The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-03-31

that he was imprisoned and awaiting his
trial in Montreal, and the next Que said
that his trial had been set down for ap
early day in March.
This correspondence was all the inform
alton the mother had of her son for the
lake was frozen during the winter, so that
the boats did not run, and no news could
come from Canada by the boatmen.
When March came and passed away
without intelligence from John, it was ta-
ken by tho dwellers upon the lake shore
and along the Wilderness road as sure
indication that he had been convicted of
tho crime. A letter or newspaper aD-
nouncing the fact was confidently looked
for by the neigbbors whenever they went
to the distant post Office for their weekly
mail.
As March went out, and spring days
and sunshine came, 1t was noticed that
the face of Johns mother looked SHARP
and white, but she went about the same
daily duties as before, without seeming to
feel i'll or weak.
On a plashy April day, full ofsuushine
she stood on the rocky ridge back of the
house, looking down upon the lake. A
few early birds had come back ind were
twittering about the clearing. Although
the snow still fingered in patches upon
the highlands, the valley looked warm
below, and the first boats Of the season
were dot,ing the wide, distant mirror Of
old Champlain.' A man came sowl y up
Tho muddy line of the road, through the
gate, aud around the house then first the
woman saw him. A slight epasm passed
over her iare. There vas a pitiIul quiv-
er OF the muscles about The mouth, aud
then she walked slowly down the ridge to
where the man stood She struggled II
little with herself before she said, We'll.
John, | nn glad to see you back
John iried to be cool al.n. hut nature
aus too much for him. lie could NOT
raise his eyes to hers. aud hi simple re-.
spouse. Yes, mother. wa> chuk insly ut
tered.
The two walked inio tho house togeth
er in the old familiar way; the woman
without word began la spread the table,
and her son went ou, and prepared fuel.
and bringing it il replenished the fire
Then he sat down in his accustomed pl; &c
bv the stove. with n pleasant remark u.
bout how well the fire burned, aud how
good it seemed i, seemed to be home II.
gain. And the woman spoke few kiud
no'herly words.
Ii WAS the way thev had always done
When John came back hut now there was
great sadn> ~ in it, for he had come
" from prison Jupiter seemed full tc
realize the situation. He exhibited none
Of that fr-kine-s which characterized the
welcome he had usually given; but when
John was seated the old dog came slowly
up to him, laid his forepaws and his head
III his masters lap aud looked sadly in
his face.
As they sat down to supper, John be.
gan to tell Of his fare in Jail at Montreal
and to speak freely of his life there
Will you have to 60 back ?" said hi.
mother with that quiver about her mouth
again. No, mother" said John {" it i.
finished, and | am discharged"
After supper the story wa@ told ovel
how Johns counsel had worked for him
and how the judge had said there was no
sufficient evidence TO convict of so grea
crime.
John continued from this time OF
through the spring to live at home. H'
allowed his sloop to float idly in the bay
whilo as he said, ho himself rested. Th,
truth was, he saw, as others did not, tina
his mother had carried fearful weight
and now, when it was lifted by his return
that the resources of her life were ex
hausted. The change, no: yet apparen
to other eyes, was clear to his vision s.
it is that these silent spirits read each
other
AS the warm weather advanced, tn,
strong woman became weak and as the
June flowers began to bloom. she ceased
to move about much, and sat the most o
each day in chair by the open door
cOuu indDdRCu tuc ubu>t ldlNtu wiz
his mother. Her mind chang, with tn,
relaxation Of her physical frame. Sh
no longer strove to hide her tears. but
like tired infant, would weep wi,hou
restraint or concenment. a. she told he
sen Of the early loves aud romance Of he
girlhood life 10 warm valley Of tn
West. He learned more of his mother
heart in those june divs than he had sur
missed from all he had known Of her be
fore. And h. understood what thew pre-
lir'ed He felt that the heart nrare.
hi- own was counting over the treasure
uf life ere it surrendered them forever.
There was no great scene when tn
womsn died. IL was evening just ns tn
July flowers were coming on. She ha
wept much in the morning. As the da
grew warm she became very weak an
faint. and about Doon was moved BY he
} son from her chair to her bed, and so die
as the sun went down.
John was alone in the house when SD
died Stree his return from Montreal b
! had been made to feel that he had bu
, one friend besides his mother. Only on
neighbor mad called upon him, and ths
was Pete Sesrls. He had ever prove
, true. But John did not like to ,roubl
his one friend. who lived two miles away
to come and stay with him during tn
night. So he lighted candle, took dow
from shelf little Bible and hymn boo
that he and his mother had carried on a
average about four times year to
school house used as church. some ST
miles away, and so alone with the dea
, he spent the hours in reading and teal
and meditation.
t In tho morning he locked the door (
his home and walked " over to Pete's
:. AS he met his friend, he said in clet
e voice, but with eyes averted, She hI
t gone, Pete-ir you will just take the ke
s aud go over there, Ill go down to Il
= lake, and get the thiogs, and tell Downe
}, and we'll have .he funeral, say on Thur
g day."