The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-01-24

what his deed might convey. Havin
secretly procured prior deed of Wood
burns farm in this manner, Peter
could see but one obstacle now in tn
way of his success, which was tn
town records, embracing that of Wood
burns deed How was this to ne dis
posed Of? Bold measures, which coult
be executed by his minions unde
political pretences, occurred to him
and the result was, that part of tn,
town record soon disappeared. (3) Peters
then commenced an action agains
Woodburn, to eject him from his farm
the course and consequences of which
are already known to the reader
F. Spring had now come: but its blanc
and balmy breath brought no relief t.
the suffering widow. From the houl
she had been compelled to take to hel
bed her disease, though sometimes
lulled or raging less fercely than al
other times. had never for moment
loosen its tenacious grasp. And al
though her cheerful words and meek
accomplishing looks had often misled
her anxious son or at least prevented
yet the dry, parched, red tongue, the
and the tense hurrying and unvarying
beat of the strained pulses might have
told him how certainly and rapidly the
work of destruction was going on at
the citadel of life and better prepared
him for the agoni2ing scene which was
now to follow.
1t was a calm and pleasant evening
towards the close of April, and the
low descending sun was shedding the
mellow light of his parting beams over
the joyful face of terminating nature.
The invalid during all the fore part of
the day had suffered greatly from pain
that general and undefinable distress
which is go frequently found to be the
precursor of approaching dissolution.
To this had succeeded a sort of lethar-
gic sleep from which it was not easy
| to arouse her so that she could be
made to take notice what was passing
around her. But now she awoke clear
and collected: and glancing round
| the room with sort of pensive ANNA
ton met and answered the inquiring
and solicitous look of her son with an
atrectionate smile. Presently her
wandering eye rested on some objects
of the landscape glimpses Of which
she had caught through one of the
small patched windows of the room
and she family Observed
How pleasant it appears without
Harry she continued after thought
full pause 'could you take out that
window before me? / feel a desire to
look out once more on the green earth
and breathe the sweet air Of spring. +"
Eyes mother" said the other an
preaching the bed with a surprised
and hesitating air. Eyes | could easily
do it | presume, but would il be quite
safe for you TO be exposed to the even
ing air.
Yes Harry ;the time for the exercise
of such cares is gone by You need
fear no more for me now my SON. she.
replied in accents of tender sadness.
The son then with doubtful and
troubled look proceeded in silence to
comply with the unexpected request
after which he gently raised the head
of the invalid. who thereupon gazed
long and thoughtfully on the variegat
ed landscape which lay spread out in
tranquil beauty beneath her dimly
kindling eve.
How beautiful" she at length
feebly exclaimed in a tone of melau-
choly rapture" beautiful of Itself but
more beautiful as the type of mans |
destiny after his body has mingled |
with the dust. The scene we here be |
hold. my son. EXHIBITS the resurrec- |
tion Of nature. In summer the foliage !
and blossom expands. in autumn the |
fruit is perfected. and in winter the
visible part falls back to earth and /
perishes, leaving the hidden seed or /
germ to spring forth again into another I
life. So it has been. so il will he, I
with me. | have had my brief summer I
of life, my still briefer autumn. and
now my winter of death is at hand. +
from which | trust to come forth into
the more glorious spring Of life
eternal. "
Do not talk thus mother" re-
not talk thus; you distress me. \
tainly look brighter this evening: and +
| hope another day will find you still
better. y
NO Harry, not better as YOU
mean. If | appear brighter, it is but
the brightness of the last flashing
up of the expiring taper. | feel
that my time is Gomez and thanks
to Him who has prepared my heart to
hail the event as relief and bless
ing. -
80 my mother, my mother, how can
part with your"
My longer sojourn here. my son,
would be of little benefit to others
sven to you: my blessing is worth
more than would be my further abid- !
ng: come and receive it.
The weeping son then knelt down at :
he bedside. and the mother, laying ,
Ter hand on his head, pronounced her
blessing and a brief prayer for his
'arthly prosperity and eternal happi
less.
For several minutes, the son, over .
ome by his emotions, remained kneeI-
ng, with his head, on which still
anguidly rested the emaciated hand
# the dying mother, bowed upon the
,edclothes while the latter. sinking
Exhausted on her pillow, closed her
yes. and seemed to be silently com
nuning with herself. She soon, how /
Yer. reused herself, and observed. - \
my work is not quite DONE | have
little more to say before the scene
loses.
Say on, mother" said the other,
making an effort to calm himself, as
e now rose, and, taking seat near, r
rivetted his gaze on her in
allid face. eff you are, indeed. n
bout to leave Inc forever, withhold r.
othing you feel inclined to communi 9,
ate: for your dying counsels, my dear G
aren't, will be received with pleasure
nd gratitude, and treasured up in II
cart and memory as the last, best