Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-04-07
The Open Window

Little Charlie is dead 70
lrea,atcd The words very saIv and though
nd audible voice FROM The lrce.top above me had
spoken theu, glanced up to he windows which
6r fifteen DAYS bad been wholly dlrkenad shut.
'efs aud curtains we've Withdrawn at last, and the
fresh breeze anl golden igdt dritted freely in.
kgeN that ou tle couch where Charlie hld
tossed and moauel, pArcAel with fever, and smit-
ten with rrleyou. psIg. there .ly ony an altered
.fgagaI shane wb.ca we had loved and piled as
"our Ca4rae p 1ut TIE ra beng whose gay
Young a made beauty ail around IL, was no.
Gep. Oae a..cr and 10 re plyiag than our
.a,ye, bld called the little boy, and n the night
M A4d arisen, saving, " Thy seryanthelreth, and
saa, outward % walk wi'h'ae Lord
NVAs mn exa..,te morning in early autumn.
Nolacl.d .,el TIE intense blue OF the shH
.an..lau, VITA sunshine and beneath every rec
9sf1p and scarlet shadows played, while the wind
.sa,iry th-ir brAncas., seem d To cal. up tender
ruai.,r., ,. from tirb warm. sturdy heart. Dead"
eehcpd the word IS. lingering by the hafopen
rate. hest4fed 10 enter II. In the CAD day
oyertl5Winp with bril-. .aney what room was there
tf.rs,d,rk a.,.hb.eo
Charlie was The child Of a ueigl bor Q heaui-
IA and winning Ettle sgIrt as ever soiourned in
human c.sv Full fresll.ss preciou. lie, the
Et6t Inks ii existence were .reJttd away by the
es,.e.e,s strain aud jar of ne imprisoned soul
{ We knew THAT be mus, leave u. bat forgetful OF
preyou, warning, the death Of ms iiuIe iayoH'e
/ ZANE 10 me- with the IN rp pang Of an uuherall
aavse Raetining vih 40 effort q degree OF
eomro,ure, entered tae house o. mourning. The
hush which severe sickness imposes, the shadow Of
m,.,er, vet to Ue revealed, which enyeiop
Dwelling ss consecuted, were exchanged for the
dread certainty ol he p.ess greL Charlie was
lde,d
How many times during the past fortnight
/ had enter, d tha, room. whose represssd sights
and sounds were hmiar3 Win what painful
f,rrboging had If fingered in i,s gloom, which
,epdel too well the cherished hopes that here
e4r..bedg As crossed the threshold half *.
neoted 10 hear the sthed moan OF the SICK weary
chId; but he brealuel an ar which no sicAness
p1sous, and Tie body was az rest forever. What
| change bad few hours wrought IN this apart
msni be .oi, rch air Of the Indian sammel
stole through the windows, no longer guarded,
land tbe sunshine stretched ', golden beams upon
4 ,he floor and wl.,--tuHhgr, it si4nted across the
! pure Inca that s., folded above the sleeper and
( TO lhr delicate feature, and sunny hdr gave some-
+ what Of the glad vitality Of lile. Every leaf Hut
Jsrng, every brd-no,e, every whisper Of the vide
world without, spoke OF rlocing. " shall 20 to
ILIm, said ny heart respousyeiy, and | could AZ
mot weep ttlo Of ghdoeu that the gin Of im-
mortal youth was SO earS granted 10 Chlshe.
A uew u.ja Of Die u.a, passed through N!
mind as. standing by ihe dead boy watched the
play Of light and shade around the small couch
50 long yaIed u d'rNne S,
Whuelet there remained the uncertainty Of
life poised ia the scales Of Eternity the iurbid
water, OF affection were stirred 70 bIackes agiu-
non with every dreaded possibility. Through
this oppressive atmosphere every shining hope
which ceniered in Charles existence had CLEANED
forth in sudden, singing remembruoes--all the
joy that had been the faith outlookng to years
Iof deyeloped manhood. Now cody and dreari.
ly rose instead the vision Of see, Is that were to
I6e-,he d ing oconyi the slo 8, cru-l formalir
of the funeral rites the des late home. "Al
/. Of God but the struggle between natural at