The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-10-09
The Enchantcd Mantle.
BY JULIAN HAWTHORNE.

Once there was an island, separat-
ed from the rest of the world bv a
great ocean flowing illimitably around
it. Here dwelt a mother and her two
children, a girl and boy. She low
ed them exceedingly, and they re-
turned her love; and because the boy
was older and stronger than his sister
he took care of and protected her /;
and she, being delicate and fair, con-
fided in ard looked up to him. And
it was always summer around them /;
ever since the boy and girl could re-
member it had been warm and pleas
ant, with sunshine and soft winds.
But one day the mother called her
son to her, as she sat in the shadow
of the cottage porch looking out to
sea. The sun was resting ON fleecy
heap of golden clouds above the wa
ter's edge, and the boy saw that long
golden lines seemed to stretch from
him to them.
Lionel" said the mother, ait is a
law of this island that no one can re-
main here after reaching q certain
age. Ny time has come, and / must
leave you, to return no more; but
hereafter, when your age is fulfilled,
you will follow me. Now, when
am gone, you will find the summer
likewise has departed, and instead
there will be cold winds and snow,
and clouds will gather before the sun.
In those days you will wish to wrap
yourself up warmly, and sit before a
fire, where the cold and darkness can
not reach you. But you must never
forget to care first for your little sis
ter; the cold and the darkness will
be harder for her to bear than for
you, and you must keep her always
warm and cheerful until she comes to
my arms again"
Lionel looked in his mothers eyes
but said nothing. Something filed
his heart so very full that he could
not speak.
His mother gazed a while in silence
over the sea, and the shadow of the
cottage porch grew darker around
her, so that Lionel began to fear lest
she should vanish altogether; but the
brightness of the setting sun had so
dazzled his eyes that he could not see
plainly. At last his mother spoke
again:
After | am gone you will find in
my room a long dark mantel which
your father left me when, many
years ago, he reached his allotted
age and departed from us. This
mantle is enchanted, and when you
see it you will very much wish to
wear it; and if you should do so you
would be enabled to see me where |
am gone. Notwithstanding, you
must never yield to this desire until
your sister Rose shall have ceased to
require from you any further protect
ing care and labor; for as long as
you wear the mantle you will be
to give her any assistance
in time of need, or keep her warm
and cheerful in the winter weather.;
and though you would be able to see
me, | should look pale and sad, and
the cold winds and darkness would
increase around you But if YOU
have strength to resist the spell of the
enchanted mantle until your whole
duty to your sister is performed, you
may then wear it without fear, and
shall appear bright and smiling to
you, even more so than you have
known Inc here"
AS his mother ceased speaking, the
shadow of the cottage porch became
so deep that Lionel could scarcely
see her where she sat. Nevertheless,
it seemed to him that she bent over
him and kissed his forehead and his
eyes; and when he opened his eyes
again she was gone But looking
lcross the sea, where the last glimpse
Of the sun was just sinking beneath |
It, he noticed bright path, extending
thence to the Island shore; and at
he further end of the path, where it
was merged in the sun, he thought he
saw his mother standing with a glory |
all about her. Then something so
iimmed his eyes that he could hardly
distinguish her; yet it seemed to him
hat just before she vanished she
ooked at him and smiled He stood |
gazing until the sea had become dark
and gray, the golden path had van
shed, and cold wind, which came
signing from the east, had begun to
lrive the breakers into foam against
he shore. Then he withdrew, with
! shiver, into the cottage, and lit a
,andle, and entered his mothers
'oom.
BY the light of the candle, as he