Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-06-02

apron.
only some poor little sparrows,
said the mother picking them up from
the aoor,
Poor little thIngs, echoed Patti
ence, receiving them In erplnaiore,-
Three are dead, she said, touching
them tenderly but these two have
their hearts beating, Oh how fast
they do beat !
IT IL a bad omen for birds 10 come
in the house, They never come to do
nobody no good, Oh, lawk ! we shall
all be swallowed up, groaned Keturah,
Not by tho birds, smiled the moth
or LAY the dead ones in the grass
Paul, and put the Others in a warm,
quiet place where they can revive,-
They were attracted by the light
Dropping tho dead birds on tho
grass near tho door stone, Paul gave q
hasty glance around all ont OF doors
was quiet, dark and solemn, the lights
that were beginning TO CLEAN here
and there IN tho neighboring farm
houses appearing strangest OF all,
'We are all bewtched togelhcr'
declared Oliver, entering the kitchen
behind Paul, and closing the door as
II something irighttul were following
him. 4 don't know whether I'm in
this wodd Or the next, aud may tho
Lord Nave mercy on my poor soul
sit down and rest, Oliver said the
mother, motioning him to the scttee
lin the chimney corner. 'Thc sun will
shine brightly to morrow, trust -
This adarkncss is only caused by a
peculiar state OF tho atmosphere,
"A very peculiar state OF the at
mospherc, marm, repeated Oliver,
wiping the cold perspiration from his
face. Most days in the mornings the
shaddcrs tall TO the west, and in the
afternoons they fall to the east, but
to-day the shadder fell every way /;
and that's what scared me first, to
have natul' turn agin me 50. And
then the mist riz straight up out OF the
springs and spread in big red cloud,
and then another lot of mist riz right
up under that and made green cloud,
and then another white cloud came
out of them same springs, and they
all sailed off together one on top the
other to the west, and finally got
mixed up with the dark clouds
Very strange and beautiful COM
mented mother, unrolling the cloth of
her own weaving upon the table and
proceeding to cut out Paul's coat with
her sharp shears.
Strange enough, as you may say,
marm, continued Oliver, his uneasi'
ness lessening in the Importance ofthe
wonderful story he had to tell. 'And
Eben Strong he came along on horse
back, and he said a mountain has
grown up betwixt us and the sun, and
we shall always live in the dark. And
Seth Rider told him he thought the
British has smashed us all up, and
this is the sign of it. And some folks
do say lowering his voice, that
George Washington is dead.
He cant be killed. God wouldn't
let HIM be killed !" cried Patience
from her little bench close to her
mother. Father says he has a
charmed life
'Now you are sorry, Oliver, that
YOU wished General Gates had Gener'
Washington's command said Paul
reproachfully.
'Well, some folks did think so,' ex.
cused Oliver. THAT Burgoynes sur
render was a big thing for him; but !
guess that General Washington will
do just about right, after ALL
i should think he would cried
Paul. He is the greatest man and
the best that ever lived
Excepting our father corrected
Patience, who thought that she would
have been British subject long be.
fore this if her father had not fought
: so well.
'Well, well, III go and look altel
the cattle, said Oliver rising tosigh'
the lantern. You'll not expect man
to plow on such day az this, marm.
Certainly not replied the mother
do whatever you like. l think you
will feel happier 10 he employed
and you will not have Atime for evil
} forebodings. When the Lord comes
; | wish to be doing my duty
:. so do !. So do I, repeated Oliver,
J going out into the twilight.
# want the Lord to think well oI
me- whimpered Keturah, drawing the
apron away from her face, but 1 trem