Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-12-23
BATH MAINE, THURSDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 23 1852.

other things, and send them by servant, but
that it was not proper for herto go there again.
Harriet laughed d~contemptuonsly and some
what spitefully, and said it was new way to
create an interest in the heart of fashionable
gentleman.
Notwithstanding these insinuations, Lillian
was early with the bereaved mother on that
bright Christmas morning. She now thought
the coarse, hard-featured woman, whom she
had seen the night before, absolutely beautiful,
when she discovered that the little grave dress
had been purchased by her own hard earnings,
and saw her place the stifened form of the
child in the coffin with such motherly tender
ness, and drop great tears on the waxen fingers
when she crossed the little hands.
Oh! death, and poverty, and sorrow that come
in such terrible guises, how little do we know.
when we tremble at your presence, shat we
'are entertaining angels unawares.'
The little coffin had been borne away, and
the poor mother lay on the bed in all the agony
of inconsolable grief.
An old worn Bible was on the mantle shelf,
and Lillian, who had determined to stay till the
neighbor should return, took it down and COM
menced reaGing.
Suffer little children to come unto me, and
forbid them not, for of such Is the Kingdom of
Heaven
And then she turned to the fifteenth chapter
of Corinthians. Gradually the sobs from the
bed became less frequent and loud, while in a
low reverential tone, that gradually rose to one
of exuting, Lillian read on
So when this corruptible shall have put on
interruption, and this mortal shall have pu,
on immortal, then shall be brought to pass
the saying that is written, death is swallowed
up in victory. Oh, death where is thy sting
Oh, grave where is thy victoryl'
Unnoticed by the young reader, Thornton
entered and stood with bowed head, such tears
filling his eyes as he had not shed since he
stood by the grave of his mother, and there
seemed TO come over him that same child-ike
peace there used 10, when he knelt by her knee
when boy, and prayed, God bless me and
make me good
A few days after this, Lillian took her de.
parture for her village home, but not until Mr.
Thornton had told her that he had procured
more comfortable lodgings for her protege, and
more lucrative situation for her son.
| The glorious summer weather had come again
and the meadows were green, and the waters
sparkled, and the young leaves rusiled around
Lilian's home.
She returned from walk one day, and her
mother said,
"A friend from the city was her whilst you
was out, Lilly
"A friend of mine from the city who was
it, mamma =
THAT Mr.. Thornton, whom you used to
write so much about, as being SO polite to
you.'
! Mr.. Thornton, exclaimed Lillian, in sur.
prise, 'who does he know here, What did he
come for1'
To fish, he says responded the mother
To fish, but Lillian made no other COM
ment.
The hotel-keeper, with whom Mr.. Thornton
boarded, said that il was strange that he al
ways went down the street to fishing, for he
had told him several times that the trout streams
were in quite different direction; but when
in the next autumn, handsome travelling car
riage whirled off with Mrs. Tom Floyd and
Arthur Thornton, and little Lillian as bride,
to the city, the good man nodded his head, and
laughed one of his full, mellow laughs, as he
said 10 his neighbour
This comes of trout fishing, and Miss Lii
ly's Christmas Visit