Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-11-27


her place by the sick bed, Marian stood
BY the door with hand upon the latch,
ready to let him in at moments warn
ing. An hour passed--it was noon the
hand Of the clock fell to two-three-.
four-and still Erfurt did not come
Marian dared not open the door, though
all was still, and though it had grown
dark in the house she hesitaied to light
a candle.
Mother" said Marie at length, ~what
can be the matter with Albert? He
breathes very hard"
Marian flew to kindlea light. "Have
/ I forgotten thee in my fears, dear child p
said she halt to herself, as bending over
the bed with pale and anxious inquiry.
He was sleeping heavily, and she could
not wake him. Everything that moth
er's heart could think of was done, but
he gradually sank away, and at last,
opening his eyes and smiling, he died
with a gentle tremor in all his limbs. 1t
was no time for loud grief Your
brother is dead, Marie" said Marian at
length in a calm voice, and we do uol
know where father and old Erfurt may
be, Do not cry, dear child. God vii
still take care Of US"
Quietly restraining her sorrow for the
daughters sake, Marian lifted the deao
child from his little bed and placed hin
in her own, as if she were laying hin
down in natural sleep. Marie assisted
and when all was done her mother kisse,
her gently, saying, Thou wouldst bet
ter 60 to bed, my child but stay, hoy
pale thou art. Hast eaten nothing al
day? This must not be, or thou, to,
wilt be sick"
: With breaking heart, yet outward
l. composed, Marian prepared a simpl
t evening meal Marie, poor child hun
e CRY with her long days fast, ate heart
u IL in spite of her tears, and Marian
= knowing that all depended on her keeT
y ing strong and well, forced herself {
E take 4 little tea and a bit of bread-sh
/ could eat nothing more. Not a word Wa
- spoken Marie sat wondering and awe
q and the mothers heart was 80 overAoy
q ing with grief that she could not tru
d herself to speak. Soon afterwards Nj
'e rian put her daughter to bed, and the
" took her solitary scat by the fire, for s.
r found it impossible to lie down. II
ST wind had f-arfully increased during ii
ut day. and now seemed to be at IFS higI
Il. The little cottage groaned and creak'
E in all it, joints, the window, shook, al
A the fine grains Of snow sifted in und
g the door, making q little drift there.
Is Fortunately there was a good supply
r fuel in the house, and Marian, ajm'
lie, mechanically. keep the fire well heap,
cA The rush and crackle and roar OF I
#, flames, were q sortot comfortable spec
to to her in her sorrow and loneliness.
III Now and ihen she would rise and be
r with lighted Limp over her sieepi
III daughter, or take signing iooa al
nd dead child. Then resuming her seat
IS the fire, Sue would wonder where iief
he was, and whether he would come
By next day; and she prayed, inandibIy'
ST. his safety.
Overwearied, she fell into h"Il do
,ed towards morning. Suddenly she
yer awakened by a sound which she co
not recolIect : it only lelt a strange
ler. horrid impression, Ike the terrors OF
nightmare. The wind had gone do
the Feeling that some one had called,
iust spranc towards The door, but just as
an fingers grasped the latch, that sound a.
-mote her heart and sent the cold bI
rts from her checks. She listened.
re was silent. Then came a hideous
prolonged sell, close by, and she e