Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-03-01

Mason is dead--and l am quite broken
hearted that is al--all.'
That night she grew aarmingy ill., be-
came delirious and SO continued, with brief
intervals, for many days.
1t was supposed that she overheard one Of
her attendants mention the day appointed
Tor the funeral of George Mason, for that
DAY 1t raned very hard, and she raved con-
siantly OF the storm making the grave so
emily AT night, however, she was more
calm, seemed to wish to sleep, and they left
her quite alone for while Suddenly an
alarm spread through the house that she had
disappeared Mr.. Harton rose hastily. and
headed the household in an eager search
over the premises, but in vain. At length
some one suggested that use should be made
OF Caroline's favorite spaniel. This was
done; and guided by the faithful creature,
the party were led to-the graveyard Mr..
Harton shuddered as he marked white OBJ
Ject cleaning beneath large willow, at the
southern side, for there was the burial lot
of the Masons. Yes, there laid the poor
maniac, clasping the newly-raised mound,
and sobbng and moaning in the storm, her
thin bed dress drenched by the rain, and her
dark hair driven about her face by the night
wind.
Her father took her in his arms, and has
tened homeward. Then all was done that
was possible, to counteract the effects of
that terrible exposure, but in vain The
) chill of death had passed into her fragile
frame-the destroyer was at her vitals.
AT length one pleasant morning, she a.
woke to perfect consciousness, and a clear
knowledge of her situation. She knew
that the solemn last change was close at
hand and requested to see her father He
advanced to her bedside, and Caroline took
his hand, and raising it to her lips, &ssed
it tenderly. AS she did SO, tear gathered
slowly in the cold, grey eye, and rolled
down the cheek of the old man. Then
2 Garry knew that heaven had been dealing
D with the heart Of her father, softening it by
: affection.
d Father" she said, &c am about to leave
you would have willingly have remained
here, and been good child to you, but it.
may not bel go to God, | trust. And
: nUw, at last, let me implore you to think
d more Oh God and heaven, and to begin to
S do good to your fellow men-and oh dear
father, as you hope for forgiveness, deal gen
a tiy NTH the erring" After pause, she
d resumed 81 think you were too hasty and
severe with poor George Mason, father but
S you did not mean to be hard-hearted. The
It large sums that you suspected he stole from
e YOU brother James took from your desk
IS He told me so when it was too late. Now
:, | have last request to make. Will you
) tell people you have ascertained that George
! did not take those missing sums! Promise
! me And he promised her. When she
added Zone other dearer request | would
make. Will you ask Mr.. Mason to let me
be buried beside George! Promise me,
u father !" And he promised her
u A brief time after this conversation, Ste
phen Harton and his wife, restored by af-
. Fiction to something of the by-gone tender
ness, stood clasped in each others arms,
weeping over what was once life, and love,
and beautiful promse-the still form of
; their best and dearest child.
The "siver chord was loosened, and the
e golden bowl broken" ..
The grave of Caroline was made where
she wished to lie, close by that of George.
: They sleep side by side-the poor children.
: While the shadow of the pail seemed vet to
: linger on the threshold of the Hartons, an
: other and more bitter sorrow came upon
Il them. James, their only son, getting among
I, gamblers forged drafts on his fathers bank
u er for large amount, and made his way to
o Paris, that paradise of gentlemanly scoun-
y drels To this day he is an exile and
wanderer
: A few years since / visited the burial
! place of W, and stood by The grave of
George and Caroline, in beautiful and
: shadowy spot. l found that of George
, marked by plain headstone, bearing this
simple inscription George Mason, died
August Sd, 1888, aged nearly eighteen
: His sorrows are ended; he is safe from
) temptation"
Is An elegant column had been reared to the
child of the rich man, thus inscribed
Caroline Enor, only daughter of Stephen
{ and Sarah Harton, died August 18th, 1888,
II aged seventeen. She said, l go to God
!. A graceful white rose tree had been
N planted on each grave, and some one had
closely interviewer their branches.
: The thought of this seemed too poetical
II for the mother of Caroine--too womanly
, for the father of George; and was told
!. that Mr.. Harton never visited those graves.
= | think it must have been Julia Mason's
d hand that twined those rose trees together.
: Were it necessary for me to evolve NOR
{ al from this " over true tale" and present
:, it in words to my readers, it need not be
u long or difficult to understand. 1t mi ht all
be comprehended in that simple, dying in
y junction of Caroline Harton to her father
> deal gently Nth the erring !"