Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-07-27


The old man sat still, overwhelmed BY
this mighty burst of mothers agony.
He closed his eyes for the tears that
filmed them, and felt that for her he had
neither help nor consolation.
The Lord gave and the Lord hath
taken away blessed be the name of the
Lord
The low solemn tones of the preacher,
scarcely above whisper, fell into the
hearts of the bearers and stilled them, as
mans never could, asionly Gods can.
Blessed Bible words, which we read
over IN aaorning lesson and evening SER
vice, and never knew the fullness and
richness, the depths of meaning there are
in them, till some awful sorrow of our
own touches the springs, and then we go
in, and 10 these old familiar passages
are like stately rooms resting on massive
pillars, and garnisled and adorned with
all fair and beautiful things, or they rise
before us like gardens filed with trees
whose branches are burdened with gold
and purple fruits, whose winds are full
of the breath of sweet flowers, and
whose silence is stirred by the voice o.
soft-falling waters, amid which the sou
may walk and be refreshed.
O, reader, for you too, sooner or later
must come this time when all earthly
help shall fail you, when no human
words can be of avail or healing to you
and in these silent and awful sorrow
when only the voice of God can speaI
to the heart, you too may find what it i
to have the windows of the promise
opened, and your soul shall sit dow
under their blessed shadows and b
healed.
Days passed away. A young ma
walked along the country road slow an
YEARLY, leaning upon a stout oak staff
his face was ghastly white, and he wor
the blue uniform of the continentals.
He had terrible wound in his rigI
shoulder, and had been left on the battle
field for dead. He opened the back gal
softly, and gazed all about him-at tn
wood-pile in one corner of the gre;
yard near the sunfower stalks, and tt
small quince-trees which grew on or
side of the old brown homestead of De
con Palmer.
Suddenly the kitchen door opened. ar
Rebecca Palmer came out of the do
with a tin basin in her hand, and Il
mans heart leaped as he heard her sa
in her quick way.
Never mind sprinklin' them clothe
mother, / II attend to it as soon as J.
hunted up few o them winter pears
stew for SUPPER and he saw the ligl
: rapid figure hasten round the corner
the house to the old pear-tree just in Il
edge of the pasture, which he remembe
1 ed climbing so many times in his DO
hood, and amid whose branches he h
e gathered the faded birds nests every ia
He followed the quick figure stealthi
Il and stood still moment just outside t
bars, and she did not see him, for h
+ back was turned, and she had dropp
d down on the yellow. grass, and W
2 searching amid it for the fruit which t
o wind had shaken of.
a Becky, Becky, l sayp
Il She turned quickly, ard as her ey
n fell upon his face a ghastIy pallor ere
Is over hers. She covered il with shri,
e not loud, for it seemed to lie for We
10 terror in her throat.
Ie why. Becky, do look up here
Now, haven't you got better welco
:, than this for your brother when b
IA come back from the dead like?'
But she covered closer down in
!. grass, and moaned and shivered like
-, leaves in the old pear-tree.
= See here, now, what on airth ails yC
!, If you take me for a spirit, jest look
!; and I'll be able to convince you
7 honest flesh and blood yet
He lifted her up with one arm, for
:, was too weak betwixt fright and won
to resist; but the old, familiar, hes
tones half-reassured her.
: She lifted her lace from her ha
and looked at her brother moment '
a strained, wild glance, then the {
truth broke into her heart, for the hi
eyes had their old roguish glance, tho
they were set in a pale, wasted face.
20, Reuben, Reuben, thought i
a ghost ? and she fell upon his neck