The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-07-11

From the New York Evangelist.
Children.
ny MRS. HARRIET BEEcHER STOWE.
"a little child shall lead them"

well Drowned young fellow from the country
with his long cart whip, and lion shay coat,
holding up some little matter, and turning it a.
bout on his great fist. And what do you sup
pose it was? n babys bonnet 4 little soft,
blue, satin hood, with swans down border,
white MS the new fallen snow, with frill of
rich blonde around the edge.
BY his side stood very pretty woman,
holding with no small pride the bnby-for ev-
identity it was The baby. Any one could read
that fact in every glance, as they looked at
each other, and the little hood, and then at the
large blue unconscious eyes, and fat dimpled
checks of the little one. Ii was evident that
neither of them had ever seen baby like thai
before ..
"But, really, Mary" said the young man,
'isn't three dollars very high?"
Mary very prudently said nothing, but talk
ing the bonnet, tied it on TO the little head,
and held up the baby. The man looked, and
grinned, and without another word down
went the three dolars-all that the last weeks
butter came to; and as they walked out of the
shop, it is hard 10 say which looked the most
delighted with the bargain.
"Ahm thought |, ga little child shall lead
them"
Another day, as was passing n carriage
factory along one ofour back streets, saw a
young mechanic at work on n wheel. The
rough body ola carriage stood beside him
aud there, wrapped up snugly, all hooded and
c'oaked, sat little dark eyed girl, about n
year old, playing with a great shaggy dog.
As l stopped, the man looked up from his
work and turned admiringly towards his little
companion as much as to say, "See what
have got there!"
"Yes" thought I, sand il the little lady ev-
er geta glance from admirng swans as sim
cere as that, she will be lucky"
All, these childrenl little witches pretty O.
ven in all their faults and absurdities winning,
even in their sins and iniquities See, for eX-
ample, yonder little fellow in naughty fit
he has shaken his long curls over his deep blue
eyes, the fair brow is bent in Il frown--the
rose leaf lip is pursed up in infinite defiance,
and the white shoulder thrust naughtily for
ward. Can any but "a child look so pretty G.
ven in their nnughtiness?
Then comes the instant change--flashng
smiles and tears, as the good comes back all
in rush, aud you are overwhelmed with
protestations, promises and kissesl They are
irresistible too, these little ones. They pull
away the scholars pen--tumble about his pa
pers-inake somersets over his books, and
what can he do? They tear up newspapers.
litter the carpets, break, pull and upset, and
then jabber unimaginable English in self de-
y
" FL had a child" says the precise man,
''you should Sec"
He does have a child, and his childstcars up
his papers, tumbles over his things, and pulls
his nose, like all other children, and what has
the precise man to say for himself? Nothing;
he is like every body else-"a child shall lead
him!''
Poor little children! they bring and teach
ms, human beings, more good than they get
in return! How often does the infant, with
its soft cheek and helpless hand, awaken n
mother from worldliuess and egotism, TO Il
whole world of new and higher feeling How
often does the mother repay this, by doing
her best TO wipe off, even before the time, the
dew and fresh simplicity Of childhood, and
make her daughter too soon woman of the
world az she has been.
The hardened heart of the worldly man is
unlocked by the guieless tones and simple
caresses of his son---but he repays it, in time
by imparting to his boy all the crooked trick:
and hard ways, and calolls maxms which
have undone himself
Go TO the jail-tO the pcnitentiaTy, and hni
there the wretch most sulen, brutal and har
dened Then look at your infant son. Sucl
as he is to You, such TO some mother was thi
man. That hard hand was soft and delicate
that rough voice was tender and lsping, fonI
rocked and Graded as something holy. There
was time when his heart, soft and unworr
might have opened to questionings of Goo
and Jesus, and been sealed with the seal Of
heaven. But harsh hands seized it-fierce
goblin lneaments were impressed upon it.
and all is over with him forever!
So ofthe tender, weeping child is made the
callous, heartless man-of the all believing
child, the sneerng skeptic-of the beautiful
and modest, the shameless and abandoned
and this is what The IOorid does for the littl,
one.
There was time when the Divine On
stood on earth, and little children sought t.
draw near TO him. But harsh human beings
stood between him and them, forbiddiDI
their approach. Ali has it not been Away
so? Do not even we, with our hard and un
subdued feelngs-our worldly and unscrip
tural habits and maXims-stand like darl
screen between our little child aud its Savior
and keep, even from the choice bud of OIL
hearts, the sweet radiance which might un
fold it for paradise? Suffer little children t
come unto me, and forbid them not" is still
the voice ofthe Son of God, but the cold worl'
still closes around and forbids When fold
the disciples would question their Lord OF
the higher mysteries of his kingdom, he tool
u child and set him in the midst, as sign OF
MN VINO SnouIu De greatest III nedVeH. Hu
gentle teacher still remains to us. BY ever,
hearth and fireside, Jesus still sets The It'll
child IN the midst Of as!
Wouldst thou know o parent, what is thu
faith which unlocks heaven? Go not to wrang
ling polemics, or creeds and forms oftheolo
gy, but draw to thy bosom thy little one, an
read in that clear, trusting eye the lesson o
eternal life. Be only 10 thy God, as thy chill
is to thee, and all is done Blessed shalt tho
be, indeed, when ga title child shall lead thee!