Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-02-03
IRASBURGH. VERMONT, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1865

her tone awed and affected me, but only
for moment, and the next had burst
from my hiding-place and confronted
them. do not know what said for
was too angry to be very choice OF words,
and ! only remember that | taunted
Miriam for her ingratitnde, as | called it,
in daring to love my son, shea pauper,
a miserable poor-house founding, fed by
the charity of those whom.she was ready
to disgrace.
Trembling and frightened, the poor
child turned to enter the house without a
word, but Joseph put bis arm around her
and drawing her up close to him said, in
that low but terrible distinct voice that
always means SO much:
"Father, Miriam has promised to be my
wife, and / will, if need be, literally for
sake all others,-even the one parent
whom God has spared to me, for her
sake. At least, will not stand by and
hear her insulted."
The words were spoken very calmly,
bat | had caught the fiery gleam of his
dark eye and the determined curve ofthe
white lip and / knew that | had found a
viii stronger than my own,-a will to
which my own must bow.
Not another word was spoken as we
walked together into the house, but that
evening for the first time for many years,
the old family Bible lay untouched upon
the stand, and we separated for the night,
without a word Of thanksgiving or prayer
to the Almighty Father.
That night passed through the hard
est struggle Of ny life. took out my
own heart, as it were, searching among
the bleeding fbres for The wicked and
foolish pride that was still lurking there,
the pride that had urged me on in my
blind idol worship, which ! must now, so
help me God cast from me forever
When the gray light looked in at my
window, it found me a sadder but hum
bier man. And it was with a heavy
heart that entered the wide, old-fashon-
ed Kitchen. aud sat down with my child,
rem to the morning meal.
"Where's Miriam ?" exclaimed one of
The girls, and glancing at the opposite
seat, I saw that it was empty. l looked
at Joseph; his face was very pale, and
there was a stern, defiant look in his eye
that | could not meet.
"She isn't in her chamber!' - cried
Ruth bursting into the room, and speak
ing excitedly sand I've hunted every
where for her; but | can't find her,
Here's letter that found on her table,
directed to you, and she placed a note in
Joseph's hand.
watched his face as he read 1.-THE
look of doubt, Of terror. and at last, as the
bitter truth dawned upon his mind, of
fierce despair, and | could not have spok
en- for my life, so terrible to me, ia its ST
lent anguish, was that pale, stern face
but the girls eagerly crowded around |
questioning Of the contents Of the note.
Miriam has gone p be said at last, in
a tone so hollow and dreary that l fairly
shuddered. "She don't say sohere : but
she wishes me to say goodbye to you all,
for she will never see you again"
There were tears and sobs, for the lost
Miriam had been like an elder sister to
the motherless girls, and many were the
guesses bazarded as to meaning oftbis, to
them, strange and unaccountable act
ion.
That day, Joseph left his home with
out a word of explanation, but | well
knew his errand, and in my humbled
heart, l prayed God to prosper him in
his search. But six weary weeks drag
ged slowly by, and again bis tall form
darkened the doorway, and | watched his
face, eager to know what tidings be had
brought. But / needed to ask no ques
tions, for the haggard eyes and hopeless
told me that his search had
been in vain.
After that the name Of Miriam was
never spoken between US. Side by side,
we reaped the golded grain, and gather
ed in the crop Of yellow corn, but all
that time I felt that barrier had grown !,
up between US stronger than walls Of
granite. l do not think that the boy |
treasured up any resentment in bis heart |
toward me, but he could not forget that,
but for me, two lives now darkened for
ever, might have been one long, bright
day of bliss.
The winter and spring passed away
few changes TO our quiet home,
but as the summer drew near, that ter