Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-03-13


our hearts and home. II were possible we
thought her prettier than Charlie had been. In
now many pleasant day dreams of the future, |
INDUCED myself. Surely, life was one bright
day dream to me. Carrie was again well and
her increase of cares did not lead her to throw
by her pen. We had now secured the services
OF Susan Bliss, sister to our valuable Martha.
whose loss troubled us SO much. Little Mary
required much less attention than Charlie had
seemed to do, and he, though roguish boy of
nearly three years, learned to know that he must
be very quiet, when in mothers study.
IL was bright summer, but care and grief
came with the autumn and touched one where
was most vulnerable. Had my children been
sick, should not have been alone in nv anx-
iety yea, had they died, Carries gentle. holy
prccepts would have strengthened nv heart
and think might have borne the trial with
out murmur. Carrie, my precious Carrie, was
SICK We had been to her fathers for a visit of
week, and had enjoyed it very much it was
the first time we had carried our little Mary Lee
there and we were proud to show her little name
sake, TO our mother. On our way home. Carrie
complained of severe headache, which she
thought was caused by riding in the cars. |
thought little Of it, supposing a nights rest
would make her well but morning found her
much worse, and our physician pronounced
run Of fever ineyitable. sent for mother fa-
ther come with hel and said they would both
stay at our mousse TIL Carrie should be better,
as ne could take care OF Charlie. Carrie grew
worse very fast her disease proved to be tvphus
fever. On the fourth day, sent for father and
mother Lee. Carrie had her senses but a small
part Of the time The seventh dav the doctor
told my father. that there was no hope. Per-
haps he thought he had chosen the one of her
relatives who would bear the shock most calm
~ lie was mistaken, her own father would
nave been much calmer, think, as for mine, he
wept Ike child and repeated the physicians
words TO us all. All that sad day. How in
cohcTN aoiy uear TO me mad Carrie become, now
inaI trlt mat must lose her ., it must not
be tried to think it would be a cruel act for
God to take her from me. 1t could not be for
the nest that she should be taken from our chill
dreh. shudder as think how nchristian
were the otter thoughts of those hours
Thought not OF the many times when we had
spoken cheerfully OF death-when she had told
me not TO weep over her grave, but to believe
that her spirit was stlll with me, rejoicing in my
JOYS Sympathzlng III my sorrows, and intuen-
eng me Tor good at all times | remembered
not her suohme trust IN the Father was not
myself was mad with grief. Was there no
hope' There was hope-shame on the physi-
can, VINO had said there was none. DIR. B. had
been sent for-when he should come he would
heip her. She was sane for little while that
afternoon Shall | ever forget those moments?
hope not, for they did my soul good. As /
sat there, by her bedside. and heard her con-
verse cheertuly, though with great difficulty, of
her situation, OF our Children and OF the Holy
Father, who was very near to her in her weak
ness the bitter thoughts left me- was better.
became Wiling to trust the All-NIerciful eren
""h her J"e. ! prayed earnestly, yet humbly,
ana was enabled TO say from my heart, mot as
WILL but as hou wilt, my Father" had not
gwen up nope could not do that so long as
tnere was me. thought had become recon-
cled to the Fathers will, but to him all thanks
are due' that was spared the dreaded trial.
III u; ea'e,!." " "f.ef %ee9%-.F~ e,""@ a'ain.
and the medicines which had been administered
bad, bad-all bad" he muttered, "but she man
get we'll" knew he had little hope, but mine
was strengthening. | seemed to teel that he
would do her good and he did. Long sad.
wearisome days did she linger between life and
death, and all the world seemed dark to me.
Even the prattle of my little ones but added a
panS to my overburdened heart. At tlength she
was pronounced convaleScent. and from that
time She continued to gain. Those were bright
days. Carrie mourned some that our little Nav
had been deprived of her care, while so very
young; but usually She was very cheerful, while
reSalning her health. We had so much for
which to be thankful, that we were not disposed
to murmur at light trials We felt that we had
been chastened for our good, since we now more
fully realized that We were under the protection
of the Almighty The depth of our love for
each other had been revealed to us as it never
could have been in health.
Near the last of October, Mother Lee left us,
and sent Kate to us, on her arrival at home.
Dear Kate, how different she was from usual,
now that there was sickness in the house; she
moved about so noiselessly, was so thoughtful
and so careful not to allow the children to dis