Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-08-19
IRAsBURGH. YERMONT FRIDAY, AUGUST 10. ls64.

house; the neat furniture, and the pref
ty garden; and turning to me, William
said
THAT temperance ptedge 'oas orr Sal
cation 2
left them 90 n after, and abou
. three months afterwards, man came t.
me, and said William was sick, a n
wished me to come to him as soon al
possible. A few miles walk brought me
to the cottage; and when William saw
me-, he said My dear friend, ! am SC
glad to see you: but | am dying
win you and Mary take me into the
open air, and seat me under the willow
tree, that | may once more see the beau
tiful works Of Natures God p
We seated him on the grass, under
the weeping willow, and Mary, seated
by his side, supported him in a reclining
position, in full view of the lovely land
scape before US. The Blue ridge was in
the distance; the Shenandoah, | i a
huge serpent at its base and the hills
were tinged with autunnaI red, present
ing a gorgeous i e W, that a painter
might gaze upon with delight.
William looked like one entranced, as
he gazed upon the lovely scene.
% God he exclaimed, how beauti-
ful are thy works! Who can look upon
them and not love the Architect of all !?
Three years ago this view had no pleas
ure for me ! was insensible 10 all this
logeliuess, and had died as l had lived,
but for the temperance pledga Let noe
be buried here; and do you, my friend,
tell the people present the story that you
told me when you met me, a drunken
outcast in the street, three years ago;
and invite them to 5 Jig 4 the same
pledge that sapsd me from a 9runbard's
graveF
His disease had now done its work
his house was in order, and With Fare
well, my friend > Farewell, Nsryp vii.
liam Strider ceased to breathe.
And now a beautiful picture was be-
fore me, that could have gased on for
ever. The lovely form of William, as
be lay upon the green grass that face so
calm, and heavenly, and the beautiful
Mary knec!inq by his side, as she smoo-
thrd tue soft hair on his noble brow, and
kissed his pale lips, saying;
o William, you have been my pro-
.ector and comfort here, aud now you /
will be my guardian angel, and when I
shall pass over the river, you VIII vel
come me to the spirt land
1 have seen many lovely pictures; l
nave seen Brady's celebrated gallery,
and other noted collections, but tbis scene
before me was the loyeliest of all, tho a
scene Of death, YET full of immortality.
The next day the people came to lay
he remains of the beloved William in
he earth. The body was lowered into
he grave under the weeping willows
4 table was placed at the head Of the
grave, on which was placed the pledge
hat had saved their friend and there
[ told them the story that had told the
beloved William, a n Of the beautiful
leath. scene, and his dying request; and
,mong that ignorant, deprayed, d =.
lrunken assembly, tweaiy-tiree names ;
we're placed on that immortal pledge. q,
One old man signed it, and invited bis
wo sons to be men, and do rs William
pad done. Some ladies names were
and few young mems, and -
wo little boys we're bound by the strong .
lie of the temperance pledge.
The results of that gathering will be
,nowu only when the jewels are toundin
he treasures of the spirit land for five a
months afterwards, the place where this ii
Gene was acted became the theatre of a
var and the inhabitants are scattered or v
lead. :,
The same disease that took the belov- b.
d William from the earth, in few "
weeks laid his Mary by his side and the Y
eeord of those who stood by her dying ~ =,
ed is, that her last words were, " My di
usband's God is mine !" OF
| have had many adventures, a d y
ave travelled N u ch; and have seen II
nuch of the beautiful; but 1 shall new 9, 9,
rforget the beautiful scene beneath II
he Willow TREE. W
A STUFFED BEEF5rEAK.-Prepare a "a
III -oct o,d ,,,;., III