Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-22

"do not leave mel | have been so happy
thinking, thinking how soon we should be
married, that feared 1t could not last.
Yesterday our weddlne-dAy WIS so near, so
very near but now ltsecms so far away, so
very lar away. and so dinA and dreamy, that
know the time villuever come. have a
presentimcnt someshingwill happen to me
before then. Dearest, shall not live to see
that day. When I am gone, fold up the
bridal garments and keep them, that you
may remember me-"
tried to persuade her that her fears were
all an idle dream. thought she WAS only
III, and that it would all pnss away by the
n,@ww.I But words fdled 10 pmsyq her
plxssiaiment. Wewept together. was
conscious that | felt Unexpectedly sad my
self, 10 spite VI my belief that, her fears were
only imaginary. But oh, how tendorly she
plead with mel She had walked with the
Crucifed, One all the way mp from her in
fancy. could not fully understand her ten
der, loving life then, but do now. re-
member MI her tender pleading that night.
/ Teoall the sacred promise | malle her, and
then we parted, oh, how sad e'it
Business called me away the next morn
ing II WAS but short journey, only TWEEN
ty miles only one brief week Of absence.
All, what could happen in so brief time as
th,,tp remember rs | rode away was
oppressed with sadness And yet thought
her fears were wholly groundless. How
was il possible she should know anything OF
tho futureP had no faith in presentiments
and forewarnings. No, II must he wholly
an idle hncy should return in one bre
week, we should stand by the altar side by
side, and then we would become one. Foul
days crcpt away The fifth day dawned
and went out to complete my business, hui
II strange unrest seized me.-a sudden un
cOntrulablr fear that something was wrong
ut home, or some fearful aecident had hap
pened. | remembered the prcsentiment,-
could not fix my mind on my business.
went back to the public house, and walkec
my room in agony Of spirit. | WAS over
whelmed with underlined, almost unendur
able dread. | knew it was near the hou
FOR the stage to pass through the village, an'
if anything had happened Mt home | SHOULD
hear of IT, Soon saw the stage driving M
To the door. | fastened down to the en-
the driver extended letter to me- tore
open and read it; oh, how brief:-"Com
home! Diana can live but few hoursm
Before two hours had passed was by he
bedside. The carriage had been overturne'
and she crushed beneath it. With wha
agony gazed upon her features. oh, hoy
stricken. how crushed | thought she wa
dead, she lay so palid and ,motionless. HI
when touched her forehead with my f.
vercd lips her eyes opened | understoo
their language. / raised her up tenderl
and pillowed her head on my breast. Sh
whispered: Trust and pray, and com
and meet me by-and-by." Then with loo
of inexpressibe tenderness. the light wer
out in perfect peace. | was alone with III
dead.
Fifty years; oh, how long, and yet ho
short it has beenl And how as take u
bridal garments, folded away so long an
kept so sacrediy, can look back on the pa:
without regret. Kept sacredly! ah, ye
sacredly as that anticipated bridal vow thu
was registered in heaven and still remain
unbroken. Kept sacred in the heart thu
early taught the one great lesson of lii
that self-denial is the sum Of all holiness
thus early taught that the cruel fend who
mort,lls call fate. is holiest of the angels
heaven. upon whose starry crown is write
his name in a single word "Waitr' A
have not waited? Have not learned Il
lesson of submission? Have | not walk,
with the angel, Resignation Have | N
turned away from every other vision of mo
tai loveliness, yearning only for the low
and lost? Shall not still wait to the en-
knowing that the time is short. and the co
summation of Heavens purpose near
hand, believing that the words spoken fiji
years ago. Trust and pray, and come al
meet me by-and-by," will be fulfilled in tn
hourP
All, Dinna Ballou, our meeting and PAL
ing was not in vain. 1t was but the prelu'
to the meeting that is followed by Meth
tears nor partngs The bridal carmen
folded away fifty years ago are still the hi
lowed emblems Of our espousal. The visit
of earthly loveliness was but an earnest
( the unflding loVeliness that shall be. III
deep yearnings for the bliss so long deferr
shall he crowned at last The triumph
near ut hand; ere long we shall meet aga
and walk together IN the realms of the ra
IS sonied and sanctified, crowned with an etc
1t nal elysian.-F. b. GGge, ia Amertc'
7; Homes. H...| T..