Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-02-21

w dS III HIS CHllu was III HIS Sudl uidu
lngel, ready to take wings and fly
back o that glorious heaven from
whence it had come to save him, come
n vain?
Again he heard the clear, melodious
voice, "See, father, how high Mary can
climb, and look, can play see-saw"
Catching Of the balustrade, the child
suddenly suspended herself over the
water and began to swing tearlessly to
and fro. The father saw futtering
garments and waving tresses, he heard
the rotten wood work creak, and sud
denly the dangerous position Of his
darling presented itself to his dull in
tellect. What if she should lose her
hold? if the old balustrade should
break ? He started to his feet, he
would fly to the rescue, but o, horror
his feet refused to carry hin; roeli45
to and fro like reed in the storm, he
again and again, fell back against the
wall, aCome here, Mary" he shouted
in dreadful agony; "Come fetch me,
father the merry voice answered, and
the dangerous pastime was only pur-
sued with greater energy.
Once more the unhappy man tried
in vain; he snatched the full bottle
from the table, and emptied it in one
draught. Alas, it was but to seal the
sentence Of his doom and that Of his
child. The hour OF heavy rctributiol
mad at last come, and the mau but
rcapeI what he hal s0wn. He had
given himself body & soul to the pow
er of the deyIl's agent and no earthly
hand could restore to him what he had
.o5t. One more desperate struggle
and the miserable wretch lay rolling
ON the ground and groanlng most fear
FULLY. No man was nigh, no he p came.
and suddenly the creaking sound Of the
breaking halustradc smOtc ike Ilneli
upon the fathers car; he heard u fear
fui cry, Father, help, help.7 he heard
the spIashing Of the water, a the
mercilesS waves closed over their love
Iy prey, and then all was silent. For
a while the man lay there in state Of
misery which no words can express
but overstrained nature. even in this
moment, would have its sway-he soon
dropped asleep, and slept. while the
only being that loved him was drifting
away on the glittering waves Of the
sunlit Rhine.
1t was midnight when the toll mar
awokc. He found himself lying ol
the floor Of his room, and his frs
glance fell on a still. white form a
his side. The Pickering light of sever
al lanterns was playing over feature
which were surprisingly beautiful il
their solemn repose, and a voice said
"your child is dead - The bereuvet
father threw himself over the lovel,
sleeper, and from his breast rose th
despairing cry. She is dead, and
have killed her :" Alas he was SC
Der now. sober enough to measure tn
+ full extent Of his guilt and his loss
all the powers OF his mind seemed t
return for minute, to show him, i
gIaring yividness. the fearful const
/ Quences of his sin, and then, nigh
deep, mental night, threw her dar
veil over the wretched mans mind, an
when he rose from his knees. he ros
as a poor, harmless idiot. The houl
rolled heavily on; the little body wa
laid in its last bed; he suffered the
to do so. Garry her gently" h
= whispered, 'she sleeps SO sweetly.-
= Dust was given back to dust; man
, tears fell ON that little coffin. I'll
father shed none, and once more, !
! could be seen sitting daily at the CAT
!. but not to drink wine or to receive to
/ There he sat, looking down into Il
waters, aud mutteripg broken ScntC
C ces full ofintense tenderness to his Il
= seen companion. to HE Mary. 1t w
I a tou,niag sight to see him thls, al
b, Jac that wod d move anI warn ma
Il d th0ugntIess heart
{ OHc evening the sun was shcidl
ii its last rays oa the river, and t
=, daucing waves sparkicd as they ii
e done on that eventIul day. The chi
.ess man suddenly rose, aAd stcpp
Is .alther down to the waterside, wht
5. the reeds were waving in the event
is breeze.
h. "Hush.' T. he whispered, she is cS
p inc me! am coming, Mary, my d
I'd ing. see, | Gun come now" A
Id stretching out his arms, as if to c
to brace his child, the poor man took
to desperate leap, and the waves rect
n ed their second victim.
I'll He was soon missed and found
Us He was buried in the same grave W
g, his child, but will the soul now alb
as in the same pure heaven where his
nocent child dwells, with the sw'
It's patient wife, whose heart he had |
a ken? The wages of sin is death,
Id, no soul will enter there, that lea
dy earth laden with unpardoned sin.
to that all might turn while it is yet
en- day !-British Workman.