Page:Sketch of Connecticut, Forty Years Since.djvu/246

 A celestial smile was upon her brow, which would have cheered the grief of the aged woman, but for the reflection she must so soon behold it no more. So strongly did her affectionate heart cling to this cherished object, that sorrow shuddered at the thought that the beautiful tabernacle must be dissolved, even while Faith shadowed forth the joy of the liberated spirit.

The first rays of the sun found Zachary on the way to the clergyman whom Oriana had designated. He paused not on his weary journey. Travellers who passed him, had they thought it fitting to bestow so much attention on an Indian, might have perceived that tears occasionally rolled over the furrows of his cheek, or hung upon his eye lashes, which like a fringe of silver, resembled in colour the few hairs which were scattered upon his temples.

"Zachary's heart is proud," he would say, in communing with himself. "The good prophet, when the desire of his eyes was removed with a stroke, wept not, neither made lamentation. It was so, for she read it to me. She, who will soon open her blessed bible no more. And Martha, she will grieve more than Zachary, for her heart is weaker. Be strong, old warriour, that thou mayest comfort the woman. Thou, whose heart did never shrink in battle, what aileth thee, that it is now dissolved? Thou art old, Zachary, and thy hairs are like snow; wherefore shouldst thou mourn any more, for what the world taketh away?" Gathering strength from these meditations, his step became firm, and his head erect, as he