The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-10-01

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in four years, the two men felt their hearts
glow towards each other with the warmth Of
brothcrly love. Tears Of joy and affection
| rolled down their checks, and on the verge
Of death they were happier than they long
had been in their disunited and vndictvc
existence.
a roar of waters, and the violent agitation
Of their raft, pu. an end to the close embrace
in which for upwards Of minute they had
held each other. In expectation of instant
death, both looked towards The dixie. But
no dixie was there. BcwldereI with sur
prise they turned their heads, and behold
it was behind them. In the moment of heir
reconciliation, thcy had passed unframed
through tho jaws of dealh. The door upon
which they kncll, and which appeared at
leas; as wide as the opening in the dixie, had
passed through it, by seeming miracle,
with ou, striking either right or left. They
were saved at shor: distance before them
lay the land towards which the subsiding
waves were now gently floating them. Yet
a few minutes, and their raft was aground
Oh the Slope of an inundated field.
Arm in arm went the brothers to the near
est village, where they dried their clothes
and obtained food. Gladly would they have
rested there night, but they thought of the
anxiety of Caspar's wife and children. Cas-
par sold his barn door, Iebulon his blanket;
and this, with some little money they had in
their pockets, furnished funds for the jour-
flooded they had TO make great circuit
over the mountains, and the distance they
had floatcd in six hours was three days
march on foot. But the three days seemed
shorter to them than the six hours for in
those three days intimate communion, they
went over all that had occurred to them in
the previous four years old feelings of kind
ness and mutual dependence resumed their
sway and they laid plans of future hnpp-
hess for both. In the last town they passed
through, Zebulon stopped at a notary's and
destroyed Si he had lying there
Late upon the third evening they reached
their home. The river was sinking fast the
poplars with their double wall, and the new
house which had been the apple of disconl,
had disappcarcd and left no trace of their
existence. Caspar fingered little in the
rear; Zrbulon stole softly round the corner
OF his house, which stood firm and uniniured.
Ills sister-in law, surrounded by her child
ren, sat in despairing attitude upon the
site Of her forwer dwelling, whence the
waves had but lately retired Pray for
your father" Zsbulon heard her say : for
here the flood swept him away; and pray
Also she added to her elder children, Z" for
your mother, for she was the cause both Of
his DEATH and Of that of your poor uncle
Zebulon."
Not of mine,' cried Zcbuon, stepping
forward. The children, forgetting old quar-
rels, ilockcd around him. :" And because
you, sister, arc sorry for what is past, God
is mcrcilul to you, and suffers Zebulor,
whom you were regretting, TO bring back
your husband to your arms
As he spoke, Caspar stood by lis side and
the joyful woman threw an arm around
each. Then said Zebuon-" Friends, we
have had famous lesson these four years
past and truly, if it had lasted fur years
longer, we might have found ourselves re-
duced to besgar's staff. But let that be
all bygone and forgotten. Tomorrow we
will begin TO make new dixie OF new
house you have no need. Come back and
live with me. All that is mine is yours and
your chidrens"