Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-01-18

cataract-a many'cOlored torrent pouring
down the wall and away across the grass
with chirp and laugh, and generous-heart
ed gIee
Little Charlie, helples and alone, sat in
his shady nest, and looked out, smiling
sweetIy under the green boughs, on the joy.
Gus group; and ifhe envied them any thing
it was their good hearts, that could prompt
them to find their happiness in serving 9th.
ers.
The full hearted MOTHER busy with her
needle, looked from her seat in the cottage
door, on the blthe troop, and on her smil-
ing boy; and two bright tears trembled in
het eyes, as she wondered if no pang touch
ed him, that he could not bound away with
them in their happy sport-task. And per-
haps memory of the past came gliding ov'
err her, of the brighter days when Robert
Downlee kept his strong arm between that
cottage door and want; when little Charlie
was pratting boy of five and played with
his fathers plume, and gided belt, when,
on the morning Of his last look on home,
the faithful husband was summoned away
to be butcher of his felow-men, in his
brave heart thinking it duty so to serve his
country, But his poor wife wcpt with a
sad forcboding, then, that her home was
left desolate nor scarcely more sure of her
fall bereavement was she, when the news
came TO her, that the bold Capt. Downlee
fell by shot from a British gun-boat, and
his body was lost in the sea. Five years
that widowed heart had battled against
grief and poverty and one should see her
often, and in unexpected times, to know by
any glimpse that she had not conquered
both for her cheerful face betrayed no a.
rony at the core, and the scrupulous neat
ness within and about her little cottage,
was more indicative of humble, quiet taste,
than poverty.
After the children were far off in the
fields, and Charlie had sat long in silence,
twining the flowers they brought him into
two wreaths, which would bring enough to
buy his dear little sister IA year younger
than HIMSELF pair of shoes, he put them
aside in a dish his mother brought him, and
began to weave little wicker basket, lin
ing it with many bright MOSES, TO make
nest for the great plums and currants, red,
and white, and black, of which the good
children had brought him many; and, truth
to say, he arranged them veryprettily, nest
ling the purple plums down in the centre,
and putting his fruits where they should
peep out cannlngy from their green bed
1t was new experiment, and his mother
cast frequent glances of maternal fonGness
and delight, as the patient boy wrought out
his pleasant plan
See, mother; will that do said the
happy boy, as he placed the work carefully
on the green bench beside him.
1t is very sweet little thing, Charlie ;
and what will you do with it!
Il will sell it to buy you new cap, if
the merchant will give enough for it.,
No, dear. | am not like to suffer for
its want; and think it will half pay for a
warm new vest for you, for next winter,
Charlie
lie, mother shall not need it them.
The angels will be with me then, and give
me a robe of white
His lustrious eye shone with a sweet sin.
cerity as spoke; and the mother burst into
tears, as if the sad bereavement we're verify
come. She knew how keenIy the little in
valid suffered at times and, though his
peace was in the hope Of death, thoughts o
his loss to her and his dear brother and sis
ter, cIouded across her mind, and raineC
down tears.
No; do not weep, mother how wei
and often you have taught me patience
how plainly made me feel the wings of bless
ed spirits flaming me, when the dreadful
pains made my head so hot. Mother, yol
will not be alone when am gone; for ;
sweet voice told me last night, in dream
that some good was in store for you-that
helper was near; and | should 90 to be rio
of this lile's troubles, and find all its sweet
multiplied. Then, mother, | will smlI
down from the say, and you shall feel it, iii
you smile back again. o, do not weep
and the boy stretched out his thin whit
hands to her, and the happy, mournful mo
Their knet by his side, and folded his al
tenuated form to her bosom, as if for a las
embrace
CHAPTER II.
Scarcely had the flow of her full hear
subsidized, before she heard the merry chat
ter ofthe children, as they came hockin
home, laden with purple treasures of tn
fields; and on they came, and vauted owe
the high wall again, holding each other
trimming baskets as they climbed it. Int
the little yard they pressed, and piled thei
stores in great pans round the door; an
even little chubby babies almost came toe
ding up to bring their tiny baskets full
Charlie But dear Charlie was too tire
and weak that evening to arrange his ba
kets, and half dozen generous boys an
girls, with willing hands volunteered tn
task, while the rest ran home, the happl(
for sharing th0ir fruit with their good neigl
Dor Downee
Before the careful market-man arrived
fifty plump baskets Of sweet whortleberrlt
stood arranged along the bench for hin
and little Charlie, who had seen the wor
} with pleasure, spite of bodily pain, had bee
removed to his cot in the house. NeigI
Dor John carried all their treasures to Il
town, and took peculiar care of the moss
(ruit.basket, for which he conceived
, wonderful admiration, and assured them
, would bring back fifty cents for it, certai
".
Arrived in town, the kind neighbor di
I posed of the berries at three cents a baske
the baskets to be returned; and handson
lady, seeing him offer the flowers, and heu
ing the tradesman banter about the pric
took them, and doubled the demand f
| them in the sum she gave, and desired mo
to be left at heI house every week, al
t gave her number to the carrier But n
body fancied the little moss, basket Aft
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