The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-02-27

fused that l could not think. | knew
that | talked incoherenty, therefore l
said but little
One day while l was sitting in my
room, q man was shown up by one of
the servants. Mr.. and Mrs. Mctford
were away from home, having gone over
to a neighbours house.
Don't you know meW said the
man.
II don't think that ever saw you be-
| fore, " | replied
lie looked at me and smiled sadly.
"What do 20 mean, l askedl"
81 mean nothing offensive. You know
Abe Catham2'
'Never heard of him.
81 am sorry, for had hoped that you
would recognize me-
GLOW can | recognize you, sir, when |
this is the first time we have ever !
metz"
He shook his head and muttered some |
thing which sounded to me like poor
fellow" Then he startled me by say
ing:
years"
my keeper"
eyes; am connected with the MIS-
souri, Insane asylum"
Il don't dispute your position as
keeper, but | can assure you that have
never seen the institution. / am st.
Louis land man."
"Lct me tell you something that has
Just come to light You were wounded
at the battle of Antietam."
"Shiloh."
"At Antietam. You and young Vir-
y ,,.,D to nNtpnt rpGpmnlp0
; you-a man named Hockersmith fell
close to each other. In the report of
the killed and wounded, you were put
| down on the dead list and this man
! IIockersmith was reported to be wounded.
You had been struck by a piece of shell
= and was upon recovery of the
wound, found to be hopelessly
insane. You went to Richmond,
} but your supposed relatives spurned you,
: so | have heard; and, after wander
ing around, YOU went to Missouri and
was placed in an insane asylum where you
} remained until few weeks ago when
: YOU escaped Your name, ! have learned,
l is Norval Metford, and | have come to
> tell your parents, after satisfying myself
= that it is you"
i The room began to turn around. The
: mans voice sounded away of at great
c distance. He seemed to he shouting,
c but could not catch his words. Then
I some one, dressed in red tight brooches,
e came in and danced on the back OF q
; chair. A blacksmith led in horse and
/ began to shoe him. His bellows roared
;, and MS anvil rang so loud that had to put
II my fingers in my ears. Ills fire began 10
gradually darken, and, with a sudden
/ puff it went out, leaving me in black
:" ness of atmosphere. l groped around,
/, but could find no opening in the wall l
q cried aloud for a lamp and | cursed the
le blacksmith for allowing his fire to go out
&c with such cruel puff. Crawling around
on nv hands and knees, found match.
g | kissed it. | pressed it to my heart.
"Thank God!n | cried. THANK God
+" that once more there shall be light in the
re world" Tears streamed from my eyes
tried to light the match, The tears
t. had dampened it, and with the feebIes
N little glow. it died away, leaving me II
| despair l heard voice, low anC
III sweet
m "Who are you3" I asked.
A tear fell on my forehead, and clasp
We ing my hands, turned my face upward
e, Whose tears are those falling upo'
IN mel | cried. The voice, soft and swee
ely sang, but the tears continued to fall
"Oh. can you not give me a lamp"
=" cried in agony. Something touched me
OF 1t was lamp, cold and dark, but
ed Rugged it close to me and took care les
my tears should fall upon it. | place.
ed it on the floor and with my hand
ee clasped around it, l lay down an
ch PRAYED. A feeble little glim iickere
between my fingers. The lamp gre'
$50 warm. l removed my hands. TIL
ro- little blaze flickered, and then yes, OF
I'D glories of heaven. thcn-thcre came
giant burst OF light, flood of magnit
&c cent illumination. lay on bed. II
lis sun shonc into the room. \ face-m
mothers face was bowed over M
W. "Thank Godr she exclaimed and el
I'd. circled nv neck with her loving arm
Il Nv father was there, too, looking upc
er- me.
IN "There, dear" said my mother, 'kee
to very quiet. For weeks you have ho
cred between life and death. "
Dor closed my eyes and warm recolle
tions,pourcd over me. could remer
c, Der it all how left that dear home al
'r' went INTO the army.
al am sitting in my room looking o
md on the grassy Slope Where P'"St"
is many years ago. There is the old tr
where / used to swing in the cool shad
ex- hear my mother singing in the sittin
we room. They say my father laughs agai
ay as he did when | was a boy. Those o
led people are in heaven of happinei
be The physician says that few days ire
now | can resume the business OF M
'ur- Can any one doubt the existence OF
You Code Who but God could ha
two planned such joyl My mother ent'
re- and presses her lips upon my brow.
lot- "You haven't the slightest symptol
had of fever. NOrval, dear" she says
d to Angelic womanl She cannot keep
God arms from around my neck when
low comes near me. Now she goes singl
un- through the hallway. There stands
Il to father at the gate. Something
l. E. l.,,.-l,.. he