Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-12-21

uldlioH III WHICH, OtlSpeT Iliiu lllNeSISu I;iFBe
ly, fell to the ground and carried with i
nearly all the possessions of the good ole
man. 1t had been deemed so secure, thai
j, Casper Fontaiue stood bondsman for sovcra
parties involved; but for that he would still
have retained a competence.
! One little cottage, the only one left of hi.
money, for Casper was honorable to the
payment of the last farthing,l wa; neatly
but scantily furnished, and thther the aged
pair proceeded. They would not accept thu
many pecuniary gifts which many, who loved
and reyered them, were willing, nay anxious
to bestow on the "head of the town"
sour Father intends to draw us nearer
himself, by loosening and sweeping away all
earthly props" said Casper, while benign
smile played over his noble features. " ri,
well; let us bow in sweet submission to His
gracious will. We still have each other
eyes, we still have each other" echoed
his wife, on whose yet lovely face his pa
tient smile was reflected.
To toll with his own hands tho old man
now went His weekly wages and the lit
tie he had saved from the wreck of his prop
erty, enabled them to live frugallv, vet with
comfort
A winter day, with its wailing wind, had
passed into eternity, and left in its stead a
calm, glorious night, guarded by millions of
stars, that were almost mirrored in the
smooth and dazzling snow. The town lay
hushed as if in calm slumber, nesting amid
the mountains that lifted themselves in sol
emn grandeur towards heaven.
In the cottage of Casper Fontaine the
workbench stood before a cheerful fire, and
the great family Bible, that had descended
through many generations, lay with its huge
covers open, and the heavy clasps fallen up
on the clean linen beneath.
The old man had been reading in the holy
volume, as was his wont, before retiring, and
the good wife had laid by her knitting on
the stand beside them, and, with folded
hands, sat gazing into the face of her VEN
cradle partner ..s,
Thought was very busy with him; he was
reviewing the pages of the past, that some
times luminous, at others covered as with a
thick veil, were slowly unfolded before his
minds eye. There was no record of crime
there; SO the old mans face wore cheer
ful but subdued expression. Suddenly he
looked up. The calm, clear eye of his wife
met his own gaze, and he started from his
reverie.
"Lueia, my love, VIC are getting very old, !"
he said.
"That was what l was Just thinking of,
my husband, " she replied 'while I endeav-
ored to call back the feelings with which l
first heard you call me wife; but 1 found
them already in my bosom, and they have
been there ever since that day, increasing in
depth and strength as we draw nearer to the
grave. 1t tore my heart to part with our
lovely and only Casper, but it would have
broken it had been called to lay you in
the grave, my husband. How white your
locks arew she continued, fondly stroking
them back from his lofty yet mild brow :
'but to my mind, they are more beautiful,
curling in pale waves over your shoulders,
than when they fell over a ruddy check in
rnglets of jet"
"Those were happy days" murmured Cas-
per, partly to himself.
"Are we not happy now, my husband 2"
'Happy while we are tOgether-too hap
py," he whispered back, as the quick tear
sprang to his eyes. "There is only one thing
that mars my present enjoyment, and, l fear
in that l mistrust the goodness which has
led us from joy to joy"
EgYVbo+ - = Cocoon =,
'The fear that may be taken and you
may be left-you alone, in your old age,
with none nearer than friends and acquain-
tances."
Lucia was silent for a moment. 'Let US
put our trust in Godm she at length ex-
claimed. "If am left, Casper, it cannot be
long"
''And then we shall be reunited in eter-
nifty" whispered Casper.
ayes, to love on forever and ever"
"Shall we love each other more supreme
ly up yonder?o and in the old mans eyes
shone holy light.
"Next to God, I firmly believe; for are
not our souls in perfect unison!'
"Yes," said Casper, as he gently clasped
the hand Of his wife, "perfect, for ours was
a true marriage. Word, thought and deed
have grown in simihtude, till the soul of one
is as the echo to that of the other. Pain is
almost sweet when you are near to minister
to me, and pleasure 1 enjoy not to fullness
unless you are sharer. Yes, my love, we
are going to the grave together, and we shall
soon be joined to those precious pledges who
took their flight heayenward so long ago. [
regret not now neither, am sure-ean you?
that We laid them so early in the arms of
Death. They were not sinleSs; but oh, we
deemed them very near to perfection"
81 did not see till now, Casper, that your
eyes were heavier than usual" exclaimed
Lucia, after some moments of silence, dur
ing which they had sat hand in hand
"Have you felt i'll to-day"
II cannot evade your question, my wife.
In truth, the racking pains in my head,
which have suffered since morning, led me
to muse upon what l have told you"
"And I, too, have felt strange sensation
in my head all day; but l thought if l
spoke of it it might alarm you"
"For that very reason have kept silent
but we shall both be better, perhaps, after a
nights rest. Let us perform our family de-
votion and retire"
After prayers, the red Goals on the hearth
were carefully raked up and covered with
ashes, and in few moments the lights were
put out and the good old couple slept.
Day dawned again; earth smiled in its