The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-10-29

fernally flowing.
Hyldreda thought no more Of any earth |
y thing until there came added 10 her own. |
a young, new life. When her beautiful
babe, half elf, half mortal, nestled in her
woman's hreast, it wakened there the foun-
tain of human love, and of long-(oTgotten
'Oh let me 20 home once-once more,
she impored of her lord. Let me go TO
ask my mothers forgiveness, and above all,
to crave the churchs blessing on this my in
nocent babe
KONG Tolv frowned and then looked sad.
For ii is one great sorrow Of the Ele-peo
pie, that they, with all others Of the elfn
race, are shut out from Heavens mercy
Therefore do they often steal mortal wives,
and strive 10 have their children chrstened
according to holy rite, in order to participate
in the blessings granted to the offspring OF
Adam.
do as thou wilt the 1Ill-king answered;
but know, there awaits penalty. In ex-
change for a soul, must be given life
His dark saying fell coldy on the heart OF
the young mother. Ii terrified her for
time, but soon the sweet strange wiles of bcr
elfn-babe bcguiled her into renewed happi-
ness; so that her longing faded away.
The child grew not like mortal child
An unearthlybeauty was in its face; wond-
rous prccocous signs marked it from its birth.
its baby-speecb was very wisdom. Its ba-
by-smie was full of thought. The mother
read her oldcn soul-thc pure soul that was
hers of yorc-in her infants eyes.
One day when Ilyldreda was following
the child in its play, she noticed it to dis
appear through what seemed the outlet OF
the fairy palace, which outlet she herself had
mover been able TO find. She forgot that
her boy was of clfn as well as of mortal
race. Out it passed, the mother eagerly
pursuing, until she found herself with the
child in meadow near the village Of Skei
elskor, where years ago she had often play.
cd. 1t was on Sunday morning, and
cheerful yet solemnly rang out Of the chap
el-bells. All the sounds and sights of earth
came back upon her, with Il longing that
would not be restrained.
In the white frozen grass, for it was wins
ter-timc. kncll lho wife of Kong Tolv, hold
ing fast TO her bosom the elfn babe, who
shivered at every blast of wind, yet, shiver-
ing, seemed TO smile. Hyldreda knelt, until
the chapel bells ceased at scivice time. And
then there came bursting from her lips the
long scaled prayers, the prayers of her
childhood. While she breathcd them the
rich fairy garments crumbled from her, and
she remained clad in the coarse dress she
wore when Kong Toy carried Ler away
save that it hung i'll miserable .aters, as if
worn for years, and through its rents the icy
wind pierced her bosom, SO that the heart
within might have surk and died but for
the ever abiding warmth of maternal love.
That told her how in one other mothers
heart there must be warmth still
Il will 90 home,' she murmured, : l will
say, Mother, take me in and save me, or
else ! die - And so when the night clos
ed, and all the villagers were safe at home,
and none could mock at her and her misery,
the poor desolatc one crcpt TO her mothers
door.
1t had been open 10 her even when she
- L., l., - h., A.
against her sorrow and humility? And was
there ever a true mothers breast, that while
life yet throbbcd there, was not refuge for
a repentant child?
Hyldreda found shelter and rest. But
the little elin babe, unused to the, air of
earth, uttered continual meanings At
night, the strange eyes never closed, but
looked at her with dumb entrealy. And
tenfold returned the mothers first desire
that her darling should become n 'chrston,
ed child
Much the old grandamc, gloried in this,
looking with disgust on the pining, withered
babe But keenly upon Hyldreda's memo
ry came back the saying of Kong Toly, that
for soul would be exchanged life. 1t
must be hcrs. That, doubtless, was the pur-
chase and thus had Heaven ordained the
oxpiation of her sin. If So meekly she
would offer it, so that Heaven, would admit
into IFS mercy her beloved child.
1t was in the right--in the cold white
night, that the widow Kahn, with her
daughter and the mysterious babe, came to
the chapel of Skejolskor. All the way
thither they had been followed by strange.
unearthly noises; and as they passed be-
meath the lakewood, it seemed as if the o.
vcrhanging branches were transformed into
giant hands, that evermore snatched at the
child But in vain for the mother held
it fast, and its little breast she had laid the
wooden cross which she herself used TO wear
when a girl. Bitterly the infant had walled
but when they crossed the threshold Of the
chapel, it ceased, and slnile broke over its
face-a smile pure and sanity, such as little
children wear lying in sleep so beautiful
that the bier seems like the cradle.
4 he mother beheld it, and thought, What
If her foreboding should be true; that the
moment which opened the gate of Heavens
mercy unto her babe should close upon her.
self life and life's sweetnesses ? But she felt
no fear
Let me kiss thee once again, my babe
my darlipgP she murmured perhaps !
may never kiss thee more. Even now, |