Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-12-05
The Children and the Novel.

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Carefully drawing tae blankets around :
ihe tiny form, she rested one hand for aiew
on the gently heaying breast, and
stirred the cradle with the oshcr, singing
the whi)e low lullaby.
Assured from its soft breathing and quiet
limbs that it was indeed asleep, she turned
iro,A il quickly, drew her low rocker to the
stand, picked up the light, and took from
underneath miscellaneous pile II hsf
gork .baskes, an gncat novel.
What beautiful litle," said she, all
traces of wearness vanishing with electric
rapidity from her ceunteuanee. As her
ewes glanced over its pages, the dull h9os
they had horn all day disappeared, and the
Ii Ii, Of anticipated soy flashed in lis stead.
IL know | shah be pleased with It;
feel that 1t viii be interest'ag continued /
size. What charming names the anleor
| has chosen. The wgiter must ue one Of un-
usral taste
Having hastily cri tlre leaFes, she shaded
her brow with one hand, grasped the
book with the other, and commenced, IN the
phrase ef enthusiastic novel readers to de-
vour the pages.
Rapidly did her eyes run over the hrst
chapter. But thes1--she turned her head
with quick, impatient mopemeat. bid
She not hear a rustic in the cradle ! Yes
Ettle hand was lifted frem beneath the cover.
~Too bal, 100 had he'll be awake all
She evening, now; and she glidvd with a
, noiseless step to he childs side.
But the eyelids were stal closed, the
measured breath If slumber sole gently
from the half parted lips, and the psendiug
d hand rested in quiet beauty upon The sofl
Y cheek.
c il was fair sweet babe, whose little
. heart had tlrobbed bat one hort sumner
As it lay there, the spell Of sinless sieef
t. upon his brow, it seemed the type OF al
m things pure aud blest. The ho'itr feeling
ID Of tile mothers breast were touched as
by hand from heaven. The angel begal
h to trouble The deep waters OF her soul
ne she stood beside that crsdle-beds and whel
rs after vigil Of several moments, the Chi
O. still sleeping, she bent her head and I'M
printed upon its lips the kiss OF love, til
I'd healing wave flowed for an insant--the
nd ebbed, for the novel was not yet rea'
e. Resueaiag her seat, Mrs. Lee again too
er her book. But the fiction seeraed TO has
lost some of its fascination. She even p
TO- on her thimble, and thresaed neede.-
six But moonlight scene, where in hone.
led suckIe bower, the noble lover draws treu
ors bln girl into has bosom, and poars IN
lcb her ears the bewitching wordsof wild eoul
lad ship, acting like magic on the readers nain
the and She became absorbed ia the CLOWN
a1- picture.
The second aad third chapters were so'
MT perused, and she was entering with increa
sh- ed interest upon the fourth, when a swe
Voice from the trunaie-bed called Of
ing Z. Mother mother!
the Her ear caught The sound, but It ma
uld no impression upon her mind till it had be
to several times repeated; then turning quie
Ss5 ", in no very gentle veiee she exeame
what under the sun do yon want, Lizzi
| thought you we're asleep an hour ago.
= IL have been asleep, taother,D answer
w. the little daughter in timid tone.
atlc ,,al, od nm haratiSa -
qua Because you are naughty girl q
NY wanted to plague me. Strange that ca
'eh- have minutes comfort; s" and guing has
efai " to the bed, she drew the clothes arou
nes- the child, and base her shut her eyes q
go TO sleep.
''aei 81 want a drink, mother; can't sic
soA' / am so thirsty"
The mother looked around; there '
eue- neither pitcher nor glass in the room.
q It's always just so. never forgot
,rtin bring up water, but you were sure to "
held some. Why didn't you drink last MS
min when had whole pitcher full for yor
tate. Il wasn's thirsty last night. Do pie
rive me a drink, and III go right TO sie'
Who / am not going to run down stairs az
6 for to.nigbts so just turn over and shut y
eyes;n and she sat down again to her no
n in leaving the thirsty child to its thoughts
lime dreams. as the ease might be.
frem Lizzie, as she said, wanted driak :
,4ga much. and so she turned and tossed,
tried to thiak Of everything bur WI
who while that was all she could fhink Of.
nited "If only had one litile swallow" :
nato- INJURED she to herself, Z. guess could
nator along till morning" But she might as
have wanted paiiful; there was no
,nder or prospect OF getting sny. By-anJ
istra- she spied upon the stove hearth a iin
At Of +" The baby's milk" said she. Per
been that would be as COED as water. wo
both ii mother would let me have H..
and looked toward the parent. She wa
d;ad sorbed ir her book her very being se'
: bound up in II. The child knew too !
others 70 disturb her. But perhaps she coal'