The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-04-26
n the marble, and wrote advising you of the

~ never received your letter; but oh
now my heart thanks you for the kindness ~
responded the Colonel, again bursting into
| tears.
As you did not answer nv communication,
dld not allude to the subject when We met
at Washington, supposing it might be disa-
sreeable to your feelings" apoloyized the
Judge.
! But what became Of their child 2" asked
the Carolinlan, in voice of intensity.
The people near the hut where thev died
fhonSht that 1t, too, had persisted with the
fever few days previously but was una
be to Obtain anv certain intelligence Of the
fact, although YOU NAV we'll imagine that |
made every possible inquiry
! WAS it hov =" sobbed the Colo,.,
$50 they told me, as matter of opinion
vet without positive assurance ON the sub.
irct"
Where do they sleep?" gaspcd the faith
er, weeping large tears. one by one, like the
first Ct thunder shower.
''ln the old Catholic cemetery, near the
eastern gate. You see their names from the
en'rance. on a small pyramid o. white mar
''\n, said the Colonel, in a hollow whis-
per, Il would visit the beloved dust of nv in
lnred daughter alone"
''llow long will YOU remain in the CITY ."
Il know not !: perhaps while | remain on
earth have sold out everything. and am
the miserable owner of a half a million
more unfortunate, more utterly wretched
and hopeless, than the poorest rag picker that
lives III the gutter"
Then come and make vour home with us.
and We will docvrrv thinr that we can to
cheer y"nr sorrow: for nv family. too. have
suffered bereavement. and can tc. for the
ai!ii-tlor> of others" urged the judge, in
tones 0t The tru",t Svmpathv
IL am not ungratetuI for vour kind re-
quest. answered the Colonel. mournfnIly
''hut NV home must hcncrforth I've in the SOL
itndc of my own chamber. where shall al
WAYS hc happy to receive Won. As for nv
self. shall never more mlngle with anv sort
of SocIrtv."
-At that moment Youthful feminine voice
was heard singing. near the door, the word.
OF rnhe song. IN tones OF stranSc.t and
sweetest melody and pathos ever uttered hv
human organs
Here are flower. for the beautiful. flower. for ,c
brave
Flowers for the bridal and flowers for the bier:
Her" are flowers ior ,lle alter and flowers for the
Come, Who will buy lily flowers. tke flares: oi.lc
| cl!!!el them in :tc morning beneath The hre L
oi ,.ay.
When he ~iher .cws were falling in ,rauv a
>hiu'u. tear:
Here are flowers TOR The glonv and flo xers for m,
gay
Come. VIII" will buy my ,.owcy.. the faircs; OF the
Colonel M"uton started. with feelings Of
ind'>rrIbahic agitation. As the notes. Wild and
hewiid~ring as those of a nightingale rung
throuth his brain. The voice with 1t. rich.
thr'i.tng. bird-likr, in,mt ,hlr music, p"s>cs-
scd \ touch OF hc>re..hiny sadness tha, !in.-r-
ed IN the soul, and haunted the listeners
heart a the echoes of funeral bell. or the
totes tha. sometimes come in the deep az
cents OF love and sorrow.
Immediately the fem ,lc singer entered the
public saloon. with LARGE basket Of radiant
dcwy flowers upon her arms and the Caro-
vision of her beauty than hr bad previously
experienced from the silver accents OF that
enchanting tongue" She WAS a >liuht fairy
formed vounH Hirl. or rather child. ONLY in
her fifteenth summer, with meek, pale
face. muSing and melancholy. and large mys
ticcve> %: the brightest heavenly bu". bur
sad and ihonGhttui had almost said saint
like. III the purity of their expression. Her
long. yellow hair. cleaning with the lu>ter of
Golden threads, or Ike tissue Of woven sun
beams. flowed around her graceful neck and
shoulders in shining waves. and gave her tn,
appearance OF some divine picture. the rep
r,.scn,aion oi an angel, or other e,heria! h"
ing.
"IIow beautiful how celestial :" murmur
ed the Colonel.
III is Marie Merlin. the pretty flower girl,
sad the Judge.
"Ilow strange that she should warIer a
bout the streets. and venture into such I'M
proper l,Ia,r> as this. with all those ma,chlr>
charms. have never seen ANYTHING lik,
her beauty save in onc-and indeed. tha
a strongly rcScmbled it" sighed the Caroini
u "lt is thus she supports an aged mother
r aud some worthless brothers and sisters" re
= turned the Judge: "althouSh she is herself
the pcr>onation of all virtue and goolnc>.
" in her present occupation she must fall a
= last :"
) As he spoke Marie glidcd with unSpcak
r able grace into the center of the hall. an
u resting her fragrant basket on stand o
d mottrd marble, held up in each hand ma:
d nliirrnt bouquet, and repeated with still viii,
er pathos and tervor. her musical song in I.
=. vor of her blooming merchandise. Ever
II bcholdcr seemed equally a>toni>hrd, as We
r bv her fascinating beauty as bv the bewilIe
v in! sweetness OF her voice. so that YOU mi.
y have heard the dropping of pin on the tlo'
e when she iterard. with tones of unutterab
l. sadness. the closing line
Come. who will buy my flowers, the farest of Il
e YEAR:
S The words sounded like TIE wall of sou
breaking heart, the imploring eye Of son
q infinite sorrow, or the chaunt of an angel
Is the portals OF Paradise.
lr But Immediately the wicked spirit of Il
~ gcnteel loafers and gamblers broke loo
from the spell of holy enchantment whit
b. had held them at first, and they swarmed
r. round her. With urseemly iests and deccitf
d. eulogies Of her marvellous beauty.
ii She shraak from them with bushes
'e maiden mo'lesty, and seizing her burden {
perfumes and coOrs. turned to the Judge al
ne Colonel with eager inquiry-"1on't YOU va
some Of my flowers for your children"
# "les, my dear child, will buy them all
FL answered the Carolnian, with streamil
lis eyes. "IIow much are they WORTH"
id Five dollars" she replied, with lo'
H. of mingled delight and wonder.
IN Here, | will give you ten" be said, pr
senting her agold eagle.
n .Thank YOU. sir" she faltered. with ct