Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-06-13

b ing parent Offices. There was the vi1ow
whom he had visited in her afIlicrion: there
the orphans. now grown TO be THRIVING mon and
women, fathers and mothers, whom he had vic.
iied in prison; there were sometime enomies
converted 10 friends by his poace-nakinp inter.
vontion there was the young man reclaimed
by his wise counsel and steady friendship, for
the good colonel had "skepic SMILE for
what others deemed hopeless depravlty, and be-
lieved
-,---''some pulse Of good must live
Within human nature.n
And ibere were children with wet eyes, for the
rare old man who had always a smile for their
Joys, and tear for their troubles and one. I
remember, as her mother lifted her I'D for the
last look whispered, "Oh, he is too good a man
TO bury in the ground 20
And there, IN the midst of this sad company,
and with face quite as sad as his neiehbors'
stood Lyman Barton. A little urchin, a par
iicular friend OF the old colonel's. and of mine
too who stood beside me, pulled my ear down
to his lips, and turning his flashing eye upon
Barton, whispered:
"Ought he not TO he ashamed of bimself,''
'Why, Hal. whyl"
"He is making believe to cry, Just like
crocodile! Ecey JOdy says he has written to
old Jackson already to be made postmaster.
wish he was in the colonel's place"
'You could not wish him in better. nv
DEAR
"Oh, did not mean that! did not mean
that"'
lie would have proceeded but shook nv
head, and put an end TO the explanation he was
eager 10 make.
The funeral was over, The cold wind was
bowling without, the sign of the mourners alone
was heard, where few DAYS before all had
been cheerfulness and preparation for the hap.
piest event of human life. Paulina had LIGHT.
ed small lamp, and placed it in The farther
part Of the room, for there seemed something
obirusive even in the cheerfuness of LIGHT.
She was seated on low chair beside the old
lady. The passiveness of grief was peculiarly
unsnI'ed TO her active and happy nature; and,
as she sat as if she were paralyzed, not even
needing the ColOnels favoriie cat, who Jumped
into her lap, and purred, and looked IN for lis
accustomed caress, one could hardly believe
she was the same girl who was ever on the
wing, laughing and singing from morning ill
night. Poor Lloyd too. who had so gently ac-
quiesced in the evils of his lot who had bent
like the reed before the winds of adyersiiy. suf-
fered now as those only do who resist while
they sulier. Perhaps it was not in human ma
ture not to mingle the disappointment of the
lover with the grief of the son, and, while he
was weeping his loss, 10 ponder over some Of
his fathers last words. "Of course, nv chill.
dren," he had said, "you will dismiss all
thoughts OF marrlage-for the present, mean.
1t will be all, am afraid more, than yon can
do, Lloyd, when the post-office and pension are
eohe' 10 get bread Tor your mother. liz you
marry, you can't tell how many claims there
may be upon you. But don't be discouraged
my children; cast your care upon the Lord
something may turn wait-blessed are
they who wait in faith''
Both promised to wait, and both, as they
now revolved their promise, religously resoy
ed to abide by it, cost what it might.
Their painful mediaiions were interrupted
by a knock at the outer door, and Loyd admit
ted Major Perrit, one of his neiehbors. and one
OF those everlasting meddlers in others affairs.
who, II certain proverb were literal, mus,
have had as many fingers as Argus had ewes.
~ am sorry for your aflliction, ma a'am,"
said he shaking Mrs. Barnard's extended hand.
while SORT of simpering smile ylayed abou,
his mouth. in spite of the appropriate solemni-
iy he had endeavored TO assume; '.don't 90 GU,
Miss Paulna what have 10 communicate is
interesting to you, as well as to the widow and
son Of the deceased"
"Some other time, Sir" interposed Lloyd,
whose face did not conceal how much he was
annoyed by the officiousness and bustling man.
ner Of his visitor.
Excuse me, Lloyd; am older than you.
and ought to be little wiser; we must take
time by the fore-lock others are up and doing
why should we not be %
Lloyd now comprehended the Majors busi
ness, and, panied and somewhat shocked, he
turned away; but, remembering the intention
was kind, though the mode was coarse, he
smolhered his disgust, and forced himself to
say:
1--WE are obliged to you, Major Perrit, but
l am not in state of mind to attend to any bus
mess this evening""
"Oh, know you have feelings, Lloyd hut
you must not be more nice than wise. They
must not get the star, Of US. always told nv
wife 1t would be so, and now she sees | was
right. tell you, Lloyd, in confidence, your
honored father was not cold before Lyman Bar
ton was handing round his petition for the of:
ice." 1t was not in human nature for the old
lady TO suppress an ahem at this exact fulfill
ment of her prediction TO the poor colonel
.'Barton's petition" continued Perrit, "will
go on to Washington in the mail tomorrow,
and ours must go with IL here it is." He
took the paper from his pocket, and opening it, |
showed long list OF names. "a heavy list ;"
he added, "but every one Of them wings; we
did not ask Jackson man there would have
been no use, YOU know; Lyman Barton leads
them all by the nose"
Here Perrit was interrupted by knock at
the entry door. A packet addressed 10 Loyd
was handed 10 him. Pcrrit glanced al the su-
and exclaimed. ''rhis is too much,
by George He has had the impudence 10 send
you the petition''
81 could not have believed this of him.
thought Lloyd. as he broke the seal for he,
fnth al Iii IN