The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-05-23

lowers. or forty more foolish notions that
his head is full of: but let him work half as
hard picking potatoes or pulling weeds, and.
Oh dear: he is full of aches and pains 1t
isn't because want to get the work out of
him so much. doctor. as because | want to
yet his childish notions out of him. and make
him understand that he has got to toe the
mark"
NV dear sir" said the doctor. "do YOU
put Your Young animals to hard labor before
they are half grown? DO Ven coop up your
lambs to prevent their innocent gambols =
I'm inclined to think. sir. that You must work
easy with Your boy-raiher let him have his |
own course for the present. and l hope he
will come out right. Come out right. did |
say? presume he is right now. Children |
arc children, rot pieces of Perfection. If
James has health. think the day is not far
distant, that you will be justly proud of
him."
For some time nothing occurred to cause
any unpleasant feelings between James and
his father. The boy. if not in radiant health
was full of buoyancy and hope as the April
SUNS and showers brought freshness and
beauty to the fields and woods. Sympathy.
that "charm of human life" and some other
proofs of affection on the part of the father.
had Obliterated from James's mind all the
petty discords of the past. May. with its
changing skies. had come. and Mr.. H., had
arranged his business for leaving home for
day or more The morning was bright and
beautiful. and as James swung open the gate
for his father to pass out. his eve met his
fathers look. which he perceived beamed UNI
usually kindly upon him.
Now dear don't forget the chores, espc-
cially about the cattle's breaking through /
may buy YOU present. Goodbye" and the
squire drove on
How did the boys heart thrill with happi-
in low tonc-"dcar didn't use to mind
it when mother said so. but father called me
dear we'll Ill do everything just as he told
ME. and more too"
The cattle were in an enclosure adjoining
Nh orchard of valuable Young fruit trees. and
the dividing fence was now so insecure that
without doubt they would break over the
same in their cagcrncss for a bite of the fresh
grass Just appearing from beneath the brown
covering. James faithfully performed his
trust till the shadows began to lengthen lit
tie in the afternoon of the second day. He
had been reclining at full length on the
ground reading from a volume of Miss Lam
dons poems as he turned over the leaves of
the book he was particular to note those pas
sagcs marked by his mothers hand. One Of
these marked passages read -
II do love violets;
They tell the history of woman's love.
Lead = sweet life Of perfume dew and light,
And if they perish. perish with sigh,
Delicious that life.
Attracted by the music of Il tiny waterfall
he now lay down his book and wandered
down to the meadow. and soon the cattle
were entirely forgotten as with JOY unspeak
able, he found Il little tuft of yiolets fully
blown. No sooner seen than he ran with all
possible speed for his spade. and after some
little effort i'll which he was very careful not
to break or disturb the roots. he bore it a
short distance on the spade with feelings of
JOY and triumph.
At this moment Mr.. II. made his appear
ancc to find his cattle running wild through
he orchard. Several fthc most thrifty trees
we're broken at tn" roots. and others more or
css injured. Accompanied by his brother
n-law-wc had almost said "cvil genius,
The cattle were Immediately driven away
rom the nursery.
"Whcrcs James ," sid he. in a voice OF
niger as he swung open the house door.
The last the house keeper had seen of him
Ne was lying upon the ground, Watching the
,attle and reading a book.
Nv ell exclaimed Mr. tO the father eff
YOU don't give him something to quicken his
memory, this time You'll miss it. tell you.
when talk does no good. try something else:
you've spared the rod long enough-it's aw
full aggravating-this is
At this moment james turned corner and
stood before them The squire. whose wrath
waxed stronger. seized the book which lay at
his feet, and without looking at it, flung it at
James head. His cap fell from his head.
and he dropt the tuft of violets. and the father
trod upon and crushed them in his rage.
James wiped the heavy drops of moisture
from his brow, and attempted to speak.
Don't YOU open your month to me. sirbut
walk into the house, and Ill settle with YOU
by-and-byc."
James obcvcd. and as the breath came
thick and choking. he seated himself by all
open window in his chamber How long he
remained here with current of air blowing
upon his aching brow is uncertain. At tea
time the house-keeper was babe to carry
some supper to him. This she did. but he
declined eating, saying that "he didn't feel
WELL
don't feel well ~ said the father, 81
shouldn't think he would feel we'll"
Mr.. Hyde was now called out to a neigh
boris on business, and did not return till 4
late hour.
When he entered the chamber, what was
his terror as he beheld his son seated upright
in bed, his arms thrown wildly over his head
as he whispered in his delirium, with his eyes
sparkling, and lips dry and parchcd with the
burning fever.
'Niolets, violets, -father-to put on moth
er's grave; YES. mother -mother's and mine;
don't let father touch thcm-O, father
crushed them-wont help me. no, father
wont help me to put them OH the gravc-wa-
ter-water-fo me, and for the violets on
mothers grave: don't. don't, father stamp
on them so, twill hurt mother and me-
Pale and haggard. the latter reused the
house-keeper and senthcr more by signs than
words for Mrs Winter The brother-in-law
was dispatched fora physician.
Ere the mornings gray light had streaked
the cas-, the physician stood with his fingers
on the pulse. and Mrs. Winters hand rested
on the burning brow of the sufferer.
But we care not to linger among the dark
shadows which for more than week hung
around that sick chamber. On the first dav
Of sunny June. a little group were collected
in the sick room of James. The hours of
wild delirium were passed, and the boy sat in
the arms of his father-for the last few hours