Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-01-05

eNcflon oi any kind " repair the mischief,
with no children TO lean upon, his bark
seemed stranded among the breakers aud
Samuel Middleton bowed his head upon
his han's and sought for strength in this
hour Of ia kness, from the source whence
alone he felt certain OF obtaining it
| There was silence for a few moments IN
the little apartment, DISTURBED only by the
stfled sobs Of poor Sophy, aud the means
oil Mrs Middleton, as she rocked backward
and forward in her nrm.char, I'LL the old
man spoke.
ave have received good 1t the hand Of
the Lord. aud shall we not receive evil
Hannah, this is a sore Trial but il comes
from God, and we must submit. II lie
sends poverty upon US in our old days, de-
pend upon il, lie will send strength to bear
il. The trouble and the comfort ALWAYS
seem to 60 hand.in-hand. Let Us be thank
full il is no worse"
cit seems the worst that could have lap.
pened, Samuel" said the old woman, her
voice choked with sorrow.
"The worst oh, no Think # we had
been parted by DEATH Hannah or if So
ply had gone of with some wild, idle iel-
low {; Ct many other things migt belall us.
Don't cry, Sophy, darling grandfather
specially grieses on your account. But MS
all for the best, dear child feel as sure
of that as do that ! sit here this moment
Wife, don't moan so it isn't Christian.
like 20 despair. Gods will be done"
"Ah, husband If ! had your faith but
it comes so sudden, can't seem TO bear it,"
Bring the bible. Sophy." said her grand
father, land read TO grandmother and me
how Job bore the loss OF all his possess.
ions"
Sopby brought the bible, aud read, with
trembling voice, as Mr. Middleton directed.
When she had finished, the old man knell
down, aud reverenily clasped his hands
tie prayed for the patience Of the patriarch
Of old for faith TO believe il was in love
as well as wisdom they had been afflicted
for entire and cheerful submission to the
divine will aud strengthened by the near
approach to the Great Chasiener of his
children. the little family laid down to rest,
that sorrowful night, Tranquil at least, il
not altogether resigned.
Before noon the next day, everybody in
Brookvile had been made acquainted with
the misfortune of the Middlelons and
neighbors came with kind offers, which the
old man could no, accept. lie had settled
what TO do, he told them, aud thought il
was the best plan. The white cottage
must be sold or rented, and, indeed, he
had already dictated a batter which Sophy
had written. 10 gentic2lah in Rev York
who was looking for summer residence
and had once expressed himself pleased
with the situation Of Mr. Middleton's house
and the scenery about Brookville. The
income accruing from this would enable
him to hire an old broken.down tenement
about FIVE miles of, where they would re
move without delay and with strict econo
my, and good use of lillle garden-plot
become as contenled, he hoped, if not at
happy, as they once were.
To this Arrangement, reasonable as il ap
peared, every body objected, and suggested
of course. something else. One woul'
take Sophy to live with him; anothe
would help to pay the rent Of better place
and third proposed some other grand ex
pedient; but the old gentleman was firm
al thank you, my friends" he said
"but | would keep my independence, il
can. Let me feel that ] still eat my owl
bread, though il be coarser and harder thai
il once was, and pray for contenied heart
which seems TO tighten almost any burden.
A purchaser Of the neat homestead wa
easily found in the gentleman 10 whom
Sophy had written by et.grandfather's die
tation; and at the appointed time, Samue
Middleton and his family removed to ihei
new abode, not, however, until kind heart
and willing hands had contributed TO max
the old place toleraby comfortable to la
out and improve the garden, long run I
waste, and even to plant few rose-bushe
and Towering shrubs about the doorway
that Sophy's eyes, If not her grandfather
might find some pleasant memenio {
Brookyile and its inhabitants, in these s
lent marks OF their affection and respec
When moving day came, everybod
came to help. Squire Edgewood's me
and fine team, and Mr. Harris, with b
strong market cart, 10 transport the furn
lure, and when these were fairly of, arri
ed neighbor Maynard's light wagon, to ca
/ ~ Sophy and her grandmother down, vii
sundry small baskets and boxes, while ii
minister himself drove the old gentleman
J his gig; aud 1t was sad, though soothin
: TO catch the kind farewell words as the
| passed down the village street, when mar
n a one pressed forward to shake hanes, al
j to wish, good health, aud Gods blessir
!, on their new home"
e And over this new home, in answer, pc
!, haps, to these good wishes, some beney
7 lent brownie seemed already TO preside
for when Mrs Middleton unpackcd her VI
v uables, she found, stored away in Gu
g boards, supposed, of course, to be entire
IS empty, such loayes Of cake and jars of bt
e ter, with preserves, pickles, eggs, ct ce'er
II rs TO excite her establishment in the highe
degree nor could any inquiries or surm
" es detect the mysterious donors; and 4
'. old lady, amid her sighs and bemoanin
at their altered condition, could not b
" smile as she surveyed the kind remeI
Il bIanees; and Sophy, poor girl, would ha
10 smiled too, since she duly estimated t
kind feelings which had induced them, b
= that she was TOO miserable for anything
n interest her now so home-sick aud lone
J. that she cared for nothing, save the luxu
lie Of shedding tears, when she could st'
lc away from her grandmother's side, and, u
II observed, weep over the change which h
= ri L..