Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-12-07

If it had been empty, closed his eyes IN rev.
erence, and asked a blessing. There was
a little stool, on which no one sat, by the
old mans side. 1t had been placed there
unwittingly, when the other seats were all
placed in their usual order but the gol-
den head that was wont to rise at that part
of the table was now wanting. There was
word was said-the meal
was before them-God had been thanked,
and they began to eat
While they were at their silent meal
horseman came galloping up to the door,
and in loud voice called out that he had
been sent express with letter to Gilbert
Ainslie; at the same time rudely, with an
oath, demanding dram for his trouble
The eldest son, a lad of eighteen, seized the
bride of his horse, and turned his head "a
way from the door, The rider, somewhat
alarmed at the flushed face of the STRIPPING,
threw down the letter and then rode off
Gilbert took the letter from his sons hand
casting a half upbraiding look on his face,
that was returning to its former color. l
feared, said the youth with tear in his
eye: / feared that the brute's voice, and
the trampling of the horses feet would
have disturbed her. Gilbert held the let
ter unhcsitatingly in his hand, as if afraid
at that moment to read it; at length said
to the surgeon: you know that am
poor man, and debt if justly incurred, and
punctually paid when due, is no dishonor.'
Both his hands and voice shook slightly as
he spoke /; but he opened the letter from the
lawyer, and read it in silence. At this
moment the wife came from her child's bed
side and looking anxiously, and told him,
{ not to mind the money, that no man who
knew him, would arrest his goods, or put
him in prison. Though dear to me it is
cruel to be put to it thus, when our child
is dying, and when, if it be the Lords will,
she should have decent burial Gilbert
continued to read then folding up the
letter, he gave it to his wife, and told her
she might read it if she would, and then
put it in his desk
Another hour of trial is past, and the
child still lives. The very dogs know
there is grief in the house, and lay without
stirring, as if hiding themselves below the
long table at the window. One sister sat
with an unfinished gown on her knees, that
she had been sewing for the dear child, and
still continued at the hopeless work, she
scarcely knew why; and often putting up
her hand to wipe away tear. what is
that 2 said the old man to his eldest daugh-
ler What is that you are laying on the
shelfY She could scarcely reply that it was
a ribband and an ivory comb, that she had
brought for little Margaret. And at these
words the father could not restrain long,
deep and bitter groan at which the boy
nearest in age to his dying sister, looked
up weeping in his face, and letting the tat
tered book of old ballads that he had been
pouring on, but not reading, fall out of his
hands, he rose from his seat and going to
his fathers bosom, kissed him, and asked
God to bless him; and the old man, as he
|. embraced him, felt that in his innocence
> and simplicity he was indeed comforter
= Said the old man, the Lord giveth, and the
Lord taketh away, blessed be the name o.
the Lord
. As the outer door gently opened, h
= whose presence had in former years brough
: peace and resignation hither, when thei
6 hearts had been tried, even as they nov
:, = were tried, stood before them. On tn
= night before the sabbath the minister o
Auchindown never left his Manse, excep
as now, to visit the sick or dying bed
= Scarcely could Gilbert reply to his ques
! tion about his child, when the surgeon
= came from the bedroom, and said, Mar
: garet seems lifted up by Gods hand abov
= = death and the grave; think she will re
" cover. She has fallen asleep, and whe
= she awakes, | hope-I believe-that tn
:. danger will be passed, and that the chill
!; will live.
- They were all prepared for death !; bu
y now they were found unprepared for life
= One wept that had till then locked u
:, all her tears in her heart, another gave
Il short palpitating shrek; and the tende
. hearted Isabel, that had nursed the chill
IL when it was baby, tainted away. Th
youngest brother gave way to gladsom
on smiles, and calling out his dog Hector, wi
- used to sport with him and his little sist,
~ on the moor, he told the tidings to IL
nd dumb, irrational creature, whose eye spa
Of kled with sort of JOY The clock f
,be some days had been prevented from stri
an ing the hours, but the fingers pointed to t
,La hour of nine and that in the cottage G.
,Lo bert Ainslie, was the stated hour of fami
nor worship. ....
the His own honored minister took the book,
ted He chose n portion with judicious care,
,tb And letus worship God, he said with soler
= air.
at A chapter was read-a prayer said-a
her so too was paslm sung; but it was su
hut so low, and with suppressed voices, lest
ese child's saving sleep should be broken; a
now and then female voice trembled
,nt some of them ceased altogether for tn
had been tribulation and anguish, and n
hope aud faith were tried in the Joy
thanksgiving.
but The child still slept, and its sleep SCI
sa;d ed more sound and deep. 1t appeared
oilv most certain that the crisis was over,
. IN the flower was not to fade. 'Childr,
bev said Gilbert, 'our happiness is in the |
: ii. we bear to one another, and our duty is
rent submitting to and serving God. GraciC
and indeed has he been to us. Is not the
mid covery of our little Margaret, worth all
with gold that ever was mined If we
sual thousands of thousands, would we not h
.efnl filled up her grave with the worthless DR.
snr- rather than she should have gone d.
after there with her sweet face and all her
!, Sn;loe 2, Thara vUoc no rapIy hut