The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-02-23
NUMBER A.

"Dinah.r my father was saying hurried
ly. ''you have that little portrait-give
it to me"
| reused myself BY great effort, ard
taking the locket from my bosom, put it
in his hand. Another moment. and thero
was a second cry, but this time it was
only of Joy.
"Yes. yes p l heard Mrs Hnughton
passionately saying, in voice all broken
with emotion, Il knew it. I knew it 1t
is my child-my Willic-my little VIII
lie r and she pressed the portrait to her
lips, and looked upon it as even bad
scarcely ever done
All 1 needed no other proofs. need.
ed nothing more than one look 10 tell ne
I had lost my child.
Mrs Haughton had sunk on her scat
again, and my darling was kneelins at
her feet, clasping her hands aud weeping
They spoke no more; they. nor any
one then, when minute or two had
passed Colorel Hanghtoh raised my child
kindly from the ground. aud. placing her
mothers hand in hers, led them silently
together from the room.
closed my eyes and turned away, but
still the tears would force their way
through the closed lids upon my cheek.
And as wept fceing--that night l could
not help it.-so lonely and so sad.a warm,
firm clasp came gently and closely upon
my hand. 1t was Nevill who was stan
ding by my side and as fet that friend
ly pressure and met the look that was
bent on me / knew there was one, at
least. who, rejoicing in my Fortunes joy,
could yet feel sympathy for me.
1t was not long before Colonel llaugh-
ton came back. and from him we learnt
all there was to tell Mrs IIaughton
when very young had married Captain
Moreton. aud accompanied him to India.
where my child was born, and called after
her mother. Wilhelmina But she was
delicate and the doctors said that the In
dian climate would kill her so, after she
was two years old. they we're forced to
send her home to England, to relations
in the north An English servant was
sent in charge of her, and both were
committed to the care Of an ultimate
friend of theirs who was returning in the
same vessel to England but the lady died
during the passage. and neither of child
or nurse were there ever any more IT,
dings except the solitary fact-which
the captain proved-that they did arrive
in England 1t was fifteen years ago.
The woman had money with her belong
ing to Mrs. Haughton, as well as the
whole of the child's wardrobe quite e.
nough to tempt her TO dishonesty.
And such was the history of my For
tunes birth | went away as soon as
I could to ny room and lay there wait
ing for my child for I knew that sho
would come. The moonlight straamed
brightly in and softly. and the shadow of
the trees without the window came and
waved upon my couch rocking gently to
and fro. with low music like o sorg of
rest II stilled my heart, that quiet
sound and lying there alone, l prayed
that l might have fortitudo to rejoice,
and not to mourn at all. and then after
a long time grew quite calm, and wait.
ed quietly
My darling came at last but not alone
Her mother entered the room with her,
and they came together, hand in hand,
up to my couch. and stood beside me
with the moonlight falling on them
and shining on my child's white
dress, as if it was robe of silver We
spoke little, but from Mrs Haughton's lips
there fell few most gentle, earnest
words, which sank into my heart, and
gladdencd me and then she left me with
my child, alone.
Ny darling clung around my neck and
wept. and, calmer now myself, poured
out all my love upon her, and soothcd
her as | could. and then we talked to-
gether, and she told me all her JOY. And
there were some words that she said that
night that | have never since forgotten,
nor never will forget-words that have
cheered me often slnce-that live in my
heart nov, beautiful, distinct, and clear
as wheh she spoke 'hem hrs' "od bless
her' my own chila
Brightly as ever the sun rose uron an
August morning did his first ravs beam
through our windows to welcome Ar.
thurs birthday There was nothing but
Joy throughout the house, and happy IA.
ces welcoming each other. and CAV voices
and merry laughter rlnakine the roof ring
There arc few days in our lives when
it seems TO us as if the flood of sunlight
round us is rlded with SO bright slo.
nv. that even the commcncst things on
which il falls GLOW with beauty wo nev.
or felt before davs on which The fresh
breeze passinr over us aud sweening
through the green leaves overhead wbis'