Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-11-21
literarp 5eIeftions.
RETRIBUTION.
BIZ 5. P. THORPE.

Christmas morning had come. u, now |
pure and bright everything looked clad
IN robe Of ice which cleaned in the
rising sun; each tree and herb sparkled
and flashed like she sheen of jewels, while
around each object fingered a hallow of
brightness second to none save that seen
on the Mount Of TRANSPORTATION. 1t was
beautiful to see the frost sparkle in the
morning air, and to watch the thin wave
of mist rising from the river and dissoly-
ing in the sunlight. Over the distant
town lay a huge cloud of smoke, dark
enough to drink up all the glorious light
but which added beauty and variety to
the scene. Here and there the blue
columns of smoke began to tower up
from the farm-house chimneys in East
vile, and happy hearts and smiling faces
welcomed in the Joyous day.
Eastville was country town; sturdy
farmers had settled it, and it had the
name Of thriving peaceable community.
IT'S. true there were not lofty church
spires, reaching higher perhaps than their
owners and builders viii ever get. There
were not marble, and granite and free
stone palaces, whereyi and ennui lounge
all day on sofas, and sail in the glare of
gas-light at night, or else gather around
the damning card or wine table. There
were not massive mercantile houses.
where the clang Of money rings and men
bow ia alteration before the earthly god.
There were not narrow streets and pub
lie parks, and block after block of private
and public buildings; but there was one
broad, ample highway, bordered with
noble naples and elms, whose branches
inteflaced over the street, forming far
more sublime and graceful arch than
those raised by victorious monarchs in
ancient times and pretty farm-houses,
built not for grandeur but for convenience
sake, stood at various distances, draped
with vines and flowers, showing that
Eastville was not deficient Sf refined
minds. And on this bright sunny mGrn-
ing, each mansion showed signs of life
but one this was an old rickety build
ing at the slope of the mountain, and was
inhabited by an old woman and her niece
The sun rose higher and great drop:
of water fell from their perehes to the
ground, and yet all was still there. NJ
smoke was seen, and the snow around The
door was as fresh and unsullied as wher
it fell the night previous. Merry sleigh
parties few past and the bells tinkled righ
merrily as the shout and laugh rose anG
foated away on the wind, The huge
locomotive thundered past and threw of
snow against the window pane, yet al
this failed to rouse life there.
Many year had this old woman livec
there alone. dependent on the people
around for her subsistence but nov
another inmate had been added.
Ellen Fenion had dared to love on
beneath her in station, one who possess
cd a rare thing honest heart, and
common thing--no fortune, and for thi
her cruel and unnatural father gave gol
10 the old demon woman who vowed t
guard the young girl till Arthur VIII
mot should have ran his race and he
love for him died. But can you crus
out pure love No! not till life is end
ed. All Eastville pitied her, yet the
could not abate The Judgment.
Well they knew the young and plia1
form Of the girl would resist the effec
of cold and hunger much longer than ht
aged keepers, and they Withheld their Gu
sOmary supply Of focd, but smuggIed som
day BY day 70 the frail being. One wee
from the time Ellen Fenton was carrie
there the cry Of murder rang high abo,
the din Of brothel in low street, ar
Arthur Willmot, heart broken and lon
ly, met his God.
But % our Christmas scene.
The sun had passed the zenith; IL
oelis from ihe Churches began to summC
thither crowds Of worshippers to COZ
menorass The Nativity. Dark masses
crowds cane rolling up from the sout
west, and chilling wind blew arounc
ieicles grew longer and longer, and fns
8 ly stopped, and there seemed a stran,
I contrast to the morn few hours befo,
!, The neighbOr, whose turn it was to vi,
the twain, had delayed it on account
? The bustle Of the day, but was now wen
( ing bis way up the mountain, consider
j by alarmed At not seeing signs of amin
i uon there. No footsteps but those
p'rdz we're seen, and no frost was co
Il saasa on ne window panes. A mou
4. - II