The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-02-03

as it were, in Ecr strongest fortific ations, and.
although the tide of lifcs battle surccd
to and fro against their base, it never threat
cncd to rise on him, and cngulph him in its
waves
Thus he lived until he was eighteen: and
then his father, ruined by an unforeseen cal
amity. fell by his own hand. IIerbert's in
tended property was sold; and, without house
or home. he left the grey walls of the old
mansion. where his fathers fathers had lived
and oicd, and he bore forth into the rude
world these three things-a widowed mother.
a helpless sister and stricken heart.
Thus did the srcy-haircd man first become
enlisted in the army which, in tears, wretch
cdncss and long endurance, fights the battle
of life.
iii.
1t was bright summer evening, and Her
bert Courtcnay, and his sister Edith, sat for
the last lime, in their favoritc arbor, for to-
where they had hoped to live and die
They had visited each well known tree.
they had been to say "farcwell' to each hum
be friend, and the last hour of DAYLIGHT was
allotted to this cherished spot. The setting
sun was reflected in the little lake which Law
motonlcss at their feet: there was not even a
murmur amongst the tall branches of the
trees which were above their heads: the only
sound that was heard was the hum of mvrad
insects which like foolish men, were ending
in sport and merrimcnt their little day fife
Something very solemn was there in
this stiffness tora a Ion. time, the brother
and sister disturbed it not: :lcy were listen
iug-thcv heard, even as We have heard, ST
lcncc speaking in the inmo>t heart. Let the
nv it: but. aSSurclIv silence has her own pc
cuiar voice. The holy hear it. and it en-
chants them; the wiekcl hear it, and it appa'S
thcm-i:s voice. its words. are fashioned ac-
cor,ling to the heart OF him to whom it speaks
We have heard Silence.
When the marriage feast has past. when
the hric has gone, when the guests have de-
partcl. when the shout of mcrrimcnt has
ceased, as we csxcd alone upon the fragments
of the feast. as we stood alone in the loved
ones chamber, Silence spoke, and said, "Thi>
day a breach has been made upon this house:
a branch has lccn stripped off to grow.
perhaps. elsewhere, in glory Of its own. but
1t hath been torn from tho parent s'rn it hath
been cut from thoo'
When the wor>lippcrs have left their tenn
pie, when the last soft harmonics Of their an
tlcm> have died away. when the voice that
PRAYED and Taught, is hushcd. Silence spakc,
and said, Gin after ages. how many of those
who have Just departed hence, who swcllcl
tie chorus Of sacred song. who heard the
words Of uncn(inc life. shall sing in an an
cclc choir. shall be at peace"
| WIN NV CIo"HtH StrcttS nave UP'"'i''
lore anil still. when every cimmoring taper
has faded from our sirht. when we felt our
selves now really alone 20 keep Ion" viGlls
with the dead, have we not heard a rushing
in orr ears a. though a thousand wings were
hurrvi"c pasta throbbing as though a thou
sand pulses were merged in onc-thcn 81
lencc spakc. and said. Chime earthly lifc i
fleeing. tlccinr fast. Thy blood is spccdn.
on in haste to fulfil its destined course: as Sh,
: is, over whom thou watchcst. So shalt thou
: the watcher. swiftly be-" When VIC have no
o driven her away, how often has she rcmindc,
Is conscience of forgotten sin-tonchcd a chnr,
Of tenderness so fine, that, had any other thai
j. Silence been present, it would have been los
v lent Us passing thought ipcacc so exGu
: site, tha; in any other atmosphere it coal
not have lived.
= Thus has she spoken to some, but so tcrr
bic has she been to Others that they con!
not bear her even for the shortest time Th
Nrant has summoned forth ali his instrumcn,
of music to Danish her. The guilty hay
hearkcncd with intense carncstncss to tn
breathing of child slumbcrins peaceful
!! beside them, to dispcl her. Solitary me
J" have often spoken aloud to cast her off,
re terribly did she opprcss them.
".
rs Strange things did Silence whisper now
o' Herbert Coultenav: she seemed to prophcs
On to him, that, like the setting sun, the glory
a his day had gone. Strange things, also, ii
OF she say to his sister Edith, reminding her {
lis the past. telling her that the future, whic
es lay before hcr.waS stern and solemn chang
e' e' In that one hour, as they gaze on that scttir
's sun, she taught them both their destiny. He
q bert rose from his seat prepared to strive, al
Edith nervcd patiently to endure.
~ Herbert was a man, and it is the glory I
''' man to toll. Edith was woman, and it
the glory OF woman to endure.
~ The sun which Sct so clorously that eve
III ing, rose with equal glory on the morrow al
t. Herbert led forth his mother and his siSt
lie from their home. He had suddenly bccon
lis man, and SO no tear stood in his eve, as
W. rolled through the old archway ofthe mano
I'll house. 1t is true there was flood gu>hll
through his heart, but the service into whi
Is he had been impressed commands, that, altl
mt the heart may bleed within, no one must d
cover it from without