Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-03-22
MONTPELIER, VERMONT, THURSDAY,
words into their ears, as though she would have

words into their ears, as though she would have
make their inmost nerves awaken.
"We will, we will p said they and more !;
will keep you too. Stay with us-stay you
shall be to us daugh ter-replace the one we
have lost we will be parents. It shall be a
home to us four" 81 cannot, said she wildly.
:" Your daughter was stainless girl l am
dyed in sin !" and she shook with agony.
And so did those she spoke to, and tears as
hot as those that had scalded her face now
flooded them. Awhile they wept as though
their hearts would break then gathered calm
ness, and, while the old lady ciasped the two
two hands of the Magdalen, the qld man placed
his hand upon her head, and spslle.
Our daughter fed from Us waile in the
beauty of her girhood--aea wig. i stranger,
who wooedh by false ,voTde . + farfnl sin.
The child of our old age, it almost broke our
hearts; and we came here, far away from the
haunts of early years, to spend the remnant Of
our days in struggle to forget. We cannot
forget, but we long since forgave; aye, before
we heard that she was dead. We have learned
to be happy even with the memory of trial ever
before us But we miss the hopes that were
born with her, and we would cherish you and
your babe as we should her and hers, had she
come back ere she repented, as they told us, and
died."
The old mans voice was hushed. There was
no sound but that Of sobs, save when the babe
cooed its little love-song. Acry of agony burst
from the white lips of the stranger, as loosen
ing the hands that held her, she fell at the feet
of those who had been so true,-a cry, and then
words
Father mother she did not die,-she
lives! l am she--your Lizzie--your lost,
found child !"
Let the curtain drop. 1t is a scene too holy
for any but the sight of God and angels.
EYES," said the old grandmother, it was
their long-lost, and as they thought, dead Liz
zie.. She herself had forged the story of her
uthtil w seCuTc uersell III tc Sill sue hdu lcuEh
ed to love. But when after years of wretched-
ness and crime, she became herself, f,-when she
felt upon her breast the touch Of pure and holy
lips-then she became herself again, and felt
how much how deeply she had sinned and she
longed to have the babe nurtured as she had
been. 1t was long ere she could escape from
her sinful associates; but she at length succeed
ed and reached, as have told you, her father
house. She meant to conceal herself till they
were asleep and then leave the babe and &C
away; for she had no hope they would cherish
her again--for, Oh, she was very vile. But tht
cold was SO intense she dared not leave thu
child, but was forced to keep it TO her breast
and worn and weared with her long and tedi
GUS struggle with the drifts, Of length becam
benumbed, and could no Niger still the cries 0
her little one and thus she was brought bacl
to love, to home, to Christ, by the voice of al
angel on her heart"
The old lady ceased her story, and there wa
no word spoken for long while Then tn
young maiden broke the silence, saying, " an
what became of them all ~
1.-The two aged parents lived near score c
years, happy in the love of their restored child
and in the caresses and tender care of her littl
one They lie buried in the old church yard
The grandchild lived to be a blessing to he
mother for tive-and-twenty years; and the
passed away, leaving little one to make goo
her place. Metherless ere it had seen the fax
of her who gave it birth, it was fatherless el
the year was out" Another long pause.
eyes, it is haunted hearthstone, this Tho
aged Christians, that beautiful young mothe
that noble father-they haunted it; not as d
ghosts of olden times, making it werd spot f
the heart, but with such holy memories that ii
hour scent in communion with them seems lii
a visit in the better land
" Hearthstones are ever haunted, but few, lii
this, have angels for their guests"
, The anniversary of that bleak winters mig
came round. The fire burned as brightly as
fore, the room was as warm and rosy; but Il
: Young girl kneeled down before the fire. The
was no lap for her to rest her head upon-t
= old arm chair was empty. The hearthstone W
. haunted by another spirit--a spirit that hi
o sinncd, suffered. and been forgiven.