Vermont Phœnix

"Good-bye to our own dear home," said one of two boys who were standing on a hill, taking a last look at their little German cottage. They were twins, and were standing locked in each other's arms, while tears were flowing fast over their cheeks. They were orphans, and were now going to leave their home and country, to go to England, the land of the stranger. They had learned, when their parents were alive, to play on the guitar and sing, and this was all they could do for a livelihood. "Ah! Henri," said Wilhelm, "how sad it is to be obliged to go away from our own dear home!" "Oh, yes, indeed," said Henri, "but we will come back again; we will earn money, and will come back, and who knows but we may live in this very house again?" "Yes, dear brother, we will try to earn money, and will try to be useful too, and if we are good, and do as our dear parents used to tell us, when they were in this world, God will send his angels to take care of us." They sailed, and after many days "They stood on England's shore;" and every day, as they wandered along they sung at every door— "Their own loved mountain song." And often, as they passed through the villages, the cottagers, would take them in and give them a good supper, and make them "a nice little bed," and tho' many times they heard words of unkindness and scorn, they never answered except with kind and gentle words; and they never slept without kneeling, and, with grateful hearts, committing themselves to their Father in heaven. Often they had no bed in which to sleep, and often were they exposed to the fury of the storm, but they never murmured; they never forgot the precepts taught them by their beloved parents, which were, always to trust in the Divine Providence, and be useful. Though the money they received was small, they always took it gratefully and with humble hearts. Years passed by, and Henri and Wilhelm attained the early desire of their childhood. They again return to their native land, and climb that wooded hill, and again they unite in thanks to Him who had been ever with them, and in that dear home where they lisped their first prayer.