Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-01-17
Morning and Midnight.

An Ohio Correspondent Of the Chicago Ad-
rance, tells this touching story Of lifcs con-
trasts;
On the evening Of December l. the Con.
gregational church of our little city was filled
to overaowing with crowd Of eager people
to witness a brilliant wedding ceremony. At
the appointed hour the doors were thrown
wide open, the organ struck up lively air,
aud every head was turned to watch the bri'
dal train. Four young ladies in clouds Of iaro-
tan swept up the central aisle, followed by
the young men in immaculate white kids, aud
irreproachabo broadcoth. Then came the
brides particular friend, and by her side the
bride herself, glistcning in satin aud point
lace, in gold aud pearls The groom elect
aud the friend Of the bridegroom completed
the shining train, and as they reached the all
tar, the two clergymen came down to meet
them, and in short and beautiful ceremony
the twain were made one A prayer and
benediction followed, the party passed slow
ly out and the great congregation speedily
dispersed.
The homo Of the bride was decorated with
exquisite ferus and cvergreens for the : ,
ton, and the gas shone on fair women and
brave men, the beauty aud tho cnivairy Of
our goodly city. The next morning, The only
child Of her mother, and she a widow, went
out from her home uudcr a new and untrled
guardianship, aud the house was left to the
mother-dcsolate.
farr days later. aud the church Is again
filled to overlooking and many 60 away un-
able to gain admittauce. 1t is a bright and
beautiful Sabbath day, and at the appointed
time, again a procession passes up the main
aisle. There is no music now, save the meas
ured tread Of the six young mcu who bear a
coffin, aud place it in front Of the sacred desk.
There is no tarIetan, no satin, no jewels now
but all are clad in the garments Of mourning
The same pastor takes his place at the desk
aud there s a brcathess silence in the house
broken by the entrance of second process.
sion, and a second coffin is borne to The front,
aud a second company Of mourners is seated.
There is another pause, aud the silence
which is becoming oppressive, is again broken
by the entrance Of still another company Of
bearers, and third cofin is placed in line
with the other two
Three lads went ont in company to skate
on the river ihe ice was very thick, the
weather very severe how could there be any
danger? They were on a treacherous foun-
dation the ice gave way when they were
least expecting 1t, and the three went down
together TO a watery grave. One mother, be-
coming anxious, urged her husband to 20 out
aud see If aIl was right with " Charlie" and
he went to satisfy the mother, not because he
had any fears for his child The lads had
skated till they were iye miles from home,
but before the father reached that point he
met man with wagon, and in it lay the
bodies Of the three dead boys What an
answer to give to that anxious mothers ques-
tionngs Each lad was borne to his home,
the third, the only son Of his mother, and she
a widow.
While the pastor is reading passages Of
Scripture and commenting on them, there is
some disturbance at the door-persons are
| hurryiug out, and those standing by the win
dowI can see multitudes on the bank Of the
river A messenger comes in and hurries a
woman out with cries and grolns, physicians
are beckoned out, aud presently word is borne
10 the pulpit and announced to the audience,
1 that another lad has perished in the cold riy-
er another widows son, simply walking on
l the ice, breaks through, and before help can
reach him, life is extinct. -Four darkened
homes There will be no Merry Christ
mas ~ for them to-day, hardly " Happy
New Year" for such grief must have its
way, and each recurring anniversary will open
again the fountain. and the tears will flow for
the dear ones 50 suddenly suatched from the
homo oir@le.
The two Sabbath schools with which the
lads were connected occupied the body of the
church, and after singing, Shall We gather
at the riyer2" they followed the bodies o
their young friends to their last resting place
in the old Mound Cemetery
Shall we gather at the river?" w,
shall 90 down alone to the river Of death
shall we cross it safely and fud our lost and
loved ones waiting for US on the other side