Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-05-29

, she commanded her voice and answered. stead
ily:-
"Ihey ARE open, Wiliiam-tho whole room Is
full of Light
MARY, cannot see 1.-THE time has come--I
am alone In the darkness
90 Not alone my dear. She cried in a passion OF
grief and PITY aud tenderness
Then she went aud slt down beside him on the
bed. and drew his head to her bosom and COM
iortcd him, Just as she was wont to comfort her
soothing tones seemed TO have healed a ltde his
bruised tortured heart.
Tie lifted up his head and kissed her-his first
kiss from ont the darkness in which he must abide
aud iAen Dee sent her away think every soul
standing face Co face with au untriod calamity
longs 90 be for a space alone with its God.
Three hours after the church bells rang, and as
usual the minister and his wife walked out of their
dwellings, usual. save that now be leaned upon
her arm. In that hour of secusion he had made
up his mind what 90 do.
They walked up the familiar way: aud she left
him at the foot of tho pulpit stairs, and went back
to her own pew in front
lie CROPPED ul the stairs. and then rising in his
place he spoke % the wondering congregation :-
Brethron, / stand before you as one on whom
the Fathers hand has Gdlen heavily. I am blind.
shall never see YOU again in this world, YOU, my
chIllroa. for whose souls have striyon 80 long.
have looked my last on your krud familiar faces
ON ibis earth. See Co DO that / miss mono OF you
when my eyes are uusealed again in heaven
Grant ID Father, tllt oi these whom Thou has
given mc [ may lose n9aen
Ihrrc.was NOT a fearless face among those which
were lifted towards him, as he stood titre with his
sighles. ewes raised % heaven. Dis hands out
stretched a- ID 90 bring down ON them the blcs-
sing. for which he prayed Some Of the women
slhbcl audly, but the minister was calm After
a few moments he said .--
my brethren, as far as possible. the services
will fros.aI "a. usutl
Then 800 q clear voice, in which there seemed TO
hi. listeners ears some uuearthly sweetness, he
rectel the 130h psalm, commsucng.-
"Out OF the deep have called unto Thee, o
Lord: Lord. hear my voice ln
Afterwards hs gave out the first line OF hymn,
which the congregation sang. Then he prayed,
and some said who heard him that the ewes closed
on ths earth we're surely beholding the beautiful
vision. for hc spoke as a son beloved whose very
soul was full OF the glory OF the Fathers pres
ence
The sermon which followed was such an one as
they had never beard before from his lips There
was in 10 power, a fer,or. a tenderness which no
words of mine can describe lt was the testimony
Of a living witness who hll found the Lord a very
present help n every time of trouble
When all wa, over, and hc came down the pull
he Took her arm and went Ont silently.
He seemed % DO. waiting congregation as one
set lpart ana c3nsserated by the amounting Of a
special sorrow. aul they dared not break the holy
silence round him with common speech.
The next afternoon a committee from the church
went to re parsonage Mrs Spencer saw them
coming and told her husband.
.'It must be- n he said, ''to ask my advice in the
choice OF my successor
81 think they might have waited one day. she
cried with wontn's passionate Impotence at any
seeming forretinlue.s of the claims given him by
his years OF faithful service.
The delegation had reached the door by that
time. ana tie minister did not answer her She
waited ON the men into his study. and left them
there. ooino about her usual task with a heart
f1lI of bitterness.
Ii was natural perhaps, that they sholld not
want blind minister. bat TO tell hun 50 SOW, to
make the very first pang OF his sorrow sharper by
their than klessnes,: il was most too rnach
An hour passed before they went away, and
then She heard her husbands voice calling her and
went into the study prepared to sympathize with
his sorrow.
She found him sitting where she had left him.
with such a look of ioy, peace, ami thankfulness
uuon his face AS she had never expected 70 see it
wear a,ain.
"Mary,1 he said. there are Some kind hearts
in the world Ny parish want me TO stay with