The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-01-24

hdppy nome. Ills father had been dead now
seven years; his brother Carl, with whom
since that event he had held no communica-
lion whatever. had been absent from ENGLAND
upwards OF five; and his bachelor friends
had been drificd hitier and ththrr, until,
h"vond his tire>ihe Robin had no very strong
interest remaining.
By this tiresi,lc, he. his wife and children,
were spending a cheerful Christmas eve. 1t
was stormy ou' of doors the wind and the
ram w"rr holding high holiday among the
chimney tops and church >tceples; and there
was Just that sound of hopeless drenchcl
discomfort IN the streets that made the crack
I'm" fire LOOK the very shrine of household
ease and happiness. Robin had the yonny-
est boy on hi> knee. taking :rpoSe after four
and twenty journeys to Bamburv Gross and
back: the eldest had retired into private life
under the liable to enjoy At peace a new pic
;urt-hook; and master Frank was living on
Tie hcar:h rnr with his shoe .olr> in the air
>r'tin. ont Robinson Crusoe puzzle: Alice
had idle fingers for once. and >orly reflective
eyes. which looked as if they were seeing
pictures IN the fire-;,irfures. perhaps of a
"rea; future for her children. and a calm au-
tumn time for Robin and herself, after her
workin" season was past and gone.
Al last she spoke:
So Carl has come hack to England.
wish We were on good terms. Robin: it l.
unrhri>tlan TO quarrel for wears
:" IT Is Alice. What made YOU speak of
him inst now :"
:" was thinking o: him. poor fellow. !
IA l.,, a 4
or two, We should DO HIM world Of co,d.-
lie has never thoroughly got ov~r his father ;
death"
How >t:an"" our minds >hsuld touch the
same point. Tha: was Just what WAS say
in. TO myself. l.i>trn-what Is that :"
II was long IRREGULAR knocking at the
stree door; Ro.,in looked up u; his startled!
wife. and said
1t ran be notoly but Carl
II was Carl. H. cam. rronir- in dszzleh
by the change from dark ness IN the streets Ia
the glowing brilian,e o: the parlor Rubl..
gra>i,rd h:m heartily by the hand and ha,l,.
hlm welcome. Carl stood for a minute look
ing from one ti-ure to the other with A be-
wIiarred air. moving his han unea>iiv over
hlS tacc is If TO clear awav some mist. Ills
His appearance was De ertrd in the xtrenr
clothing w.> tr-nch-l. his heavy cloak
iltera ~ r!in.inH TO him with the wet. and
his hair lv dahn,.i in grey streak, u,3or his
forehead. HIS face WAS wnite aI.,! worn. a.
II he had risen from the bed OF tedious ant.
painful disease: his voice. when he spoke IN
answer 10 his :rnthcr's orrriiI.. came up our
OF h'> rh">t. hollow aui cr.ain. Ike tn.
voice OF a maN WHO has k,It lonr and Ell
forced >lienr"- Alice ma l.. hin, 1T down In
her own .,r
~" have come Of a i,urney. Carl, and
AZ lH'r worn "n'; You mus; no, try To IA K
yc'. >alI she. lie looked into her face. To-,
a: lev seconds, aDG then a>kcl:
Nht have ,og ru- vour hair away from
Yonr ace lou do not look ike Yourself
IA" long cnl.s Were rrettirr-fl, cu,l> wer,
.rrttIcr. Robin. were tin, rot? I->. -rra
dra! rrritler." And folding his hand, on.
over the other he went on repeating. :" V.
rrcttirr, great deal prett:er," Ike one i'll d
dream
Eotr seemed not 10 observe hi> OLD man.
Nor. and after little whil- Car. In wa;rhin-
.ti,r a She moved about the tea-tailc lc
covered himself somewhat
he sad. ,nure roilc,t.dv: | have tnuyht :,
place III Yorkshire. an! am gong 10 settle
DOWN there amd led the lie of a Young gen
'"nan-a country gentleman and he
inu"hrd.
Ihat will he very nee. Carl: Won must
70" SEX @: wandering bv this tine. are Won
not :" asked Alice
Sex OF nv !l:c->i,-k of everything -
lou must cumr-ali of v0u-and keep me
company the NOR" the :nrrrier The>r are
v"ur i"v>. Ro!un: :" Th, three children had
dropped rieir several .mplU,mcnt> on the
entrance q! their >'raf - uncle. and how
stooh At "A respectable distance watching him
with intense curiosity. VI his mention OF
them Frank drew 4 step or two nearer, tirlt-
" cra>rln. the key OF his ,uzz, the pieces
"f which were >'rcwn on the hearth rug.
lave Won been in ,!,scr: island. Uncle
Carl. :: he asked. >lurtllv.
"lr> | have lived in one all nv life"
Who do vcu think Frank is like in The
:acc. Carl :" said his mother. 10 stop the
, hoyS questions. whirh he was evidently 60
me to PROFOUND with .rra: rarncstness. Gail
looked at him few seconds, then averted
his ewes TO the fire. and said he could 10, tell
We think him very like his grandfather
don't YOU see the resemblance: Look a.
"ain, persisted Alice. la,irw her hand al
! fr''!"na'"lv on the bu. il. aj. and RAISING
thc hair from Lis forehead which was of no
blr expan>e. Carl glanced up reevi>hlv :;
Il see no likeness at all. une<s it be to
volt: Is TO YOU, h" r, piled, aud turned his
head.
nrle Carl, were there any savage beasts
IN the island YOU have come from Z" demsEd-
ed frank. COM" up 10 his chair.
, savage beasts IN rlentv-there are moth
ING else. IN !a''r. where live
And We're ,ou alone, uncle 2"
NO"
This mono>,llahle was calculated in so
fierce tone that the lad was glad to draw
tack to his mother. and contemplate his &C.
centric relative at "A distance. After a pause
of several minutes Robin asked his brother
from what piarc he had travelled last From
Rome, was the reply it Is fine CITY but
dead-dvad and du. up again
The way in which Carl Branston enunciat-
cd his words was of,ke >irangcst. If YOU could
imagine mechanical imitation of the human
voice you would have it each sentence came
ont sharply. distinctly. but lsronnect.t3ly. as
1t the speaker were groping in the dark for
Ideas or memories which he ronld scize. or
which having seized. he could not Il, will,
words enough. Robins nature was no, 10 r..
member wrongs, or he might have taken a
cold satisfaction In the view of his bro,her's
misery; instead ne REGARDED him With ,h.
deepest commisrra'ion. and Alice. who had
never loved him, could scarcely refrain from
tears Gar! said. ''your heart was always
>"'t' Alice: bat do not waste your svm,a'hv
on me. lon only see a man WHO has no,
slept In a bed for week. Give me son. Ia