Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-02-28

and called me his A" little wife" All, we were
both long since old enough to find that even
one man has I" many minds"!
Another, where the letters seemed to have
a will of their own and would not be made
graceful, keeps the memory of the stern
master who whisked me up over the desks by
one arm, and pumped me down between two
big boys-one of whom was chewing great
quid of tobacco and the other eating peanuts
because dared to steal bite from the
nice apple with which my mother hired me to
go to school that day. remember that my
mortified pride was very much soothed when
they filled both of my little apron pockets
with spruce gum and nuts and candy.
But there is one page in my copy-book that
is stained with tears. | was hayward child
and had repeatedly grieved my teacher by
little acts of disobedence, which were, never
theless, of hardly sufficient magnitude or I'M
portance to merit severe chastiscment, and
[ was not little irritated by her selecting
several passages from the Bible and calling
upon me to read them aloud. 1t was mode
of punishment altogether novel,-one which
none but the gentle, loving Lizzie Elmer would
have thought of, and it called the attention OF
the whole school to me- The publicity of the
reproof, as we'll as the reproof itself, and my
own conscience, biting the while, like a SER
pent, all were as much as | could we'll bear,
though by keeping very busy with my books
| tried hard, as great many older children
do, to stiAe the feelings that almost choked
me. My lessons for the day were all learned
in an Incredibly short time; but could not
be idle, for that dreadful remorse seemed
burning up my heart. I took out my copy
book as last resort. Every page where
there was a copy was closely filed. dared
not write between the ruled lines, and dared
not commence new page without a copy.
But something must be done so l put on
as brave d face as | could, and ventured to
60 to my teacher fora new copy.
1t was sultry afternoon; she seemed
overcome by the heat and the restlessness Of
the children she was very pale and said she
had violent headache, and her cough seemed
to exhaust her more than had ever noticed
before. She took my book and sitting dowr
by her table wrote, with a trembling hand
these words: Prepare to meet thy Got
Then drawing me to her, and resting ont
hand on my head, she talked to me long anC
earnestly about the wickedness of my heart
about dying, and about Heaven, where NJ
naughty children could ever 60 ;-but thougl
my heart felt and retained every thing she ut
tered, could never repeat word of it.
was completely subdued. [ went to my sea
in tears, and wept till the school closed. Whel
the pupils had all gone but myself, she cam
and told me that if | was sorry that my hear
was so wicked God would forgive me; AM
she looked so sweet and gentle as she babe m
not cry any more that l thought she was al
most an angel. Then kissing me she babe m
good highland we started to 60 home.
kneeled down by the fence and watched he
walking very slowly till she was hid fror
sight.
That night 1 dreamed she was beautiful
angel with large golden wings, and that sh
came and sat by my bedside and sang tn
songs that angels sing, and played upon
great harp Of gold all set with jewels. TIL
next day word went round that there woul
be no school, for Hiss Lizzie was sick.
In a few days she sent for me to 60 and Sc
her. She was very weak and feeble an
could talk but little, but she wore that sam
gentle angelic look told her what l ha
~ dreamed. She smiled sweetly, and said ST
was going to die, and wished me to be one
six little pall.bearers.
She died Her funeral services were he
in the school.house where she had worn o,
:. her last strength. The minister spoke from
1 text she had selected Prepare TO meet tn
God, and they sang the beautiful hymn
) "Unveil thy BOSOM faithful tomb