Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1852-01-15


sYon were IN our midst bride last
weaf. dear Margaret; tell Us, has this
year brought spght or joy or hope or
changs 70 yoH
ne sesy blush oversprsad Maegie'S pla>
cid Gsmtpres a. she lifted mp the crimson
and beautiful Cushions Ofthe sofa bed, ana
revealed wrapped MP in iIs dainty covering
If lace and muslin. tiny infant OF rev
svesks old one rounded arm was lOlaed
back against the dimpled cheek, and grl
lie We III passed round TO kiss cousin
Marearet,s baby She placed it in Aunt
Mortop,s lop, and kneeling down, the girl"
ish mother murmured in reply:
Il has brought me this. dear Aunt, this
little candidate for immortality-this pret>
Az golden blossom that has grown up around
INV heart, It has brought me this tImid
tpsmbler upon Life's sea, whose bark hence
forth / win watch now far more eagerly
than my owa! It has brought me new
hopes-.pew duties new Joys, yet tonight
finds me trembling beneath the weight Of
responsibility that rests upon me, lest !
prove untaithfnl to my trust
take this child and nurse it for me.
and viii give thee wages said one ofold,
and God speaks in the same language to
the heart Of every mother in our land. MOI
light, or Of little Importance is the task as
signed you, to rear up an immortal being,
who shall also, in turn, take place 10 the
worlds arena but strive to discharge truly
and faithfully, the neW duties committed to
you, and more precious than gpld-dust will
be the incense that shall eteal in upon your
heart the blessing of God upon your la
bors as q faithful mother'
And what has the year witnessed for
you, 'Bel?' Loving hearts were all around
Us, and SO we made the oil years confes-
pion. ..
sChapge In the beloved household, and
yet more bitter loneliness in any lonely
heart. The years history has been one Of
sadness and gloom=-and over the place,
graves. entered it happy. because sne
idol was spared me amid the wreck-one
idol to WHICH | gave the very worship Of
my soul. Death claimed that idol one
entered my charmed circle. and liushed
the voice aud quenched the light in The eye
that was dear 10 me as the hope Of heayen.
u has been the guest of one home, and has
Jeff vacant seat-an empty chair--and
darkened hearth>stone. In this year !
have watched the death shadow creep up
. Vafber'S brow--haye held the cooling
aranght to her fsyered lips and sootbed her
fainting heart 10 the strong hour her soul
was being baptized into Immortality.
have gone down with her 70 the rivers
bank, and there we parted hands while she
left me for that solemn journey, and have
come mp alone aud gone back to Life with.
out the star Of her love. Ia this gear have
watched him die who grew up beside me
Srf Anal rs Lev -hov hnl
dswy hands in TINT sharp braye struggle
his fair. bright bark glide peacefully from
she SHORES of Time. and enter with the
EMs1'aEs Eass g I'll, and glsd them be-
how frail are all earthly reeds, my heart
trust, has no, been schooled in ysia. And
ageh is tho years history to me-
4 hand was laid upOn my brow-a deal
kind voice wac breathing blessed words il
my ear-words Of comfort and cheer Goo
bless the mofherless ! Aunt Morton spoke
long In that soothing strain, that can nevel
appeal 10 vain to the orphaned heart, of /
better home beyond--of reunion and ar
eternity of bliss and rose up from hel
feet That night, With quiet peryading peace
10 which nv heart haa long been strgng'
or. And each one 10 that little CIRCLE had
her confession to make; TO one the aigh'
OF the old year brought the remembrance
of broken vows and words ip the sand tC
another peaceful life and heart Thankful
for It's measure Of quiet happiness; hut
have NOT time to recount them all indiyidu-
ally, and doubiles my readers win be heart
Ny glad Of this, for saany feaT !are already
weary. But. there was another in our
midst, fair pale girl. who seemed like a
herald angel Bearing US ii lings Of the world
70 which she was rapidly approaching-ot
per will for few moments speak.
Cousin Helen's head had rested wearily
against che easy !chair, which had been
wheeled to tile warmest nook, and over hel
slight fern the graceful India shawl wa.
gathered 10 heavy folds. A shade Of anx-
iesy passed oyer Aunt Morton's usually
placid face as her gsze rested almost sadly
on the langnid girl. and we were all very
still WheH her low mild voice broke upon
the gsr 10 YeRay-
iRhis YeRF, dear apnt, has brought me .
message TO 20 home--a token has been 81
ven ne. and BY that token know full vel
my hQvrs On eaFpb aEe NIL pumbered--.hal
elss path tread has but u few, steps Onward
and those lead down into nm open gEnve.
This year has taken the BLOOM fron nay
phssk snd the light from my eye, and i,
has placed there instead the hectic flush
snd the foyer glow and il has Witnessed
the stropg hard struggle of my clinging
l,eart s.s j could QnIsoze li'e hold upon the
world, aNd oolteRtsaly go down to silence
and the grave-but, oh = and neleIsAs face
grew beautiful. and her whole form irem.
blel With Its inward happiness, better than
sW thing. else. this year has br ught me
psaCe and ICY IN believing and calm reli-
n9ec ppo1 that good Father who is too wise
70 esr. The Old year l. passing away. aud
sTld6 i I g. ebssrfuliy as the ti,e,i chhi
iaras b9MewsFl wlen night closes around
ssas wSNtsA An0aher year aud the salne
tyeas gneNp will gather In this room-the
light laugh and merry jest will ring out
an t9e cheerful wall will dance the freight
p cheeEly as tonight and will not be-
mfse H..