Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-02-05

at small salary in the Cromarty Bank. il
Thus. from their earnings, the couple p
eked out frugal support; and when chill p
dren sprang up about them, the young t
father supplied the increased expendi- v
lures of his household, by turning penny L
a-liner, and writing for the magazines,
upon his favorite geological science. {
But brighter days followed; and, as J
have said, Hugh Miller became rich and
famous. He wrote much and well upon ;
every topic-essays, lectures, scientific
truths, and books, issued from his pen in
startling succession-andt then came those
two great works which won him univer-
sal fame, and placed him foremost in the
ranks of known geologists-"The Old
Red Sand Stone" and Footprints cf the
Creator" Of these we need not speak.
They are found in every library in the land
standard works, written in concise, for
cible, vigorous style and treating of that
from whose bosom we all sprung, and
where we must all sleep at last-our
mother earth, with her wonderful belong
ings-rock, fossil and petrifaction-tracing
in every truth, through all, the " foot
steps of the Creator
f But at length, in the prime Of his years,
the visor Of his manhood, when it seemed
| as though he should have set down sun
] der his own vine and fig tree" to enjoy
, the fruits of his labors, there came a dark
: phase in the life of Hugh Miller.
Y His bodily vigor gave way; his mind
, reeled under the strain of too intense
: mental labor; and when his last work,
: THE testimony of the Rocks" was fin
;, ished, Hugh Miller lay on sick bed
5 from which he rose a nervous, morbid,
y gloomy man. Then followed months OF
IS intense suffering. The over taxed brain
}, was pierced with sharp pains, and refused
If to act or think; his excited imagination
conjured terrible visions before his eyes
', -shadowy forms crouched, ready tc
5, spring upon him when he went into the
10 darkness-a haunting fear of robbers
n housebreakers, murderers, led him to con
IF vert his own study, even his bed-chanber
r. into perfect armory, where hung wea
,e pons of every description, to put into in
is slant requisition against the dreaded foe
n. Alas, that the noble brain was fast reel
ID ing into madness: for, so surely as he ha
A. overtaxed himself, so surely must the re
er action come! Shall it not serve as a warn
a ing to you, o, scholar, bending over you
books by the midnight lamp-to you,
no pale author, writing your hearts bloc
he into your glowing creations-to you,
os proud, brave, earnest man Of science, dis
tilling the very juices of your brain int
in truths for the world of letters-when, i
nj future, you read how Hugh Miller, th
az mason geologist of this nineteenth cent?
bis ry, died
= There was a cheerful family gatherin
ra about the supper-table in Hugh Miller
-,d pleasant parlor. For weeks, father
,s had not been so well or cheerful for |
nd smiled and chatted with the children
elv he slipped his tea, and when the hapT
yed wife removed the tea-tray, and the hous
md hold circle gathered about the freside,
csc told stories"-old legends Of castles, 10
ide and glen, when brave Robert Bruce
or gallant Scotsmen to the fray, and
the William Wallace's name rang ike |
bite gle call through Scotlands hills. Th
nc- he took the youngest on his knee a
&c stroked his faxen hair-even as his o.
laid father, many and many year before, b
hi. stroked his own curls in the Croma
and cottage by the seaside-then read ale
the several humorous pieces, ere he sent
the children from him and retired, tranq
the and calm, to his own room.
: far "Mamma, isn't papa going to get v
geo right of? 1 hope so, mamma, becaus
o his ike to have him read to US the fur
Thus stories he read to US tonight" said
an smallest prattler, as the mother lifted
we're softly into his cot.
@Perhaps so. 1t will be blessed til
and for papa to be wholly restored once m
2eist. darling?" said the mother, with ha
own light in her eyes, as she kissed the c
MUS. and left it to its slumbers. "God g
.rned him renewed health and vigor,"
Ii in sighed, as she went down the stairc
pro- thinking how often Of late the dark y
King of illness had brooded over that ho
urces and as she sat down at the desc
they hearth, TO think over all the days Of
wis happy welded life, till came the {
cloud which had latterly oyerwhelme
he re- she prayed earnestly, and with tear-f
were eyes, "God grant him health once mo
which Alas for the hopeful woman :
.mily. when morning came, shrieks, and
- - and cr;eu n ,srror echoed from the