Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-10-15
The Fatal Blow.
AN OLD MANS REMINIscENCE.

| had quarrel with my little brother vii,
lie, who had not quite passed his sixth year
! was Two years his senior, and he was the
only beng ever loved. y lille was a fiall
and attectonate little fellow, not meant to s,ruo.
gle long through this dark and weary existence.
The little golden locks fell upon his slender
and beautiful neck and his large blue eyes
wore soft and contdlng expression, which
called forth lrreslslbly your love and protect
ION. went TO the corner Of the garden, and
continued building house we Lad begun to.
geiher. The evening was fast coming up, and
still required about halt dozen bricks to fin
ish 1t; therefore stalked up to one which. af
ter great trouble, he had Just completed. and
pulled down part Of the walls for the purpose.
The little fellow coul! not bear it, and snatch,
ed them back from me. |, in rage, struck
HIM violently on the breast he fell to the
ground. In a short time he recovered his
breath, and said
jamie, tell Annie to come and carry me
In l cannot walk my breast Is very, very
Sore
skulked quietly in at the back of the house.
In few moments heard low and nournful
whisper 90 through the dwelling; my little
Willie had broken blood vessel. The next
evening, about sunset | went to the door of
the room where he la , and as looked in he
beckoned Inc to hun. The setting sun fell up
on his golden halr and as he reclned upon
the snowy pillow, methought he seemed like
little angei floating on tieecy cloud,
crept up slowly 10 the side of his bed, and
hid the little hand which lay upon the cover
lid, within my own hand.
jamie sald he, jamie, am going to die
hid my face beneath the bed clothes, and
sobbed aloud.
Don't cry said the little f How, YOU know
| love You dearly; Come, jamie. let me play
with your hand again, as used to when We sat
together on the little grass plat in the warm
sunshine, and don't cy, my dear little brother
jamie. You will be Kind to my little pussy
when | am gone, and I'LL h.s saucer with new
milk, won't you. brother|
Pussy lifted up her head as she heard her
name, and purIng, sInoo,hel her sleek am
glossy coat against the pahd face of the young
sufferer, as though 10 thank hnn for his kind r.,
mernhrance.
: | am going 10 heaven he continued, ana
that Is happy place you know, for God, ou
| Father, whom we say our prayers 10 every
night, lives there, and YOU know now often We
have wanted 10 see HIN, Jamie and here Is
Jesus, whom we love much. and who loves
little children, too, so dearly; he will he there,
and he will carry me to his Father, for he will
be like big brother, and take care of me, YOU
know, jamie. And then there Is little Harry
Bcntly, he is gone to heaven too, and ha |
see hlm thore, and We will have Two little
wings, and little golden music holk between.
US hut we will leave u corner tur YOU. JAIME
so that when you como, We will all bow down
together before the throne of God, our Father,
and slns hls glory Tor ever and ever
The little fellow lifted up his bright blue
eyes to heaven, and his countenance seemed
to grow brighter and brighter; gazed upon
his face for some minutes in silent angus /;
but as gazed, his face appeared t' wax
brighter ana yet more brighter smile still
fingered upon his parted lips, and bis little
soul winged It's flight to a sure aNd g orious
eternity.
And now, when the hurricane of Eiotous and
irresistible passion sweep over my soul, tear
ing down all distinctions Of right d wrong,
and dethronng reason, their chaTub voices
seem to come, waited on tho gale, and as these
two little angel forms, with their little golden
muslc-hook, and my empty and unmerited con-
duet, rise up as It were, IN vision before me,
my passion vanIshes, ny frame shudders, and
, burst into t9ars.