
within ten miles around. A neglected aud
rude old place it is, but perhaps the more love
ly for that Neglect only seems to add to the
wild luxuriance ofevery thing around, the
hedges and rose thickets are tangled together.
Great SNOWFALL trees,-trumpet vines, and
honeysuckles seem to shoot out more vigorous
ly from want ofpruning. and the trees have be-
come dressed in the majesty Of their age.
You can stand in the old hall and see the
river on either hand sparkling through the
spreading branches-now and then snow
white sail glides by, and at sunset the water
seems heaving pwaves OF gold wherever your
eye is turned.
This is the Children's Hospital. In the low
chambers, and the fine old fashioned rooms,
from hundred and fifty to two hundred chill
dren lie upon their little cots, in all the stages
of suffering to which infancy is subject. Oh,
it is mournful sight,-those he'll less little
creatures, orphaned, or worse than orphaned,
in the morning Of life. Their wasted features
wearing such looks of pain, and yet so plant.
God help thcml
The physician in this hospital is relative of
my own, and many heart ache has it given
me to watch the Frightening of those little faces
as he or the good matron pass into the wards,
ministering to their comfort poor things, by a
kind look and soothing word, where medicine
might often less avail. Strange manifesto
tiOns of character have | witnessed among those
little creatures-fortitude, that might have
Shamed warrior-patience, the most saint
like and again, but why should dwell upon
the evil that sometimes exhibits itself, full
grown, in the heart of an infant? But there
was one little child, whose history, simple as IT
is, yet to me, full of touching interest, am a.
bout to relate. There is no romance in it
nothing to excite, but still think the reader
will not turn away from what have to tell of
poor little Johnny, without feeling of sympa-
thy, sigh, perhaps tear. l shed more than
one when the told me that his little coffin rest
ed among the dead heaped togetherin Potter's
Field.
We had gone up to spend an afternoon with
my relatives, and were sitting out upon the pi-
azza that runs along the front of the hospital,
enjoying the delicious fragrance that came up
from the strawberries and speaking, now and
then, word to group of little crippled chill
dren that were lying around the steps, when
the commissioners boat, from the Aims House
at Bellevue, came in sight, with two or three
of the Young physicians of that institution on
board. They landed, and came through the
grounds, one Of them bearing mop of rcd
flannel and grey fustian in his arms, amid
which a pale hand falling over the doctors
and thin little face, resting upon
his bosom was just discernible. As the group
passed us and entered the 1.-The child 5 head
vas fully lifted and he turned upon us face
50 meek, and yet bcaming with vivid intelli-
gence, that it made the heart thrill painfully
to look on him.
His dress was of the toarsest kind, neglect
Ell, and even squalid. A red flannel under
garment, which had belongedto some full crown
man, was huddled about him in coarse folds,
and fastened to his thin waist by neither gar
nent, also much too largc-but the legs were
.Clied up in a Soied mop, through which his
Tain anccs and torn shoes protrudcd, and the
ong red sleeves were folded back to the shout
Ter over his long and deathly white arms. |
had often seen sick children carried into the
hospital before, and never without a thrill of
pain, but there was something about this child
50 singular that / could not cast him from my
face had all the intelligence of an
I'd mans, worn out III struggle with the evils
Of life. Yet there was something saint-like
and holy in the large eyes, that the heart could
EEL, though the pen would altogether fail in
an idea of it.
After time went up to see the little stran-
-er. lie had been put in bath, and his rags
displaced by clean and wholesome garments.
The thin, golden hair was combed back from his
orehead. and altogether he had look Of clean
mess and comfort that had something cheering
Il it. He seemed to feel the genial effect of this
'hange. for his large eyes had Enlightened some
what and on his hollow check lay faint tinge
If red. The child was not handsome, perhaps
lad never been so in health-but the heart
earned toward him with a feeling holier thous /,
md times than infantne beauty could excite.
| sat down by the child, who had seated him. |
elf on stool, near the foot of his cot, and taking
lis little hand, asked if he were i'll.
"A little he said, in voice that correspondent !
With his meek face.
"What is the matter-havc you been i'll lonSl" |
YES a little ill-nothing very bad though
ny back is burned good deal, but it will be well |
Don, now that 1 am here, and everybody so
ind"
He turned his eyes from the comfortable and |
lean cot to my face, and then dropped them to
lis hands that were clasped and resting ON his |
.neeS
"What is your name ~
"John-but my mother and aunty call me !
Johnny"
hen you have mother I!
"Yesr
His eyes dropped down, and his fallen voice
vas still mole faint. | saw that there was some
hing wrong; some thought at the child's heart
which it would pain him 10 drag forth. would
ot question him further, but proceeded TO say a
ew encouraging words to him, and was about TO
cave the room, but the boy turned his eyes upon
ne as if he had something to say, so l went
ack.
as there anything can DO for you, Johnny!
am going home now. but shall come again soon
shall bring You some oranges, or apples, or
axe ~
He lay still, and kept his eyes down, and l saw,
nat unlike any child had seen there before, he
id not seem elated with the offer of these dain-
es-he hcsitatcd; moved on his stool; said he
lanked me very much indeed, but did 1 live in
Jew York
"Yesw
"Well, then, if it would not be too much troub-
If would just as lief do it as to give him
he apples-would go and see his mother, and
I'll her how comfortable he was and that he
-anted to see her very much-and aunty, too, he
-oud like to see them both-would | 20 his