National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-12-02
THE VACANT CHAIR.


The declining sun cast its horizontal
r., INTO the west window of a neat par
A. in a small New England cottage,
From that west window, the eye beheld
"a pleasant and undulating country-now
" uppn field. now an orchard, and now
h cmmp of dark, green hemlocks. con
stm,tug finely with the brown, wlthered
n ,rhage of the pasturages. The south
Nv was even more extensive. Here
D. broad valley in which the white
II auses were clustered along the margin
III small stream, that flowed over its
knahhly bed with many musical muir
Emur in the summer season, but the
sllluid surface of which was now covered
I swith skaters. whose flashing skate steelS,
Sa, they whirled and flew like swallows
on the wing, caught the last rays of the
Declining sun. Far, far away in the dis
uucr. over the village roof tops, over
Sthe threadbare woods. over the far dis
#tant meadows, were seen the spires of u
Eer,at city. dimlv sketched on the hori-
82ou. so vague and vapory, indeed. that
*the eye of the stranger might have con-
#fouded them with the lower stratum of
sinist that tioated over them.
81 But we are forgetting that our busi-
N. just now lies with the interior of
Nhple Cottage. The small. snug parlor
~ have mentioned, was furnished cheap
a Init tasteluliy. Neat white curtains
IN re looped beside the windows. \
sl an sofa, few cane-seated chairs-a
IA ll.l mirror, an engraving of General
washington. n secretary and bookcase,
GA imposed all the furniture Yet every
gEtnug was neat. and well arranged.
M \ cheerful coal fire was burning
IN the crate The table in the cen.
s&tre OF the room was loaded with the
fl plentiful cheer betitting Thanksgiving
1pty, At the head of the table, sat pale
#duk-eycd man. with deep lines marking
S# hs thoughtful countcnance, and snow
8WNlte hair parted from his forehead, ano
#wyiug over his shoulders. Opposit,
um sat Il very handsome woman. who's,
f4soit brown hair was beginning to b,
%Sircaked with threads of silver, Showing
tDHt she had sometime since passed th'
III 'yday Of her youth. On one side o
WI the square table was II beautiful girl o
II Nineteen or twenty, fair and blooming II
~ rose in june with the warm hue @
# health on ner cheeks, and the brigh
8 blood burning in her dewey lips. Op
81 posIte to her was placed IA rdcaDt char
M And now one word of the tenants q
M Maple Cot age. That white-haired ma
III presiding ut the table, is Miles Milford
III The lady opposite, his wife the beau
%8 uiul girl, guest. Rose Darling. a neigl
81 Dor daughter; she has come by inv
tatlon 70 enlivcn the Thanksgiving din
4 hcr. But who shall fill that vacai
chair No guest is expected-yet tn
E plate and knife and fork, and napki
ana water glass, are duly set With
I'd certain sect, 1t is customary when
III member of family dies, ever after
81 retain his place at the table-his seat h
M ihe ircsidc II is fondly believed thu
H ms spiritual presence fills these yacal
III 'lrs' ohedient to the attraction of loN
# mat the grave cannot cover up. As Il
III ocautitul ewes of Rose Darling. CLAN,
towards that vacant chair, they till vii
Wafs. Is it true. then. that there III
oeen death in the Milford family? \
~ not separation
Miles Milford was carpenter !
'rade. He had served his apprentic
H snip wrought for himself. and marri,
n MS wife in that city. the spires of viii,
,9h toe seen from the dining-ro m tabl
ne mad led n hard life His early YOU
was cursed and snddcnod 10y the inter
4 P'rInce of his father early orphnna
una poverty accompanied his first ste
n youth. But hc made his way, mG
r'd made n good living. One chi
'hly-a boy-blcssed the union of Mil
~ lhd his wife. He WIS fine, hcaltl
ii u'uc fellow, and was dearly believe
n ,uongh not idolizcd or petted by his |
ems. And now We come to u sad 60
lessloh, Whether IL was weakness. y,
VI ,ersity, or the fruit of fatal legacy
n piood transmitted by the erring |
IA ,eht hut, at that very period of life VIII
ms lathcr had abandoned himself to Il
nanlts, Miles Milford became addict
70 drink. He did not become an hal
III la sot- but ut times he drank deep
n nn1 was incapable of taking care Of l,i
WI This was the shadow on his hea
suone-tliis wring the heart of his wi
ahd agonized his boy-his boy who i
met him in the streets aud led him ho
"neh The father did not know him.
suddenly, Miles Milford. when on
lr,nN oi utter ruin, when poor and
''nt' when friends were forsaking hi
anu reputation was tarnished. br,
IRON his evil course with q sudt