Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-12-08

A little cottage set on the outskirts o
thriving American iowh. Over III,
windows and over the doors the scarle
pendents of the prairie rose, brighter thar
Jewels, rich with diamond dew-drops
lustrous in each loaf with the warn
kisses of the sunshine. A picture tha
made that little corner bit of paradise
for within sung young mother, bending
over the cradle of her first born. 1t wa.
girlish face, scarcely nineteen summer.
old--a face of gentlest motherhood
blended red and white, with a touch o
brown that made it in harmony with it,
surroundings, the dark hair put plainly
back, the lips smiling unconsci1usly, th'
eyes almost holy in their sofIened glance
as they rested upon the beautiful boJ
before her, whose white lids dropped ant
then nuttered back, baby laugh leapine
out before they settled again TO seeming
Sunderland little fingers quivering.-
These were treasures of hard working
man-a man whose shoulders had borne
the burden of honest toll from his child
hood man who feared God, and loved
Him with great outgushings of love thai
swayed all his soul when in his hours O.
happy rest his vile sat by bis side. anC
their boy nestled against his broad, true
bosom. He had gone forth that morning
fortified with prayer strong in the faitl
that the mighty God he served would
keep him and his from all harm.
The breath of summer stirred the leave:
to music and gave voice of melody tc
all the streams. 1t touched the tangled
hair and cloudel brow of man who
came sullenly along the lonesome road
His black brows met omnously. The
strong lines of his face deepened the saw.
age-or topeless--expression Of has coun'
tenance. One hand grasped his slouched
hat and nervously doubled it till its shape
was lost. Some horrible though: whit
ened the vindictiye lips. Lost lost !
was the hand writing upon that strange
face. Oh, was there no loving angel
that yet stood by that miserable man
No arm tender and strong to draw nim
from ruin? No lip of sinless purity to
whisper a warning? No. he cried, his
sing the word to empty air, mo one cares
for me why should / try? I'll make a
covenant with hell, and'--he flung his
cap. with an oath, fiercely into the dusty
road, drew his breath hard as the sight of
the little cottage CLEANED upon him, then
STOPPING, be picked up the hat and crep,
steathily toward the cottage. I'll steal,
he muttered; I'll be the outcast men
would make me: I'll go headlong 10 ruin,
body and SOUL
AT the moment his eye caught sight of
the babe and its mother. Her voice,
strangely sweet with long forgotten mu-
sic, came TO where he stood. Sleep,
baby ; sleep, mothers darling shut the
eyes. There, he is gone. How beauti
ful :! little angel 7 Then she stopped and
kissed him, and murmured, after a long,
yearning IoOk-'O, Father, when my
baby is a man keep him SO pure that he
will never lose the beauty Of bis SOUL
The listener staggered forward-the
,rumpled hat was under bis eyes, wet
with hot, blistering tears; the rugged
orm quivered with passionate sobs. %
God ?-and I-was once child like that
my mother bent over me so--and-
perhaps she prayed for me-
A timid step-a low, quick cry. Who
vas this terrible stranger? 3? She stood
here awed as we'll as frightened, for he
till wept.
'Madam-I-I am hungry and very
red-will you give me something to
at? May sit down on your door
tep?
She brought him food, and plying his
ears, made him 60 into the little parlor.
III the wild vengeance of one hour ago
'as dead within him. Soothed by the
MET, he fell asleep; slept till the toiler
ime to bis homely dinner--to bis wife
nd child. And then he told his story.
i was a desperate man this morning.
have tried to be honest, but have been :,
prison, and men brand me. Help me,
r Gods sake to get living. Your :
ife, though she did not know it, killed :.
e evil in my heart, this morning. l
as nearly lost again-I could not beg,
I'd when people asked me questions l :;
uld not lie, for had said, | will be !,
NEST, there shall be no halfway work
,out il. But when / told the truth
as turned off coldIy, from everywhere
It here. / ask you, for Gods sake 10 OF
my helper
And The prayer, the tears we're not in
in. could show you the picture o. br
other cottage where roses and peace 80
a 4 h., a ~, "A ~