St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-06-18
flor the Children.
The Last Pearl.

are cheerful and full of JOY, uIaster. SCI
wants. and friends ot the family; for
on this day an heir, Il son had been
born. and neither and child were doing
exceedingly we'll.
The burning lamp in the bed cham
her had been partly shaded. and the
windows were carefully guarded hN
heavy curtains of some costly sllkcn
fabric. The pet WAS thick, amt soft
~ Il mo>sy lawn. and INthIng invited
to Sluml,rI WAS charminglN suggestive
of Irpu>c and the nurse found that. for
She slept: and here She might sleep. t"r
everything was good and blessed. Th"
guardian spirit OF the house leaned
against the head of the bed oven the
child at the mothers breast there spread
- it we've Il net of shining stal~ IN end
less number. and each ~tIr WAS a pearl
of happiness All tine good stars of lit,
had brought then gifts to the newborn
one: here ~parklcd health. wealth. for
tune. aud love in short. everything
that man can wish for ON earth.
every thing has been presented
here - said the guardian spirit.
NO: not cNtrythimg, said IL voice
near him. the voice of the child'S Jood
nmgd.
cone fairy has not yet brought her
gift but sh" will do 50 som" day. even
if yealS should cIapse ,r>t, She will
bring her gift; the last pedrI is yet
wanting.
wanting. here nothing may he
wanting. and if it should hc the caSe.
let me go and seek the powerful fairy :;
let us hctakc ourselves Ia her,
'.Shr comes she will come some day
un>"ught. Her pearl may not be want
ing: it must be there. 50 that the com
pletr crown may Ice Won.
Where is she to hr found !? Where
does she dwell Tell 1t me. and | will
procure. the pearl.
..You will do that - said the good
angel of the child. II will lead You to
hen directly, wherever she may he. She
has no abiding place sometimes she
rules in the Empcr"r's palace. some
times YOU will find her in the peasant :
humble cot : she goes 10y no person
without leaving Il trace: she brings two
gifts to all, he it Il world or Il trlile, /"
this child also she must come. l"m
think the time is equally long, but not
equally profitable. Come, let us go for
this pearl the last pearl i'll all this
wealth"
And hand in hand they tioated to-
wards the spot where the fairy WIS now
lingering.
1t WAS a great house with dark win
d"ws. and empty rooms. and u peculiar
Stiffness rrrgmcd therein Il whole row
of windows had beet. opened. 50 that
the rough air could penetrate AT It's
pleasure the long white hanging cur
tain~ nIoN eel to and fro in the current OF
wind
In the middle of the room Wis an
open coffin, and in this coffin lay the
rnIp>, of Il woman. still in the bloom
of youth. and very beautiful. Fresh
roses were scattered over her. 81 that
only the delicate. folded hands, AMI
the noble face. YlorIiicd III death toy the
Solemn look of conservation and Ell
trance to the better world. were visible.
Around the coffin stood the husband
and the children. Il whole troop the
youngest child rested on the father
arm. and all babe their mother the last
farewell the husband kissed her hand,
the hand which now WAS as Il Withrt"d
leaf; but which II short time ago had
been wolkin" and striving III diiigrnt
love tor them all. Tears of SORROW
rolled over their checks, and fell in
heavy drops To the floor but not Il
word Was spoken. The silence which
rcigncd here expressed Il world of grief
" it'll silent tu"t>i"pN and with many Il
sob they quilted the room.
\ burning LIGHT stands in the room.
and the lou" red wick peers ont high
above the flame HAT ilirkrrs in the cur
rent of ali. Strange mcncomr III. aud lay
the lid on the coffin over the dead one.
and drive the nails firmly in. and the
blows of the hammer Ir>oInd through
the house. aud echo in the hcaItS that
are bleeding.
"WhIthcr art thou leading mo ,
asked the guardian >pIlil. "Il,'rr dWrll'
II" fairy wIr">. pearl might hc counted
amongst the best gifts for life
''IIrrc she fingers: here in this Sarrc,
hour, said the angel, and pointed t" {;
corner af the room; and there vhrl,
in icl lifetime the mother had takct
hcI seat amid flowers aud pictures
there from Wlcncc. like the bchrlirrni
fairy of tlic house. she had greeted hlIs-
baud. rhildIcn. and friends; from
whence. like the SumlramI> she had
spread joy and chrciluluc>>, and beer
HE centre and the heart %! all. Their,
sal Il strange Wnu:n. clad in long gar
nrut>. it was the ChaStrucd Heart.
now mistress and m"thcI here III tia,
dead ladl'~ place. \ hot tear rolled
down int" her lap. and t"Imc'i Itself
into Il pearl glowing with all the color.
of the raInh"N the angel seized it
aud the pearl >i"nc like Il stan of seven