Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-04-13

L
have to hurry when get back. l would rather
stay at home.''
''No, Minnie, want you all to go there is a les
to be learned there to-day Which will do US more
! good than dinner"
! 1--WE will slice up the cold meat left from yester-
day-hash the potatoes nicely, and with good bread,
butter and fruit, we will be comfortable enough
"But will the boys be satisfied I"
"We will try to have them So and | trust that none
of think much of appees as to deprive our
selves of soul privileges enjoyments to tastes.
Tomorrow, if we have eaten wisely, shall all have
forgotten what constituted dinner to-day. But
the lesson learned at the funeral trust will be fresh
in our hearts, not only tomorrow, but forever
The girls sped away cheerfully TO their work.
arranged the dinner picked clean shirts for the
boys the shoes brushed and the cravats ted
and when the bell rung out the solemn peal we were
all ready.
We halted at the church door TO see the procession
pass by. o what sight was there First came the
long, slender coffin and its dark frnged pail, Then
the husband of the sleeper within, and leaning upon
his arm-bowed with age, and trembling with sorrow
and woe-was the mother of the dead. Then were
Il clasped the hands of my children and drew them
nearer TO my sde) six moherless children the oldest
not twelve years and as the little sobbing group
by fancied heard the wall OF the infant at home
Then followed the long train of relatives friends and
neighbors but did not heed them-my eye saw on
ly that aged mother sorrowing for her child those in
FAINT children weeping for mother. The minister
made short eXhortation, prayer TO the God of the
fatheress. The choir sung its solemn chant; but
did not hear. My thoughts all TO busy with
stirring memories within my own heart.
Thirteen years ago | stood by the sleeper, then
blooming bride. Eighteen summers only had her deep
blue eyes reflected the hues above or her ears listen
ed to the song of the wild robin in the old elm near
her childhood home. By her side, too, stood that
man, and his dark flashing eye, bold, proud brow,
looked pride and joy, as he casped the hand of Ruth
and promised TO love, cherish and protect her. the beau
ul the good, the pure, the loving, that was leaving
mother, home, everything bless him. and to rest in
his heart forever. / said she was beautiful ave.
beautiful she as the widest dream of poets fan
cy; and with all her beauty, her goodness her pur-
ty, she gave herself into his care and keeping, and
promised 10 love, serve, and obey, till death should
sever the bonds which man. laws and enaciments had
woven for them.
/ Dut
ceased their vibration, and naugh breaks that solemn
Stiffness the grating of the undertakers screw
as he opens once more the lid that hides from our
sight the pale emaciaed form of that beautiful
being
One by one the congregation passed by, and took
their last look. Then came the distant relatives =
for moment they linger, and many sob and weep
ing eve tell how well she was loved. Even manly
hands brushed away the bright dews of sympathy from
the dimmed vision, slowly they moved on. Then
came husband, the mother, the children. Oh, who
shall give utterance that the heart may hear to the
anguished wall of those doubly orphan ones-"Moth-
CIR, mother, mother" broke from their hearts in the
wild agony of the moment.
Poor little things, poor little things, well they knew
their utter desttution. Who would gather them now
at nighllal, and wash their faces and speak kind,
soothing words, and put them TO bed Who patch
the tatered garments, who contrive the scanty meal
Who! The old mother stopped down and kissed her
child, and low anguished moan told grief, troub-
lie, too mighty for tears. The husband looked down
on the sleeper he had promised to love, cherish and
. protect. But he had wasted that love on the fallen
and degraded ones squandered his substance in RI
living often had he forced from those delicate
hands the hardearned shilling while his children cret
for BREAD dropped it into the rumseer till, 10 graf
: fy his insatiae appetite. He her waste
away amid poverty and shame and cursed her day by
day, because her eye grew dim, her cheek pale, ant
E her head weak and trembling. Day after day, weel
after week, he pressed the iron into her soul Blu
she had vowed in the sight of God and sworn to Glove
honor and obey" and the folds of snowy muslin tina
ken vow.
His worthy father had discarded him, his relative!
g "went on the other side"
And the time came when her delicate spirit coul(
love more when love, even mothers love, coult
no longer buoy her up to struggles; and she laid he
down to die. The neighbors found her and her little
ones in miserable hut, the children starving, thu
mother dying, and the father away in the neghborng
village at the grog shop door, acting out the privilege
> of his manhood. Drunk-drunk for days. and his wifi
: at home dying; and his children starving. Oh We
who preach SO much to wives, ''to make home beau
: tiful, have We no words for husbands Oh women
how long will We witness these things, and yet plea
that men may be your masters The news reaches
the worthy friends, and they took her and the childre
s home, and laid her upon soft couch, and MINISTER'S
to her wants, but it too late had said 81
is enough " and though the tear trembled in her eye
and her hands clasped in prayer when she heard tn
wall of her babe she prayed that she might live, liv
little longer, for her darling's sake still she said
"Thy will be DONE" and passed away, even in tn
noontide Of her life the victim of nebrate husband
Here she lay thirtyone years DID, the mother of
children, murdered by nches forced from her hig
and holy duty of wife and mother by the who ha
n her youthful love, and promised at the marrag
altar 10 love, cherish and protect
The minister, who made them one, and who bu
t now had breathed his prayer her coin-the udg
al of the Court who had given his sanction the grog
e sellers trade-the voters of the aw-the bar-keepe
ID h'msef-the women who boast of their private infu
Is ence, all, all who had looked on for years. and see
lie the wasting, wearing horrible murder, now came for
i ward and looked at that cold brow, wreathed wit
m white They listened to the aged mothers
lie less groans and heard the chldren's fearful cry
infa al