Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-07-08
Darkcned Windows.

Ah ANfh NHilNNNA ~ aiehuN00 tal puN
whom long we had loved and tended, JUS,
waiting for The summons; Come up
higher
Kindly voices asked at the door How
is she2'-'11y trod the feet Of those who
crossed the threshold, hoping to learn more
Of the sufferer beloved fall.
/ know your mother was living before
| opened the gate said one.
"She will never die" | replied, but
hoio did yon know she was still with us2'
Because, my dear, the house is all
open as usual, aud in low tone" |
saw no Grape. I've watched it with fear.
ful heart every time I've walked up the
street for a week"
"And when she has gone home there will
be neither closed blinds or mourning dra-
perry about the house or ourselves"
My friend did not mean to enter into an
argument then aad there, but unconsciousy
she exclaimed, How strange" ques.
toned Why She could not conclude it was
any lack OF feeling which led US to do away
with custom, for frequent Intercourse with
our family bad discovered TO her the ten
der rcyereut love in which we held our
mother Oh, it must be a comfort to give
expression to ones grief she answered,
"and black is expressive; then, too, it
brings lesson before the most careless
passer.by | always shudder when | see a
darkened house aud shrouded door.knob.
1t makes me solemn, though do not know
the inmates"
Two days after that our mother was at
rest-with 40 emotion akin to joy we said,
cat rest"
Her little sanctum remained unchanged,
save that we heard no more the cracking
Of the wood-Gre which had kept US company
through so many watchfu nights. There
lay her worn Bible with the last mark in
it, and Just above the bed the quotation Of
the Silent Comforter read Fear not, lit
tie flock, for it is your Fathers pleasure to
give YOU the kingdom her eyes had
turned toward it that very morning and
kindlod with a wondrous light as she saw
her text for the day, and in her soul there
was no fcar while she fingered on the bor-
der-land Of the kingdom. 1t was noon
when She entered.
Loving hands cared for her body, and
looking at it, we could only say " How
beautiful Every line Of pain had disap-
pearcd. Her features were calm with that
peculiar expression Of perfect peace which
God so often gives to his beloved, Softly
the winter sunshine came into the room
and we, who had never left her alone fol
weeks, closed the door with a thought ot
wonder that she was beyond the need oi
our companionship and attention. Ever
coming down the stairs we paused to listen
surely that was her cough, but no "thC
former things had passed away; there wa.
neither sorrow nor any more pain for oul
mother.
Some, full Of sympathy, said " What {
sad bereavement 90
ave have not last her." we replied
-" -ho IS ours yot, Only gone before !"
Daring those three days, not blind wai
shut, and We did an we cuuld to make oul
| little house look bright Nothing so touched
us as the remembranees which came frou
those who had loved her-our rooms werl
rich with flowers.
On the morning of the last day a deal
friend, whose helping hand gave aid to many
a family in its hour of need, began to clos,
in the blinds and draw the curtains, re
marking " Certainly through the funera
it must be darkened I"
We checked her with the words +" Nay
there's nothing gloomy with her now. Sh
loved the light We need its cheering pres
once, and will not shut it out
d" How strange came again from anothe
pair Of lips.
may not dwell upon those final, swee
services, nor tell Of the putting away Of th
body whose every atom was precious to US
nor picture the return to our home, whel
we went so naturally to her room, wher,
the fading rays Of the sun just gimmerel
over the bed that was vacant.
This is the thought we would have will
you, dear reader who have glanced at th
page from our heart-lile; when God call
to Himself one and another from your cir
Gle, see that yoa bring no heavy shadow
upon your home by darkening your rooms
Let the blessed sunshine fall about you
hearth-stone, and while you sit in sorrow i
must speak to you Of the " Father of lights,
the God Of all comfort" who, having
torn, will heal having smitten, will bint
up"
Especially if there be little ones unde
your roof, lead them to think of that which
you name "death as going home. Bacl
my memory speeds to the time when grie
first touched my young heart; my play
mate was taken-a irail, sensitive child
whom | loved as | never did another
Dead !" | knew not what that meant, ST
they showed me Into the home where
had visited so familiarly, they led me,
child Of seven up the stairs, through
darkened hail. into darker room. Th
chilliness Of the air frightened me, and al
| saw was the outline Of the white sheet
all | heard was a muliled voice You will
never see Lizzie again."
did not wait for more; one wild crl
and shot out of the house, not willing tt
re-enter it for weeks. Blessed be God, VIII,
has since taught me | shall see Lizzie again
How different would have been my i'm
preston, if the warm sunlight of the autuml
day had shown me the features, beautiful il
death as life; if some one had explained Il
me that my little playmate would have sui
fered had she staid with me, and told m
that the good God who let her come t.
earth for few years, had called her home
where |, too, should 90 sometime, and Sc
and know her. The recollection of tina
room haunted me for many day an
night Oh keep such recollections fror
the children.
The heart must ache, the eye 'oU fill a
sight Of the vacant place, but, tell me, di
it make the sting less, did it stop the burn
ing tears, when you darkened your windows
Vas your soul comforted because you shu
out the sunlight?
Why, yes; |, too, would have you teac
a lesson to the careless passer-by, but
should be this that " all things work to
gother for good to them that love God"
1t seems to me ii is meet for those of U
who are followers of the Saviour, who hav
passed from death unto life, to lift thi
shadow which too often covers us, to scat
ter this gloom, which is Of our own inven
tion and not Gods sending.
Think if Jesus, this day, turning tn
latch, and stepping into your home with tn
same sweet freedom which characterized hi
- Al A =.