Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-08-10

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it serves me right. l was too fond of
teasing him by talking to Tom l must
tell him all when he comes back
Isaw she didn't know the real reason
of bis going. It seemed she'd forgotten
all about the witch. and didn't know that
if he'd come back she'd do just the same
again. But she thought he'd surely
come, and she used to sit for hours in the
evening looking over the Hill for him
but months passed asd be was stin away.
At last she took 10 her bed. and never
rose again. That's the way they do, sir.
She lay there for days quite quiet, and
the little one nesrly always with her,
The doctor said il was consoomshon J
and when / told him about the witch. be
shook bis head. She was often asleep,
bat when the cough woke her--tor she
had bad eough-she'd be sure to ask
directly If Jack had come. Sometimes
she'd think be was sitting by her, and
she'd talk TO him, and tell him how sorry
she was about il all, and how she never
cared for Tom, and how happy they
were going to be now. And then she'd
think they were walking in the fields, as
they used to do on Sunday evenings and
shed say how sweet the church bells
sounded, and how pretty the little one
was growing, and how happy we all four
were living in those two little cottages
Then, when she got sensible, she'd lie for
hours never speaking of him. AT last
even | began TO watch for him. Ithot
if be would only come, just to see hei
once before she went. / used to put The
little one up at the window, and tell bel
TO keep looking on over the bin, anC
p'raps she'd see her father coming, bu
my heart misgave me ali the tine-anC
| was right--he never came, be neye
came
She stsid her story weeping; then
turning to the bed:
She looks happy enough without him
now, doesn't she, sir?'
. She drew aside the covering. gaze
a long upon the face, so childlike in ii
Q sweet simplicity. 1t wore look Of pei
. feet rest. The slight shade Of anxiety
had noticed the day before had passe
? away, giving place to an expression {
5 calm content, like that of a tired chill
asleep. Hearing no sound, the little on
crept up noiselessly, and getting on th
bed, nestled closely to her mother, tn
IS large, living eyes bright with mike
: expression of pity, love, and wonder, th
k little hand strCking the dead face with
fond, caressing movement inexpressibl
ct touching. They looked strangely alike
y and yet, how fearfully different; the
's long bair mingling lovingly, stirred t
Y the child's breath. / watched reveren
Iy, silently, till. wearied with her grie
- the young one fell into light slumbe
[ left them lying there, both asleep
= strange, solemn picture of Love al
~ Death, full of the deepest poetry al
~ beauty.
a. Two days after poor Ellen was burie
,e. and il was not long before left the plat
ed Jack had not then returned, and the lit
on one was once more playing noisily VI
on her doll, with no fear now of waking I
AZ child-mother at rest forever. As pa
a. ed the cottage for the last time, the b
zee was singing loudly, as though it had n'
al. er left off. She told me it was fathe
his bird she fed ii every morning agai
IN, he came home she wondered when Il
would be, and !, wondering the same
wondering when the erring heart, bul
ers ing from the tranmeIs of ignorance q
r ? superstition, would return to find its
ID ter desolalion-passed on, and left
spot, probably forever.
vas This narrative is strictly true-no
led itary nstance-hundreds Of the So
+; / kind are continually occurring. The
ing lief of witchcralt Is prevalent in n
int paris of England; nearly every viii
ich- and hamlet has its witch" No ma
nee is expressed, simply dread of offend
him her, even unintentionaliy. The unfo
nate beings Supposed TO have fallen m
her evil influence are considered mar
ned and doomed their friends still fearin
him speak word against the reputed an
dnt Of the calamity. 10 many instances
III s bewitehed ones" leave their homes
ak er to return, TO avoid the misery rei
The ing from solitary life, 50 many of I
1e Il own class, even ther old companions.
on, liking to associate with them. /
bet bsan in a village in the sogth Of !
arge land, where the second sou, lad Of
e. teen. had left his hons, and gone to