The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-11-06

utulsl IIUtu ucI uililu tiic icShiui iShSha
brance of his former harshness. lu i.
Another weary day and slecpless nigh
glidcd on thus, and the third evening
found her still at her spinning, with th'
same smile on her lip, and hope and tr,is
in her breast. l. "
is there nothing I can do to help you
my Alicer asked her mother, who
grieved to see her obliged to toll so hard
.Nothing-unless, indeed, you will tel
me some tale Of old times, as you used te
years ago, when was child ' .a
why, you are but, q child, now said
the widow, with a mournfhl smile; and
then inwardly comparing her lot will
that of other girls Of the same age, she
relapsed into train, of sad and silcn,
musings-Alice knew that they were sad
by the quivcring lip and contracted brow
Come mother DEAR said she, Il an
waiting to hear your story
| u And then the widow began to relate
some simple "Reminiscences Of by-gonc
times possessing a strange interest fol
that lonely girl, who knew so little OF
life, save in these homcly and transient
rcycalings; falling asleep in the midst,
Through wcarincss-for she ever grew
weak and exhausted as night came on
but presently awokc again half bcwildcr.
cd. ... l... .-I Hnyt ,...4
where was !, Alice asked the inya.
lid gently. ,au.ls.1.'.. n. s1 -
Asleep, dear mother, Iwas in hopes,
replied her companion, with smile.
'Oh! forgive me, could not help it,
But you will not set up very long.
NO, no good night .rIr
Good night, and God bless you, my
child! said the widow; and, a few min.
utes aftcrward, Alice was again the only
wakeful thing in that little cottage--if in
deed, she could be called 50 with her half
closed eyes and wandering thoughts, al
though, it is true, the busy fingers toiled
on mechanically at their task. The very
clock licked with n dull, dowsy sound,
and the perpetual whizzng OF her wheel
seemed almost lik lullaby.
Presently the girl began to sing in a
low voice, In order to keep herself awake
hymns as usual-low, plaintivc, and sooth.
ing; while the widow heard them in her
sleep, and dreamed ofheaven. But all
would not do so, end she arose at length
and walked NJ iselcssly up and down the
room, trying to shake off the drowsy
feeling that oppressed and weighed upon
her SO heavily. And then, opening the
easement, sat by it to catch the cool
breath of night upon her tcvcred brow,
and watch the myriad stars looking down
in their calm and silent beauty upon
earth. How naturally prayer comes at
such times rs these! Alice claspcd her
ladcd hands involuntarily, and although
no words were uttered, her heart prayed!
We have called her, in our love, pure
and innocent but she Of her holicr wis.
dom, knew that she was but weak and
crring creature, after all, and took cour-
age only from remembering that there is
One who careth even for the very flowers
of the field, and how much more for the
children of earth. But, gradually, as she
sat thus in the pale starlight the white
lids dropped over the heavy cyes-hcr
hands unclaspcd and sunk slowly and
listlcssly down; the weary and toil-worn
frame had found rest at last
And then the room seemed filed on a
sudden with n strange brightness, and
where poor Alice had sat crstwhilc, at
her wheel, is an angel with shining hair
and raiment white and radiant as sun
beam; while another bcLds gently over
the slumbcrcr-and, looking first at her
and then at her companion, smiles pity
insly; and the girl smiles, too, in her
sleep; and, as if still haunted by her fsv-
orite hymn times, sings again, very faint
IL and swcctly, until the sounds die lin.
Gering away, at length, upon the still
night. Fast and noisclcssly ply these
holy ones Mt their lovetax, while the
whizing of the busy wheel, accompanied
by a gentle rushing sound, MS Of wings,
alone disturbed the profound silence OF
that little chamber. And now the morn.
inr broke again over the earth; and,
their mission performed, they have sped
away to their bright home rejoicingly.
Alice awokc trembling from her long
and refreshing slumber, thinking how
she must work donbly hard to redeem
those lost hours. She drew her wheeI
toward her-she looked wildly at it, rub
bing her eyes to be sure she was not still
dreaming and then gazed around the
quiet apartment, where all remained jus,
as she had left it; but the task-th,
heavy task for which she had marked
out four more weary days and nights o.
toll, and feared, even then, not having
time enough to complete it-lay ready
finished before her. But, after q littl,
time, the girl ccasing to wonder, or re.
membcring to whom she had prayed on
the previous night, guided by an uncr.
ring instinct, kneit down and poured on,
her full heart in q gush of praycrfu
thanksgiving to Heaven! And We cal
almost fancy the angels standing a littl'
way off, smiling upon each other and OF
her, even as they had done bcfore,and re
ioicing in their own work. 4
We are told, in the legend, that from
that hour the widow and her good ant
pious child never knew want again. i
may be that Alicc's employer was please'
with her diligence and punctuality, o
the stern landlord shamed out OF hi
prejudiccs by the unlocked for appear
ance Of the glowing and happy face Q
his Youthful tenant, three days before tn
appointed time, with the money ready
and many grateful thanks besides fo
what she termed his kindness so long 70
it; or there was charm in that wei
woven by holy hands, which bronght Al
ice many more such tasks, with bette
paymcnt, and longer time to complet
them in. The only thing that makes u
sad in this simple and beautiful legend i