The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1849-07-28


and Of Eva, had reverted 10 my farmer sim
pie peasant nature. began TO dream Off
yinuOus afinclionnte wits, dihgonl aud frugal
emi'ollishlng ny house iIy lnr care and or
der saw mysclrpr0ud OF tie geuile Sc
verify ofhar ieatur 90, revealing 10 oil tie
cliaHia aud, faithful spouse. Very different
were these reyefies from those that haunted
me nj Paris, AFTER Joyous evenings spent with
my comrades. suddgnly, horrible calamity
desosBded like a ihundeTbult upon Eva Aler'
edith This Time was slower 10 appreciate
the lesson daily received. Eva sat CONSTANT
~ Al Iha window, her sad gaze fixed upon
Tho heavens. Tie altitude, common ~ per
sons of meditatIvo mood, attracted my hlien'
lion but lule. Her persistence ia Il AT last
struck nc, My book open upon my knees,
| looked at Mrs Mereditl and we'll assured
she would not detect my gaze, ] examined
her Alientyely. She still gazed OF tie sky
my eyes followed the direction of hers
"Ah," said TO myself with n half suie, ''nhe
thinks 20 Teloin him there Then resum-
cd nay hook, thinking how fortunate Il was
for tho weakn meas OF women Ihnlsuol IlioughtH
came TO The relief oflhoir sorrows.
1 have already told you that my students
Ito had put evil thoughts into my head
Every day, however, | saw Eva IN tho same
attitude, and every day my reflections were
] came to thiak her dream n good one, aud
TO regret could not credit It's reality. The
sool, heaven, eternal life, all that the old priest
had formerly taught me. glided through my
Imagination M eat NJ eventldo before the
open window. "lho doctrine Of tho old
care" ! said 10 myself "wnH more comforting
than tho cohl realities science las revealed to
NO." Then looked al Eva, who still look
ed to heaven, whilst the bells of the village
church sounded sweelly IN tho distance, and
tho rnys of the setting sun lnnde the sIeeple'
cross glitter against Iho sky. nhcn return
ed 10 sal opposite the t'oor wtduw, pcBe'of'
ing IN hor grief AS Ia her holy hopes
"Whnt y | thought, ''can 90 much love adj
dress itself To few particles Of dusI, already
mingled with tho n,otild' ars all these sighs
wasted on empty nir' William departed IN
tho freshness OF his age, his affections yet
vivid, his Heart IN It's early bloom. She low
ed him bat n year one hulo yenr7-Hnd Is oil
over Tor her? Above our heads u there n0tt-
ing but void Love continent 80 strong
within us--is IL but 1nme placed Ia Tie oil
scuro prison Of our body, where Il Elnucs,
burns, aud IL finally eXliuguished 10y tho fall
of thr-ffail wall surrounding M IL n little
dust all that remains Of our loves, aud hopes,
aud passions of all llmt moves, agtates,and'
exnls ~ -
There WINS deep silence in the recesses of
my soul. had ceased to think. was Ms II
slumberiug between WIN, no longer denled
and what did NOT yet believe. Al last, one
night, when Eva joined her hands 10 pray,
beneath the most beautiful Etnrlii sky posi-
bio to behold, know moi how Il WINS, but
found my hands also clasped, aud my lips
opened To Inurmur a prayer. Then, by
happy change, and for The first time, Iva
Meredith looked round ms ia secret instinct
had whispered her lhutuy soul harn'onIzed
with hers.
Thanks" said she, holding out her hand,
keep HIM IN your memory, and pray for hiIn
sometimes"
"Oh, madam ~ exclaimed. "mny we all I
meet again in better world, whether our
lives have been long or short, happy.or full
OF trial"
"Tbe immartal soul of William looks down
Hpon us!n she replied in n grave voice.whiisi
her gaze, Mt once sad and bright, reverted TO
the star spangled hcnvenr.
Since that evening, when performing the 4
duties of my professional have Often witness
cd death; but never without speaking, TO the
sorrowing survivors, n few consollng words
on n better life rnurthis Que; AID those words |
were words of conviction.
Al last, month after these incidents, Evn
Meredith gave birth 70 son. When they
brought her her child, William ~ oAcloin-
ed lie poor widow; aud tears, soothing tears
too long denied to her gricl, escaped IN tor
rents from her eyes. The child bore that
much loved name of Willinui, aId a little
crndie was placed close to tho mothers bed.
Then Evn's gaze, long directed 10 hcnvcn,rc-
turned earthward. She looked TO her cluld
now, as she had previously ke'I-te-hes I
God. She bent over him To seek his ththers
features. Providence had permitted AN ex'
act resemblance between William aud the
son no was fa,ed not TO see. A great change
occurred around US. Eva, who had consent
ed TO live until ler child's existence wns he
iuched from hers, was now, could plainly
see willing to live on, because she felt that
this little being needed the protection OF her
love. She, passed the days aud evenings
seated beside his cradle; and when went TO
see her, oh sho questioned me Ms TO what
she should do for him, she explained what
he Ind suffered, and asked what coull he
done TO save him from pain. For her child
she feured the heat ola rny OF sun, the chill
of the lightesI breeze. Bending over him,
she shielded him with her body; aud warm
ed him with her kisses. Ono day, almost
thought saw her smile at him. But she
never would sing, whilst rocking. his cradle,
10 lull him 10 sleep; she CHILLED one OF her wo-
men, and said, "Sing to my son that ho mny
sleep. Then she listened, letting her tears
flow soiily upon little Williams brow. Poor
child lie WINS handsome gentle, ensy 10 rear.
But. as If his mothers sorrow Ind effected =
him even haGare his birth, the child was mel
nAeholly: I've seldom cried, burho never shii-
ed he was quiet; aud ut that nge quiet seems
to denote suffering. ! fancied HAT oil the
tears shed over the cradle froze that poor
I.t,le soul. would fain haye seen NdllnnI !
arms twined caressingly rdund his mothers
neck. would have lad him return tho
kisses lavisled npon him. "BW wiWl mn
+. 4 IN, ,,ps,,lf. his |