Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-03-13

not be-.
Look at her, said the merchant, and
have faith
The old man looked again. Those
melting blue eyes, that sweet and cherry
mouth, those dimpled cheeks, the fair
white brow, and demure chin, every
feature was his child's-his Editl's. Yet
it was not his child that stood before
him, else she was something more than
human else she was an apparition that
might at any time vanish into thin air.
Who are you, darling| he asked, in
broken accents.
| am Edith Johnson, said the child
with bashful smile.
The old man took her in his arms
and bowed his face over that fair head
and sobbed out his emotion.
| understand it now,' he said, speak.
ing with an effort, ''tis my chiId's child
my Edith's Edith the woman, the
mother, where is she 2
Already slende; female figure was
kneelng at the old mans feet; affec-
Tomato lips kissed his bands, atfectionate
eyes 6athed them with tears.
Father-father ?
The kneeler looked up. II seemed
that bis lost wife had come out of the
past to embrace him there again.
%, time 0, miracle of life O,
wondrous divine law ! ever working in
the broad day, and in the silence and Sc
cresy of the night, when we sleep, the
same pushing forward the germ into the
the plant, from the plant producing dow.
er and fruit, evoking new germs, creating
all things new, each hour and each mo
ment in the day, parent and child, par
ent and child forever"
Such thoughts whirled, and burned,
in the old mans brain, as his daughter
and grand daughter lay in his arms, and
his hot tears rained down upon their
heads.
How is it that | have never found
you before, dear father?' asked Mrs.
Upton, for she was the merchants wife.
'How l have langed to hear from J-en---
to know you were still alive. thought
you must have died in some foreign land;
but my good husband here came home
this evening and told me Of an old man
calling himself Roger johnson, some
thing said to me, deep in my soul, that
it was you. told him Of this scar upon
your cheek he observed it, and no lon
ger had any doubt that you were my
father. How wished to 20 with him
when be went back to find you. Blu; he
said the truth must be disclosed to you
carefully and by degrees, for he thought
you i'll and feeble, so have waited pa
tiently for this moment when could
safely throw myself at your feet and cali
you fatherl
1T is not all dream! Il is all real
You are, you are my child said the
excited old man, o, God be thanked.
Amen = responded the kind, generous
hearted merchant, looking on with glis-
tening eyes.
Don't weep, father pleaded Edith,
weeping herself all the harder; your
trials are all over now
You have every wish Of your heart,
and all you have to do is to he perfectly
happy added her husband.
Yes, yes said the old man, 'but why
patting his grandchild's neck with ten
der playfulness, why did you tell me
your name was Edith johnson 2
That is my name replied the young
girl-'Edith johnson Upton. And if
you are my grandfather | am so glad
| shall love you so much !
Il shall be afraid tC 20 to sleep to-
night mused the old man, for fear that
when ! awake / shall find myself in Mrs.
Stones attic, and this will be dream
that has passed. But if it isn't dream
there is one thing more that is necessary
to give me perfect peace Of mind.
Il thought as much, laughed Mr.. Up
ton. Speak it out
Poor Mrs, Stone, and her children
should be done for them.
Protect her from her brutal husband, and
procure her eldest son situation, where
bis time and talents will bring comfort to
that poor family
That shall be done, if there's any
virtue in money" said Mr.. Upton. "Is
there anything else Z"
"Nothing--only let me know your
history, my Edith"
You shall lie down, father, and !
will talk to you about myself until you
fall asleep
Don't be afraid said the young wo-