Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-01-04


another began to set out the table in the mid
die of the floor for supper, covering it with n
white cloth, Gilbert viewed the usual house
hold arrangements with solemn and un-
troubled eye; and there was almost the faint
light of grateful smile on his check as he
said to the worthy surgeon, "You will partake
of our fare after your days travel of'toil and
humanity" In short, silent half hour, the
potatoes and oat-cakes, butter and milk were
on the board; and Gilbert, lifting up his toll
hardened, but manly hand with slow mo-
ton, at which the room was hushed as if it
had been empty, closed his eyes in reverence
and asked a blessing
While they were at their silent meal horse
man came galloping to the door and with n
loud voice, called out that he had been sent
express with letter to Gilbert Ainse mt the
same time rudely. and with an oath, demand
ing dram for his trouble The oldest son, a
lad of eighteen, fercely seized the bride of
his horse, and turned its head away from the
door. The rider, somewhat alarmed at the
flushed face of the powerful stripping, thew
down the letter and rode off. Gilbert took
the letter from his sons hand, casting at the
same time half upbraiding look on his face
that was r turning to his former color II
feared, said the youth, with tear in his eye
- feared that the brute's voice and the
trampling Of the horses feet would have dis
turbed her. Gilbert held the letter hesitat-
ingly in his hand as if afraid at that moment
to read it Mt length he said aloud to the
surgeon "lOu know that l am poor man.
and debt justly incurred, and punctually 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
read it in silence At this moment his wife
came from her child's bedside and looking
. l.,. al -.
mind the money, that no man, who knew him,
would arrest his goods, or put him into pris-
on. Though, dear me. it is cruel to be put to
it thus when our BARN is dying, and when. if
SO it be the Lords will, she should have de-
cent burial, poor innocent, like them that
went before her" Gilbert continued 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
tn the room, beside the poor dear BARN. She
took it from him. and without reading il,
crushed il into her BOSOM for she turned
her ear toward her child, and thinking she
heard it stir ran 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, be-
low 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 why; and often. often putting
up her hand to wipe away n tear, what is
that - said the old man to his eldest daughter:
What is that you are laying on the shelf"
She could scarcely reply that it was a riband
and an ivory comb that she had bought for
little Margaret, the night of the dancing
school hall And NJ tlaea words tho father
could not restrain a long, deep and bitter
groan; at which the boy, nearest in age to
his dying sister. looked up weeping. in his
face, and letting the tattered book of old bal
lads, which he had been poring on, but not
reading, 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, fell that,
in his innocence and simplicity, he was in
deed comforter. The Lord giveth, and
the Lord taketh away" said the old man
BLESSED is the name of the Lord"
The outer door gently opened, and he
whose presence had in former years brought
peace and resignation hither, when their
hearts had been tried, even as they now were
tried stood before them Scarcely could Gil
bert reply TO his first question about his child,
when the surgeon came from the bedroom,
and said, Margaret seems lifted up by Gods
hand above death and the grave 1 think she
will recover. She has fallen asleep; and
when she wakes, hope-I believe-that the
danger will be past, and that your child will
live"
They were all prepared for death but now
they were found unprepared for life. One
wept that had till then locked up all her tears
within her heart another gave short, pal
pitating shriek and the tender-heartcd Isa-
bel, who had nursed the child when it was Il
baby, tainted away. The youngest brother
gave way to gladsome smiles and, calling
out his dog Hector, who used to sport with
him and his little sister on the moor, he told
the tdings to the dumb, irrational creature,
whose eyes, it is certain, sparkled with sort
of Joy. The clock, for some days had been
prevented from striking the hours but the
silent finger pointed to the hour of nine and
that jim the cottage of Gilbert Ainslie, was the
stated hour of family worship His own hon
ored minister took the book
chapter was read-a prayer said-and so,
too, was sung psalm but it was sung low,
and with suppressed voices, lest the child s
saving sleep might be broken and now and
then the female voices trembled or some one
of them ceased altogether for there had
been tribulation and anguish and now hope
and faith were tried in the joy of thanl-soiv-
ing
The child still slept, and its sleep seemed
more sound and deep. 1t appeared almost
certain that the crisis was over, and that the
flower was not to fade. Children" said Gill
bert, Our happiness is in the love we bear to
one another, and our duty is in submitting to
and serving God. Gracious indeed has he
been to us. Is not the recovery of our little
darling, dancing, singing Margaret worth all
the gold that ever was mined! If We had had
thousands of thousands, would VIC not have
filed up her grave with the worthless dross of
gold rather than she should have gone down
there with her sweet face and all her rosy
smiles :" There was no reply but joyful
sobbing over the room.
Never mind the letter, nor the debt, faith
er, said the eldest daughter. 1--WE have all
some little thing of our own-a few pounds
and We shall be able to raise as much as will
keep arrest and prison at distance. Or, il
they do take our furniture out of the house,
all except Margarets bed, who cares We
will sleep on the floor and there are potatoes
in the cellar and clear water in the spring.
We need fear nothing-blessed be God for all
his mercies."
Gilbert went into the sick room, and got
the letter from his wife, who was sitting at the
head of the bed, watching, with heart
blessed beyond all bliss, the calm and regular
breathings of her child This letter." said
ne, nllulN. lh not lIOil II HhIh
Come with me while l read it aloud to ouI
children" The letter was read aloud, and il
was well fitted TO difTuse pleasure and salts
faction through the dwelling of poverty II
was from an executor to the will of distant
relative, who had left Gilbert Ainslie Gl 800.
The sum-" said Gilbert, sis a large one to
folks like us, but not, hope, large enough to
turn our heads, or make us think ourselves all
lords and ladies' = will do more, far more,
than put me fairly above the world at last.
believe that with il may buy this very farm
on which my forefathers have toiled. But
God, whose providence has sent this temper.
al blessing, may he send us wisdom and pru'
dence how to use it also humble and CRATE
full hearts"
"You will be able TO send me to school all
the year round now, father" said the young
est boy. "And you may leave the fail to
your sons now, father, said the eldest. "You
may hold the plough still, for you draw a
straighter furow than any of us; but hard