St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-10-09

as he went about the mill How could
he let him go? And Hetty was good
and thoughtful, and SO fond of baby. 1t
would break her heart to give him up.
What handy girl He;ty is :" the
miller said to himself. as he remembered
how nice Il breakfast she had got for him,
and how clean and orderly every thing
was about the house.
As it drew toward noon tie miller be-
gan to feel little anxious about his
promise to Mrs. Florence. She was to
have baby that day. What if she had
come for hlm already, and that when he
went home at dinner time there should
be no baby TO spring into his arms and
hug him around the neck
In the mean time IIetty had received
the bundle of clothes, and with the bun
die had come message from Mrs. Flor
ence, saying that she had changed her
mind about taking the baby.
80, darling, darling" exclaimed
Hetty, almost wild with JOY, hugging
and kissing the baby, WHO crowed, and
laughed, and huggcd, and kissed her in
return, rs if he understood and shared in
her delight.
80, but won't he look sweet :" she ex-
claimed, as she opened and admired the
beautiful baby clothes, finer than any
thing he had ever worn.
Father will lie home soon" she said
to Mary. You set the table, and I'll
wash petty and dr.ss him in his pink
slip with the white rutiled apron, and tie
up the sleeves with bows of blue ribbon.
He'll look 50 sweet that father will hard
ly know him
SO baby was washed and dressed III
the new clothes, and | can tell you he
did look lovely. There was not hand
somer baby in all the mei.hborhood.
Hes going to Sleep said Mary, who
saw his eyes beginning to droop. 90,
| wish he stay awake till father comes -
But even as she spoke, the Ion. dark
lashes fell lower and lower. till they resi-
ed on his cheeks
"You hold him till | put on clean
pillow case" and Hetty placed the sleep
er III her sisters arms. A soiled pillow
case was changed for one of snowy white
ness, and baby laid upon the bed where
only Il few days before his mother had
slept the sleep from which none ever
awaken in this world.
How lovely he was No wonder the
little listers fingered about the led, 50
enlranccd by hi- beauty that it seemed
impo~-ibir to tear themselves away.
'.fathcr is coming" said Mary, who
had turned her ,ye~ to the window.
IIe;ty locked out and saw him cross
ing the road. His steps were quicker
and iirmcr than usual.
Il want him 10 see baby all clone by
himself" And IIctty, as She spoke,
drew Mary from the room.
They heard low exclamation Of sur
prise from their father when he entered
aud then all was stil-slill tor so long q
time that lIetty began to wonder, and tc
feel uneasy. At last, pushing open the
door softly, she looked in and saw hcl
father Oh his knees 10y the bedside, Iii,
face buried in the clothes. \ little
while she stood, almost holding her
breath. She was about closing the door
when he lifted his face from the bed
clothes and fixed his eyes on the baby
Tears wet his checks How tond!y, ten
derby, almost reverently did he look a
the sleeping child-pure as an angel.
4 slight movement drew his attention
to IIetty. He looked at her for mo
ment. and then said:
Call Mary"
The two children went up 10 him. Ht
took them in his arms, still knceling, an,
tried to speak TO them. But sobs choke
back the words he would have uttered
At last in the anguish OF repentance
and in half despair of his own strength
he cried out:
80, Lord and Savior, help me to be
father indeed to these motherleSs littl
ones ~.
Then deep quiet fell upon them
stiffness, as if each listened for an audi
be answer to the almost wildly spoke
prayer. Hetty was first to break the 5
lence.
Dear father" she said, kissing hin
and tenderly stroking his cheek, ''we'
do every thing, Mary and |, TO make
nice for you at home. And we'll kee
baby as sweet and clean as the richie
baby in the land. o, is MT he d;.
, ling
D Then they all arose and bent over Il
: sleeping baby; and though death Ia
just taken their dearest one away, it WI
- long time since The waves of happine
: had flooded their hearts-fo deeply as noN
r The shadows that lifted that day d
It not fall again. The miller had dragg
d himself, by strong effort, throu;
% strength given him from heaven, out oi
= I.,,L ,boD CLristian ,rot NH,