St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-05-15
Little NFU'S FUHeTdI.
Bl CUAS. DICKENS.

AMI now the Dell:
The bell She had so often heard.
BY night and day, and listened to
With solemn pleasure. almost as
living Noicc-rung its remcrscess toll
For her. 80 Young. so beautiful. so good.
Dccicpit are and vigorous life
And blooming youth and helpless
Infancy poured tOrth-On crutches.
In the pride of strength and health.
In the full blush of promise. in the mere
dawn
OF litc-to gather round her tomb.
old men were there whose eyes were dim.
And senses failing; grandmothers
Who might have Gied ten years ago.
And still been old-the deaf the blind.
The lame. the palScd. the living dead.
In many shapes and forms. to see
The closing OF that early grave.
Nha; was the death it would shut in.
10 that which still could crawl
And creep above il:
Along the crowded path they bore her now
ui' d> Illt new ~ ldlltn SHOW
That covered it-whose dav on earth
Had been rs liccting-under the porch
Whcr" She had sat when Heaven in mercy
Brought her to that peaceful spot.
She PASSED again; and the old church
Received her in il quiet shade.
They carried her to one old nook
Where >he had many and many Il time
sat musin@. and laid their burden
| softly on the pavement. The light
-trcamcd on it thro' the colorcd window.
\ window where the boughS OF trees
Were ever ru-tiin@ in summer, and where
/ The birds >au- sw"ctiy all day long.
With every breath ot air that stirred
Ntong those branches in the sunshine.
some trembling. changing light would tail
! jpun her grave.
Earth TO car;l. ashes 10 dishes. duet to dust
Many q Young hand dropped in its little
" trath: many Il sob was heard:
~umt. and they Were not few. knelt down
All Ncrc sincere and truthful in
heir sorrow. The service done.
The mnurucr~ stood apart. aud the
Villagers closed round lo lo.,> into
/ ih" 4eay,. before the pavement stone
~h,3lI De- repla ed. One called
f. mind hoW he had seen her. sitting
Ou hat very spot. and how
/ Her book had tail"n ou her lap.
+ And ~hr Was gazing with peu>ivc face
/ Upon thr Ky. Another told how he
/ HAD wondered much how one ;" delicate
/ = -!c. could lee so bold. How She
F Had never feared to enter there alone
At ui.h,. bu' Lowell to lin-er there
/ Whru all wa, quiet. and cen to climb
iic stair. with no more light than
nfiuc moons rays stealing through the
/ Luop-holc- in the thick old wall.
I \ whisper went ahoni among the oldest.
TLa, she had seen and talked with angels.
/ Aud "hcn jhcy called to mind how She
/ Had looked. and spoken. and her early
/ Death. some thought II might toe So
Indeed. Thus coming to the grave in
Little knots. and "lanciug down.
And @iviu% place to others. and
Falling of in little knots of three or four
fhr church was cleared in time OF all
save the old sexton and her mourning
friends.
They law the vault covered. and the stone
Fixed Gown. Then. when the dusk
OF evening had come on. and not sound
Disturbed the sacred stiffness of the place
When the bright moon poured in her ligh
ON tomb aud monument. on pillar.
Wall and arch. and most OF all
Il s,clncd to thcm) upon her quiet grave
IN That calm time when outward things
\"1 inward thoughts turn with assurance
OF immortality. and worldly hopes
Aud fears are humblcd in the dust
Before th-m-thcn with tranquil and
Submissive hearts they turned away
And len The child with God.
OH. il i hard to take to heart the lesson
That such death will teach, but
Let no man reject il, for it is one
That al must learn. aud i
Mi-hty universal truth:
Whru death >trih-~ down the innocent
AuI youn". tor -vrry fragile form
From which hr let the painting spirit free
\ hundred Virtues rise in shapes of
Mercy. charity and love, to walk the worl
Aud bless it. OF every tear that
Sorrowin@ mortals shed on such
Green Graves some good is born.
some wcnt}cr nature comes:
In the dcstroycr's steps there spring up
Bright creations that defy his power.
And his dark path becomes Il way