Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-11-02

fore we got of, for the days were wet and
dreary, and the child was hardly strong
enough TO make the journey there aud back
on bad day. We got of at last. II was
great occasion for the child. She nestled her
little head, with its mass Of wealth, down on
my bosom and prayed all the time as car.
ried her on board and laid her down on the
little bench reserved for cripples, before the
lamp burning at the feet of the good Saint
Ann. The good Protestant lady, leaning
over her, said
my child, pray for your father to come to
you. l know he will come for you soon, may
be to-day, and he will be your legs, and that
my darling, will be the miracle"
''If my papa comes to me from around the
Horn, piped the ptiful, fading voice from
down there in the white pillows and from un
der the clouds Of black hair, "if my father
comes for me after l have come to the shrine
of Saint Aun'-brow, breast, left right ,-
why, he wont have to carry me at ALL for l
will run at his side as light as a feather,
maam, and my legs will be long, and strong
and straight as anybody's"
And 30 | carried her ashore and into the
church, and laid her praying at the pitiful
feet of the mother of the Holy Virgin, full Of
faith, and hope and peace of boundess be-
lief that q miracle should restore her, and
and make her strong and straight like 9th.
ers.
An hour later we came back. She still lay
there before the shrine between the two tall
pyramids of crutches, left there by the thous.
ands who had been healed. But her little
crutch still peeped out over the little shoulder
through the clouds Of hair. 1t was time to
go, and, loauing over, l took the little one
again in my arms.
ooh, l am as light as feather, she whis.
Io a a l. 4 I
passed out of the church, "and know that
my papa will come from around the Horn
like the good woman said, only | shall rise up
and be straight and strong, with legs like
anybodys."
We laid her down on the little bed in the
boat as before. She was, indeed, as light as
feather. Her faith was not shaken She
assured the good Protestant lady that we
would not have to carry her on shore, but
that she should surely walk at her side As
we left her the woman was crying, but the
face of the child was radiant with peace, and
faith aud hope. At last the lady said
Il know as we'll as know that am living
that the father has come into port, aud will
be waiting to receive her know that the
day Of miracles on earth are over, yet know
that faith like hers has its reward She must
not, she shall not be disappointed entirely
that would kill her Yes" she continued, as
We drew in toward Quebec, 81 know that is
the solution aud way of it all. The father
has not been los: at sea, but he has returned
from around the stormy cape, and is waiting
for her now
The boat ground against the wharf, and we
went in to get our little charge after looking
in vain among the crowd for some one who
might be her father. The woman approach
ed, held back the sheet, touched the clasped
hands, and drew back with cry of terror
Toe father had indeed come to take
His child to the shore, to that better shore be-
yond the stormy cape Of earth's unrest. She
was dead. joaquin Miller in TeDds Siftings.