The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-11-23
D. CfIam
FLORENCE MAY,
OH
UNCLE EDWARDS STORY

W JfBslE."
"i'lrasr trll luc o story Ibis evening uncle
Edward said blue eyed praulcr, climbing
upon the chair Of an aged gentleman. II
have already Todd sou all the stories that
know, Ella" replied the old man, scanag the
Iulo Hd kindly upon his lap Tell me q
tory NJ yourrf then" persisted Ella, "aud
sister Mary VII, come aud listen too. The
painful rerolloe,ions, ior rho aged man bowed
hi- head upon D.. hand aud for long limit
seemed lost iu thought Al lcuglh Ella i'm
Inum.urs reused him, aud b. turned 10
ritter Mar, yaung girl Of fourteen, SAYING,
'romc Mary and viii relate 10 you n story
which may be- ni Interesting as the ono You
are reading" Mary laid aside her book aud
'rucd burself upon An ottoman AZ bis side,
apd leaked up into his face with q sweet
snic at affection,
Mr. ADD Mrs May" began uncle Edward,
"acrr proud, rich people who reared their
ouly child, their beautiful Florence amid all
ibe luSurios which wealth could produce
1hcy never taught her that meek aud qul-
81 spirit was ~ ornament, but regarded this
aud congonia truths as vulgar things, and
much Beneath the dignity OF forming part
of their daughters education, Il was on the
birthday Of a now year, aud the seventeenth
anniversary of her own birth that | was in
tro'uccd To her, ! was a stranger in the vii
lagc and they bestowed upon me the honor
Of conducting her Ia q ball that was 10 come
"ii thai evening with great splcndor, She
was standing before mirror when my com
pnniln- AL i 4aa.s..s--l TtrryB "
'pollcss white, Jewels pL..-...,.--l-auuirf he
shining lrrs1cs Of her hair, but they were
pnlty compared with the bcwildcring beauty
Of her face aud form, Ancr chatting very
pleasantly tor haitian hour, Florence roscand
tied on her little graceful cloak aud noticed
a. she did 30, that q smile Of conscious beauty
curlcd her lip. Ilrr aged grandmother who
e,t unnotIccd in quiet corner now came
forward and said 10 u low trembling tone,
promise me, Florence, that YOU will read
one chapter IN the Bible ailgr you RETURN
80 &c grandmother" replied the Thought
less girl, liam too young IG-read the bible
aud Zoe serious II will do very we'll for old
people like yourself hut | cannot stop to
think oft now" You ARE not ton Young tu
die" was the fearful answer ~ Florence
l9ughiugy len the rodm Half an hour
after Florcnacs light feet were beating time
10 merry miisic, aud her aged relative was ia
prayer with her Col. Florence was not hap
pa -lhaL evening. though her smile was thc
brightest, and her manner the Gaycst, in the
-r1urT.- ii'r rrauriuutfrr- words had sunk
deeper into her hear, than she was willing To
own.cycu to herself "You are not too youua
to lie. rang in her ears far above tho -touc,
of the witching music" lou are moi too younI
to dic," wa. the echo of her own gay laugh,
aud of those around her. II was long past
midnight when she entered her silent cham
bcr and the first thing ihat met her cl es-,yat
an elegant Bible laying upon her dressing IA.
Bile Her heart Instant, told her what Kind
hand placed It there. The thought struck
her that she would open it at random and
read the first words that h,r eyes fell upon
"Out of thine own mouth will iul.r thee, .
were the solemn words which riyitcd her NJ.
tcntion. She thought Of the foolish, wicked
words, she uttered ouly a few hours before
aud could look upon this q. nat4ias ls.se than
an admonilion from God She shut the bible
and retired, not TO rest, but to weep. The
next morning her parents were alarmed to
find their beloved child III and melancholy.
A A.. 4 -. a.. l.
the body. and CAV friends to administer a
balm 10 the mind Tho Ilalx- S+iiiL-.sas
gricvod away and She returned to the pleas.
urcs Of the world with renewed zcst But
dark clouds were gathering in her horizon,
which finally closed round .and'shut out the
rays of that sun which had ever been the
light OF her path Nightly exposure had laid
the foundation Of a curclcss{ disease, 'and she
turned, away from the world with an aching
heart Her grandmothcr's words came once
more 10 her mind and she felt that she was
not "too Young 70 die" This conviction
brought with il a eense of utter misery which
must ever be experienced by tho unconvcrt-
ed in the hour ofdissolution O how wildly
she prayed Tor life. She sought It as the best
pih of Heaven in whatever form it might be
presented. But the fiat had gone forth, and
this PRAYER could not be granted kind
voice was ever near her, endcavoring to win
her thoughts away from earth and fix them
op brighter home above, These gentle
pica,l,nss were tlcngth needed, the fervcnt
prayers Of her aged friend were answered,
and the Star. which lightcth "thc valley Of
the shadow Of death began to dawn upon
her Wondering sight The Bihla-lseet,r1r
her constaptI companion, and was not open
eel at rmdoinY iiut every page was read with
pr7ycrful attention. Thvv months passed
away bringing only increased weakness to
the body, hiu strength from on high 10 the
soul, II was the season when the trees begin
To assum, tint ~ gold. and crimson, and the
bind. which visit us during'the sunny months
eUII iinecr and pcnr forth their sweetest
1. II A. 4.