Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-12-26

You will partake of our fare after your
days travel OF toll and humanity" In
short, silent half hour, the potatoes and oat-
cakes, butter and milk were on the board
and Gilbert lifting up his toil-hardened, but
manly hand, with slow motion, at which
the room was as hushed as II it had been
empty. closed his eyes in reverence, and
asked a blessing.
While they were at their silent meal
borseman came galloping TO the door, ard
with loud voice, called out that he he'd
been sent express with a letter to Gilbert
Ainslie; at the same time rudely, and with
an OATH demanding dram for his trouble.
| The eldest son, lad of eighteen, fercely
seized the bride of his horse, and turned its
head away from the door. The rider some
what alarmed at the flushed face Of the
| powerful STRIPPING, threw down the letter
and rode off. Gilbert took the letter from
his sons hand, casting at the same time
half upbraiding look Oh his face, that was
returning to its former color. al feared"
said the youth with tear in his eye"
feared that the brutes voice, and the tramp
ling of the horses feet, would have disturbed
her" Gilbert held the letter hesitatingly
in his hand, as If afraid at that moment to
road II at length, he said aloud to the
surgeon You know that am poor man,
|
paid when due, is no dishonor" Both his
hand and his voice shook slightly as he spoke;
but he opened the letter from the lawyer, and
tS,a-. IN silence. At this moment his wife
came from her child's bedside, and looking
anxiously at her husband, told him "not to
mind the money, that no man, who knew
him. would arrest his goods, or put him into
prison. Though, dear me, it is cruel to be
put to it thus when our BARN is dying, and
when, If so it he the Lords will, she should
have decent burial, poor innocent, like
| them that went before her." Gilbert con-
tinued reading the letter with face on
which no emotion could be discovered and
then. folding it up, he gave it to his wife,
told her she might read it if she chose, and
then put it into his desk in the room, be-
sides the poor dear hairn. She took it from
him, without reading it, and crushed it into
her bosom; for she turned her ear toward
her child. and, thinking she heard it stir,
ran out hastily to its bedside.
Another hour of trial past. and the child
was still swimming for its life. The very
dogs knew there was grief in the house. and
! lay without stirring, as if hiding themselves
below the long table at the window. One
sister sat with an unfinished gown on her
| knees. that she had been sewing for the dear
] child. and still continued at the hopeless
work. she scarcely knew whv and often,
often. putting up her hand to wipe away
/ tear. What is that 2" said the old man to
his eldest daughter "What is that you are
LAYING on the shelf 2" She could scarcely
reply that it was a riband and an ivory
comb that she had bought for little Mar
garet the night of the dancing-schoo ball.
| And, at these words, the father could notre-
strain a long, deep and bitter groan at
a. L l. =. .l.,,..
sister, looked up weeping, in his face, and
| letting the tattered book of old ballads,
which he had been poring on, but not read
ing. fall out of his hands, he rose from his
seat and, going into his fathers bosom,
kissed him and asked God to bless him;
and the old man, as he embraced him, felt
that. in his innocence and simplicity, he was
indeed a comforter e The Lord giveth, aud
the Lord taketh away" said the old man;
Blessed be the name of the Lord"
The outer door gently opened, and he
whose presence had in former years brought
neace and resignation hither, when their
hearts had been tried. even as they now
were tried, stood before them. Scarcely
could Gilbert reply to his first question
about his child, when the surgeon came
from the bedroom. and said, Margaret
seems lifted mp by Gods hand above death
and the grave; think she will recover.
hoa m haI;eve-Itbat tba danger will he
"a .hat your child will live !"
P",., ".' 'n'' o,I ,ra,,a.ad Co.. daa+h. h,,,
tho, ,,,are fonnd nnnranared for lifa
mno Um 'm o,+ thot had III; then locked nm
~ r.. ,,;th;n bar heart. apotbar cave
al "e. aI,,;,at;ne, sbrisk . and the tender.
slort, PTlh"i ,'6o h,d ,,nrsed tbe child
.t"'Ueu hah, faintad a,yoy Tha
: W'en !. Va hno.hor asyo way to gIadsome
Vo,,'seHo U'', aII;, he do,, Ttoctor who
S'n','. - ,'';.t 6i,n and bis Tttle sister
"s'u ~ .or al h., tnid tbe tidings m the dnmb
W. " at,,na oho.a eyes II ;s cartain
,IoI .'",'Ir1' .'.;,l ,ort of ioy Tho clock for
= ,pa'N'pu VIII, Ia ho,,, ,,Sayerted from, striL.
= some uaSS' n"" " ~. a;Ia,'t q, Gov o;,,tad
.ug '''T .'''.'' G"s a,,d ,hat ;n ,ta co,to,a
w ',r ] ,ol' a; IL; ~; , .ha statad bc,,r of
~ n..oe1. h;n''i H. o,yn honored minister
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. AcuaPVeI was 20. ,, - ,,,as s,"r, ion
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t ana WIN s"PP'e:SI ,,oI.o, .,u ,1 non
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IN ln'ttlne 10 anu serving Iou, .h" noon,,ar -.
n deed mas ne pee,. 10 US - no' .nI NJ,
IN o' our ht,le ualiins'
ir StIft WpiNi az Wv S'iN N''''s