Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-08-14

lis dripping brown hair, his closed eyes
md death-white face.
In an instant he was held close to his
5ather's crying heart. Arthur pressed
up to wipe the water from his face, to
wiring it from the tangled hair, ard drop
kisses on the cold brow, while his soul
was wailing its cry of "Iirrie, o little
dead brother, poor Hirrie.'
"Authur," said Mr.. Denison at length |
in hoarse whisper, ''will you 60 on be-
fore us and tell your poor mother of this.
Tell it gently, and not too suddenly; do
you think you can p
"Yes father, I'll go" and with another
kiss on the stifened hands, Arthur was
gone.
As soon as Mr.. Denison had left home
to search for Hirrie, his wife had knelt
by the window to watch for his return.
Not many minutes passed when she heard
kindly voice saying
"Mrs. Denison may I come and watch
with you ?'
"Yes indeed Mrs. Lane, I am very
thankful to have you here; but how
could you brave this storm"
"Why Tlltell you how it was" re-
piled Mrs. Lane "When Mr.. Denison
called for my husband and I found what
was the trouble, said right of, now if
that was my Walter lost, how lonely l
should be till he came back to me. So l
told Betsey to take good care of Walter,
and I'd come and stay with you. And as
fort the rain l did not mind it at all, it seems
to be drying away now."
"Yes it has nearly ceased raining, but
the lightning still darts from the clouds,
and every moment as look at it 1 think
what Hirrie said to me in just such a
storm as this one week ago. The light,
ming was flashing in quavering lines from
lmountain to mountain, when he pointed
up to it saying "Mother, isn't that Goo
a0riting soith his finger on the sky ?"
couldn't say no, when he turned to m,
his wondrous earnest eyes so as th'
heavy rumbling thunder followed asked
What's that Hirrie p"
al think it's Gods voice telling u
what he has written he answered wit
reverence and awe. And what has h
l written my son I asked. 4 don't knov
what it sounds like to you, mother, but
me it seems to say, be good child littl
Hirrie, so you may come up TO live wit
Jesus"
All the while as Mrs. Denison spok
II Mrs. Lane sat with her kind attenti1
. face upturned and her little hand wavir
u to and fro, as if she were waving ava
an undefnable fear.
By this time the clouds had parted Ill
~ great webs of darkness rolling of to Il
- north, and the moon shone upon the sh
dy road of Daisydell, while now and th,
' through the breaks in the trees the W
% men saw CLEAN of lantern light.
sIsn't there some one running iowa
., the house ?" asked Mrs. Denison.
- eyes" answered Mrs. Lane, nc
- cheerfully, "and he runneth ike 0
~ bearing good tidings."
''No, no." returned her companion
-. the figure approached nearer, sit is a
:. thur, and if he brought good news, the
Ie' would have been wave of his hat, an(
Joyous shout before this"
rts "Mother p there was thrill of tend
.ok ness in the word as it wound up to the
through the lattice.
"Where is Hirrie, Arthur have J
er- found him 2"
''Mother he went down the old roa
aid There was mighty struggle to sp'
ouo these words calmly the mother co
" tell that, but she could not see in
shadow of the doorway, how the p
sni- boys eyes were filed with despair;
oL his arms were folded tightly across
- breast as if to bind down the terr
Il heart burden.
re- "He went down the old road-Aut
ray. and what-and what then-the riv
~ Mother, oh mother twas at
river that We"
.eps II felt it, knew it oh, Hirrie p
ard the poor mother knelt with arms sire
the ed out in the moonlight, with a soul g
ou out to the Great Father for strength.
Mrs. Denison watched the men, as
larA dim midnight funeral they wound
re it the garden gate. She took Hirrie in
rie's arms, laid him on the little white dra
ore ced ,.buttoned about him the newly fin
ed coat, parted back the dark hair,
mes then drew up the winding sheet, wit
,rm- feeling that it was like shutting out
here sunshine from their home. And
,ood morning stars heard the wailing from
'0 pale hps-"O my God, my God
eaeh thy waves and thy pillows are gone
me !"
int" Two days went by, and there
acot another little grave in Daisydell chr
yard. And many time with hu
L aLn heart, have / parted away the snow