The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-12-30
YOuth's Department,


matches, sir'" said The voice Of boy. were
seated in our sanctum, in mode contemPlutive, a.
boat eight O'Clock few nights ago.
"No," wo answered, in a tone that might not have
been altogether courteous or good natured because
the question had been asked us before, twenty
times day. This answer we gave whbou, looking
at the child giving second thought TO the matter
''Please sir, buy some matches'" said the youth;
"I'll give you five boxes for Bit"
"Dut we have no use for them, boy, or We would
purchase Of you"
''Yet you will have use for them by-and-by, sir;
and you don't know how much good pcnyune
would do.my mother and little sister at home. just
now. haven't sold box OF matches to-day
Please, sir, will you give a dime for six boxesl"
The tones Of the ehild's voice were so plantive,
his manner Of speaking and his pale hnggard counte-
nance bore such evident marks of unthfulness and
honesty, and his bearing manly. that could
not, If we had tried, do otherwise than listen 10
his tale.
"How many sisters have you?" asked
Three, SIR
care they either ofthem able TO assist your moth
err"
''oh, bless you, no sir! Mary is but seven years
old, Pauline only four and little Kate can barely tod
H'S aO'Oss tHO hoo'' H'a'yb 'hO"S"' Na'S W
Kate some of the time, and that saves poor mother
some trouble"
"And what" we ssked, "dOes your mother do
for your support"
"she binds shoes, sir Ma sends me to the shop
with them every morning and the boss is
times, and says thingo that make me mad And then
go home and tell my mother, and she says s'.o~d
not get angry for is perhaps her fault that he Is ~
"a. bnt I dnnst thinl. sn air
mother! never in the world said did anything that
wasn't right and proper"
We bough; OF the boy matches enough to last us;
for year, and stopped his voice of gratitude by
promising ca at the home of his mother, and
see to the welfare Of Mary, Pauline, and "Itle',
Kate.
Poor mRtch-bOy! would that every heart as
pure as thine. The storm Of adversely may rage u
round thee, its chilling breath may penetrate through
the thin covering povGsty has left thee, but ii
never take from thee that invaluable honesty good
mother has instiled into Thy youthful heart. Cheer
mp, then, boy! BE patient, be vrtuous, frank,
jy, and honest, now, and time will come, though
it may be afar off, when you need not ask, "Buy
some matches, sr?'-.Ntw Orleans Jfopic.
DEATH OF A MISSIONARIES CHILD.
Seldom have the fountains OF parental sympathy
been more deeply stirred within me, than they were
e few moments ago when a friend read to a pas
snge in aett~ just received from missionary brother
Grew. Mr. Lawrence, Dindisu) away in India. IT
mantioned tho death Of lovely child, three years
and twenty-five days DID, and this was the closing
scene.
"Dear Louisa went calmly to her last repose,
as the shutting up Of flower at twilight. As her
sight began to fail though ubou, fonr O'Clock in The
afternoon, she said to me, "Good night, papa" her
usual words on going to sleep, and then went on no
repeat,
''Now lay me down TO sleep,
pray the Lord my soul TO ke-ee-p-
A-a-menH'
and she left US, to weep and rejoice; md now 10
long for reunion; tot here, o no, not mere"
Sweet, blessed child-a fitting prayer ,hon
couds not have offered, had thy lips been then rs
now the lips OF an angel. Thou indeed lying
down to sleep, and sweet shall be thy rest for the
Lord will keep thee; thou shalt sleep his breas,
and wake in his arms.
She did not live TO say,
elf should die before wake,
pray the Lord my soul to take;"
but the Lord took her in the midst Of her erning
prayer when she nsiool the darkness Of death
gathering over her, for the shades of evening, and
bidding her friends "GoOd night" calmly committed
her sweet spirit to her heavenly Fathers