Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-08-17
Death Of Little Nell.

Death Of Little Nell.
She was dead. No sleep so beautiful
and cain, so fair to look upon. She
seemed a creature fresh from the hand of
God, aud waiting for the breath of life
not one who lived, and suffered death.
Her couch was dressed with here and there
some winter berries and green leaves, gath
cred in a spot she had been used to ia
vor.
when l die, put me near something
that has loved the light, and had the sky
above it always" Those were her words.
She was dead. Dear, gentle, patient,
Nell was dead Her little bird, poor,
slight thing, the pressure of a finger would
have crushed, was stirring nimbly in its
cage and the strong heart of its child mis-
rress was mute aud motionless forever
Where were the traces of her early cares,
her sufFerings, and fatigues All gone.
Sorrow was dead, indeed, IN her but peace
and perfect happiness were born, imaged,
in her tranquil beauty and profound re-
pose.
And still her former self lay there unal-
tered in this change. Yes the old fire.
side had smiled upon the sweet face 1t
had passed, like a dream, through the
haunts of misery and care F; at the door of
the poor schoolmaster on the summer eve
ming, before the furnace-6re upon the cold,
wet night, at the still bedside of the dying
boy, there had been that same mild and
lovely look So shall we know the angels,
in their majesty, after death.
The old man held one languid arm in
his, and the small, light hand folded to
his breast for warmth. 1t was the hand
she had stretched out to him with her last
smile; the hand that had led him on
through all their wanderings. Ever and
anon he pressed 1t to his lips, then Rugged
it to his breast, murmuring that it was
warmer now, aud, as he said it, be looked
IN agony to hose who stood around, as if
mpIOring them to help her.
she was dead and past all help or need
of hep. The ancient rooms she had seem
ed t0 fl with life even while her own was
wanpg fast the garden she had tended,
| the sJes sue had gtaddcued, the Doiseless
hauIts of many a thoughtless hour, the
paths she had trodden, as 1t were, but yes
/ turday, could know her no more.
- 1t Is not, said the young schoolmaster
1 as be bent down to kiss her on the cheek,
and gave free vent TO his tears, " il is not
in this world that Heavens justice ends.
Think what 1t is, compared with the world
TO which her young spirit has winged her
early fight, and say, if one deliberate
wish. expressed in solemn tones, could win
/ her back to life, which of us would utter
it2'
She had been dead two days. They
were all about her at the time, knowing
that the end was drawing on. She died
soon after daybreak They had read and
talked to her in the early portion Of the
night; but as the hours crept on. she sank
to sleep. They could tell by what she
family uttered in her dreams, that they
were of her iourneyings with the old man !;
they were of no painful scenes, but of those
who had helped them kindly for she Of
ten said, God bless you :" with great
fervor
! Waking, she never wandered in her
mind but once, and that was at beautiful
music, which she said was in the air.
God knows 1t may have been. Open
ing her eyes, at last, from very quiet
sleep, she begged that they would kiss her
once again. That done, she turned 20 the
old man, with a lovely smile upon her face,
such. they said.as they had never seen and
could never forget. and chung with both
her arms, about his neck. She had never
murmured or complained but. with a
quiet mind, and a mind quite unaltered
save that she every day became more earn
est and more grateful to them, faded like
the light upon the summers evening.
The child who had been her friend. came
there. almost as soon as it was day. with
an Offering of dried flowers. which he beg
red them to lay upon her breast. He told
them of his dream again, and that it was
of her being restored to them, just as she
used to be. lie begged hard to see her,
aaSF Ting that he would be very quiet, and
7 thew need not fear his being alarmed, for
he had sat alone by his younger brother all
day long when he was dead, and he felt
plad to be so near him. They let him
have his wish and, indeed, he kept his
word, and was, in his childish way, a les
son to them all.
lin to that time, the old man had not
snoken once, except to her, or stirred from
| the bedside. But when he saw her little
fayorite he was moved as they had not
seen him yet,and made as though he would
have come nearer. Then, pointing to the
bed, he burst into tears for the first time,
and those who stood by, knowing that the
sight of this child had done him good, left
them all alone together.
Soothing him with his artless talk to her,
the child persuaded him to take some rest
to walk abroad, to do almost as he desired
/ him. And when the day came on which
they must remove her, in her earthly shape,
from earthly eyes, he led him away, that
he might not know when she was taken
from him They were to gather fresh
| leaves and berries for her bed.
And now the bell, the bell she had so
often heard by night and day, and listened
to with solemn pleasure, almost as living
voice, rung its remorseless toll for her, so
young. so beautiful, so good. Decrepit
age, and vigorous life, and blooming youth,
and helpless infancy, on crutches, in the
pride of health and strength, in the full
blush of promise. in the mere dawn of life.
gathered round her. Old men were there,
whose eyes were dim and senses failing.
grandmothers who might have died tea