Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-08-16

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aching eyes, and yet she never dreamed of
the deception which had been practiced, in
love, to soothe and alay her fond anxiety
and the girl was well content that it should
be so.
1t so happened, that about noon, as she
sat spinning in the cottage porch, the new
landlord passed that way on horseback, and
was struck with her sad aud wearied looks;
for of late she had toiled even beyond her
strength, and this additional fatigue was al
most too much for her. But still that stern
man said within himself:
1t is ever so with the poor, they work
hard when obliged to do SO, and it Is a just
punishment for their mprovidence and
idleness at other times. And yet" he adj
died. moment after as he turned his horses
head, half lingeringly, "she is very young,
too'
Alice looked up at the sound of retreat
ing footsteps, but too late to catch the half
relenting glance, or it might have encour-
aged her to ask an extension of the time
allotted her-ay even it we're but one sin
gle day. but he had passed on ere the timid
girl could Danish from her mind the fearful
remembrance of his former harshness.
Is there nothing that can do for you,
my Alice 7" asked her mother, who greved
to see her toll so hard.
Nothing; unless, indeed, you will tell
me some tale of old times. as you used to
do years ago, when was child"
'Why, you are but child, now" said
the widow, with mournful smile and then
inwardly comparing her lot with that of
other girls of the same age, she relaxed
into train of sad and silent musings; and
Alice knew that they were sad, by the quiv-
ering lip and contracted brow.
"Come, mother, DEAR" said she, al am
waiting to hear your story"
And then the widow began to relate some
simple Renaissance of bygone times, pos
sessing strange interest for the lonely
girl, who knew so little of life save in these
homely and transient revealings, falling
asleep in the midst, through WEAKNESS, for
she ever grew weak and exhausted as night
came on; but presently awoke again, half
bewldered
"Where was l, Alice" asked the inva-
lid.
" Asleep, dear mother, was in hopes"
replied her companion, with smile.
ooh, forgive me, could not help it,
"No, no; good night"
Good night, and God bless you, my
child !' said the widow, aud in few min
utes afterwards Alice was again the wake
full thing in that little cottage, if indeed she
could be so called, with her half closed
eyes and wandering thoughts, and although
it is true the busy fingers toiled on mechan-
ically at their task. The very clicked tick
ed with a dull, drowsy sound, and the per-
petual whizzng of the wheel seemed al
most like a lullaby.
Presently the girl began to sing in low
voice, in order to keep herself awake,
hymns as usual, low, plaintive and soothing
while the widow heard them in her sleep,
and dreamed of Heaven. But all this would
not do, and she arose at length and walked
nolse,essly up and down the room, trying
to shake off the drowsy feeling that Cypress
ed and weighed upon her SO heavily And
then, opening the easement, sat by it to
catch the cool breath of night upon her fe-
! vered brow, and watch the myriad of stars
looking down in their calm and silent beau.
ty upon the earth.
How naturally prayer comes at such
times as these. Alice clasped her faded
hands involuntarily, and although no ords
were uttered, her heart prayed. We have
called her in our love, pure and innocent,
but she, of her holier wisdom, knew that
she was a weak aud erring creature after
all, and took courage only from remember
ing that there is One who careth for the
very flowers of the field, and how much
more for the children of the earth. But
gradually as she sat thus in the pale star
light, the white lids dropped over her heavy
eyes-her hands unclasped, and sank silent
y and slowly down-the weary and toll
worn frame had found rest at las,
And then the room seemed filled on sud-
!, with strange brightness, and where poor
Alice had sat last, while at her wheel, is an
angel with white shining hair, and raiment
white and radiant as a sunbeam; while an
other bends gently over the slumberer, and
looking first at her and then her compan-
ion, smiling too, in her sleep, and as if still
haunted by her favorite hymn tunes, sings
again very family and sweetly, until the
sound dies lingeringly away at length upon
the still night air. Fast and noiselessly ply
: these holy ones at their love task, while the
whizzng of the busy wheel, accompanied
by the gentle rushing sound, as of wings,
"oho utstui ucu tnc PIoiounu ShchCC vi 'hat
little chamber. And now morning broke
again over the earth, and their mission per-
, formed, they have sped away to their bright
home rejoicing.
!, Alice woke trembling from long and re-
(reshing slumber, thinking how she must
work doubly hard to redeem those lost
hours. She drew her wheel towards her.
: she looked wildly at it, rubbed her eyes to
be sure that she was not still dreaming; and
then gazed around the quiet apartment
where all remained just as she had left it
but the task, the heavy task for which she
had marked out four more weary days and
I, nights of toll, and feared even then not hav-
ing time enough to complete it, lay ready
0 finished before her. But after little time,
, the girl ceasing to wonder, or remember
| ing to whom she had prayed on the previous
night, guided by an unerring instinct, knet
! down and poured out her heart in gush of
I prayerfu thanksgiving to heaven And we
: can almost fancy the angels standing away
: off, smiling upon each other and on her even
a as they had done before, and rejoicing in
their own work
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