Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-04-04

with silver threads. Point lace, broad and
exqulsltely fine, fell from her short sleeves
over her snowy arms, and gave softness to
the outline of her bust. A chain of pearls
lay on her neck, and cleaned amidst the
shading curls, which hoated from beneath
a chaplet of white roses. She looked up
at length, smiled upon her lovely reflection
IN the mirror, and then wrapping herself in
dressing-gown, took up volume of sacred
poems. But when she attempted to read !,
her mind wandered to the dazzling scene
she had Just quilted. She knelt TO pray,
but the brilliant vision haunted her still,
and ever as the wind stirred the vines about
the window, there came back that sweet al
Turing music.
She rose with pang of selfreproach.-
Instead of the confidence, the conscious
ness of protection, the holy serenity with
which she usually sought her pillow, she
experienced an excitement and restlessness
which nothing could allay. She attempted
to mediate, but with every thought of duty
came memories of the festive garlands, and
the blazing lamps, aud the fitting figures of
the merry dancers.
An open Bible lay on the window seat,
and as she passed it, she read Another
parable put He forth unto them, saying,
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a
man which sowed good seed in his field
But while he slept, his enemy came and
sowed tares among the wheat, and went his
way
Tears sprang to her eyes, and she ex-
claimed, In the field of my heart, also,
hath the enemy sown tares. She took up
the book and read again then, too soul
full to remain quiet, she rapidly paced her
chamber. Resolutely and carefully she re-
viewed the past, back, back to her first faint
trembling hope. Vigorously, as in the pres
ence of her Maker, she scanned her first
departure from the narrow path; her
earlier convictions were pungent, ten-fold
more intense was the agony OF this, her Sec
ond awakening.
In the solitude of his chamber, Edward
thought with less citation of his successful
plan. He believed that Helen would have
yielded to no ordinary temptation, and felt
that he had been scarcely generous 10 enlist
her affections against her principles. HIS
repeated, 1t Is but a trlle,' did not satisfy
han aud when he had listened, hour after
hour. to her football, he could no longer re-
strain his inclination 10 soothc her emotion.
Ia VAN he essayed all the arguments, all the
sophIsiry, which the world employs to at
tract the luhe-warm professor.
Do not seek TO Console me, said Helen
for sucn tears are salutary, my dear broth
er. l have virtually sand that the Joys OF
religion are fading and unsatisfactory
must sometimes seek for others. | have
quoted u.ore than one uneasy conscience,
10y throwing the influence of a PROCESSING
Christian INTO the scal- of The world.
have wandered from my Fathers side, to
the society Of his rebel subjects. And yet
| have cause 10 mourn less for this one
tranSgresslon than for the alienation OF
heart which led the way to it. ad | not
fallen ta., very far from the strength and
purity OF my earlier love, even your plead.
ings could not have moved me.
But the Bible says nothing about such
amusements, Helen
Not in words, perhaps, but in effect
Put the case 10 your own heart, Edward.
Would YOU wish me 10 indulge iii Il course
of conduct which would estrange me from
you Would you have ne choose for my
companions those VITO treat you with neg
lect Would YOU wish me 10 frequent
Pic whence should return careless and
cold in my manner toward you All, broth
or loved God once saw his hand in
everything around me. | felt his presence
perpetually, and trusted, child-llke, 10 his
protecting arm. But now regard him less,
pray less, read less, and give less And
tien she revealed TO her brother her beauti-
fol experience-beautiiu TIL she grew neg
ligent and formal-wth trnth, All earnest
ness, loving simpicIty, that, for the first
time, gave hIn some insight INTO the nature
of true plety. And now, dear Edward,
she said, read TO me Chrl>t's prayer for
his people, that may feel sure that they
prayed for me-
As she listened, the varying expressions
of her countenance indicated many and va
RED emotions. Submission, sorrow, love,
and falth-all were there When Edward
had finished, they knelt together, aud Hell
ell, sorrowlully, yet hopefully, poured out
her full soul in confession, and most touch
ingly she besought the divine compassion
upon her erring brother.
The carol OF birds went up with the whis-
ptiiu9 AHien Oh tHe peultelit, tNe DiooSoibo
of the climbing honeysuckle sent IN their
fragrance, and the morning smiled on
them as they rose from prayer. The face
of Helen reflected her inward gladness, and
restored peace shone Ill her dark eyes and
tranquil counienance. Thou art happier
than / SAID Edward, and with light Ca
ress he turned from the Chamber.
One year went by, and Edward Allston
awoke from all uneasy siumber. Slow aud
InsIduous had been the approach of disease.
Softly, and IN many DISCUSSES, had the spoil
er come to him. He had stolen the strength
from his manhood, the roundness from his
form, the mellow expression from his eye,
but lie brought no terror. Bear ME 10
Helen's ROOM SAID the sufferer, and the al
PENDANTS performed his bidding.
1t was the anniversary of The ball night,
and the rooan was unchanged, save that no
festal garments were scattered about IT.
The open window with the luxuriant honey
suckle bursting through and resting on the
open pages Of Bible, the chairs on which
the two had sat, the cushions on which they