Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-10-16

8 =.
er's loving bosom!
Many times after that night Moses
Grant, hard, stern man as he was, stole
into his grandchild's room and watched
her as she slept, thinking tender, soften
ed thoughts of her dead young mother
always q girl, young and fair, in the
old mans memory-and bitter, seornful,
murderous thoughts, which, in nature
less restrained by rules of outward holi-
ness, would have shaped themselves into
curses on that Gilbert Trumbull. hated
vita an ,,,afisHgiving. unresting hatred all
these years.
1t needs not to be told with what cease
less, caressing tenderness Mary Grant
loved her grandchild; and yet, woman
like, Elinor, dear as both were to her,
loved most the old man, whose calm re-
iserve seemed kindred with her own quiet,
deep, inherited nature. Going up the
hill to- church on this first morning of
the new pastors ministry, she walked BY
I her grandfather's side, feeling with most
tender sympathy the trial it would be to
him to see a new face in the old pulpit.
When the hymn was sung that morn
ing, Walter Fairfield, sitting back in his
pull pit, screened by the high desk, lean
ing his head on his hands, was striving
to compose his thoughts for his first ser
mon among his first parishioners.
He heard, as one in dream, above
and apart from all other tones, one clear,
; rich, soprano voice, flooding the old-fash-
ioned church with its melody. 1t strength
ened him bore up his soul to the very
gates of heaven; and yet he scarcely
: thought, whether the voice were mortal
| or angelic. He was contented to accept
, unquestioningIy, the help it brought
Elinor Trumbull little knew what infu-
: ence her singing had on the sermon which
followed.
: 1t was such a discourse as had never
| before electrified the simple villagers Of
{ Mayfeld-full of earnest thought, glow
ing with imagery, uttered with an elo-
4 quence to which they were strangers
t To Elinor Trumbull it was revelation
: Full of sound religious truth though i
q was, IFS unwonted grace of diction car
e ried her thoughts out-out from the
S quiet village among the mountains, into
). the world where such polish must have
n been acquired-the gay, fascinating, fai
d off world, beaming upon her fancy il
5 such wondrous hues. With her cleal
r. eyes fixed on the speaker, or now anC
then vailed modestly under their fringins
: lashes, such unquiet, tumultuous Thoughts
# we're surging through her heart. thought
o of the wonders of nature and the wond
d ers of art-brave men and beautiful wo
1t men, and full strong existence, taskini
l. all her capacities, quickening every pulls
y of her being, on which she longed TO en-
1t ter; going out from the peace, tn
e ouiet. the shadows of the mountains, in
= to the broad plain, where were bugIe
e and trumpets calling strong souls onwar
is to victory in the wonderful battle G
life.
D. The young clergyman, absorbed in hi
to subject, did not perceive her breathIes
in interest; did not even consciously Sc
IN her face, 50 remarkable among all other
c, there for its patrician beauty; but yet h
le carried away with him that day con
ception of loveliness more perfect tha
a had ever dawned on him before-a swee
in face which seemed to smile on him fror
to the clauds, to meet him at every poir
er Of vision.
When the services were over, Waite
RI Fairfield walked, like one oyertaskc
es and weary, quietly out of the churcl
e. and took the path leading through ii
es field to his simple parsonage. A kinC
ID ", cordial smile was on his face, but
ID ssoke to 10 one. The congregation a
Fe lowed him to pass in respectful silenc
ne not ilI-pleased with the opportunity
7d discussing among themselves the wonc
ri erfuI sermon to which they had listene,
a. Elinor TrumbuIl was faint and weak
The unwonted excitement had been tc
:. much for her delicate organization, ant
telling her grandparents that she W;
= not well, she stole quietly away an
T. weEt home. 20
!, Moses Grant came from church in ii
= afternoon, disposed to say bat little
;, the young clergyman. He had spoke
- with him after church-he would Wis
"A them that week--it seemed that Il
. Spirit Of the Lord was with him, b
ed they must wait and see.
" It was Wednesday afternoon whe
Elinor Trumbull, busy among the star
N ef house plants which we're her chi