Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-04-02
Children.
by MRS. HARRIET BEEcHER STOWE.

NuituTtus
by MRS. HARRIET BEEcHER STOWE.
One cold market morning, looked into mil.
liners shop, and there saw a hale hearty, well
Drowned young fellow from the country, with his
long cart-whip and lion shay coat holding up some
little matter, and turning il about on his great fist.
And what do you suppose it wasl bdbys bonnet
little soft, blue, satin hood, with swan's-down
border white as 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
baby-for it evidently 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 dimped cheeks
OF the little one. 1t was evident that neither OF
them had ever seen a baby like that before
But really Mary said the young man, isn't
three dollars high?
Mary very prudenty said nothing but taking
the little bonnet tied it on the little head, and held
up the baby. The man looked and grinned, and
without another word down went the three dollars
all that the last weeks butter came to and
as they walked out OF the shop, it was hard to say
which looked the most delighted with the bargain
Abr thought l, "a little child shall lead them
Another day, as was passing carriage factory
along one of our back streets, I'saw young me-
chanic at work on wheel. The rough body Of a
carriage stood beside him-and there, wrapped up
snugly, all hooded and cloaked. sat little dark
eyed girl, about year old, playing with a great
shaggy dog. AS stopped, the man looked up from
his work and turned admiringiy towards his little
companion, as much as to say, see what l have
got herer
Yes, thought I, and ifthe little lady ever gets
glance from admiring SWANS as sincere as that, she
will be lucky
All, these children little witches pretty, even
in all their faults and absurdties winning, even
in their sins and iniquites See, for example,
yonder little fellow in a naughty it-he has shaken
his long curls over his deep blue eyes-the fair
brow is bent in frown-the rose-leaf lip is pursed
up in indefinite defance-and the white shoulder
thrust naughtily forward Can any but child look
pretty even in their naughtiness
Then comes the instant change flashing smiles
and tears as the good back all in rush, and
you are overwhelmed with protestations, promises
aud klsses7 They are irresistible too these little
ones. They all pull away the scholars pen-tum-
BILE about his PaPers-make somersets over his books
and what can he dol They tear the news papers,
litter the carpets-break, pull and upset, and then
jsbber unimaginabe English in self defence, and
what can you do for yourself?
IL I had child says the precise man, you
should see
He does have child, and his child, tears up his
papers, tumbles his things. and pulls his nose
like all other children, and what has the precise
man 10 say for himself Nothlng-he is like every
Poor little children, they bring and teach us, hui
man beings, more good than they can get in returnl
How often does the infant with his soft cheek and
helpless hand awaken a mother from worldliness
and egotism TO whole world of newer and higher
feeling How does the mother repay this! by do
ing her best TO wipe off, even before the time, the
dew and fresh simplicity of childhood, aud make
her daughter too soon woman OF the world, as she
has been.
The hardened heart ofthe worldly man is unlock
ed by the guileess tones and simple caresses OF his
son-bnt he repays it, in time by impartng to his
boy all the crooked tricks and hard ways and cal
lous maxims which have undone himself
Go to the lail-to the penitentiary,-and find there
the wretch most sullen, brutal and hardened. Then
look at your infant son. Such as he is to you such
to some mother was this man. That hard hand was
soft and decate-that rough voice was tender and
lspng-fond eyes followed him as he played-and
he was rocked and Graded something holy
There was n time when his heart, soft and unworn,
might have opened TO questionings OF God, and been
sealed with the seal of Heaven. But harsh hands
seized it-ferce, goblin lineaments were impressed
upon it-and all is over with him forever
So of the tender, weeping child, Is made the
heartless caous man--of the all believing child
the sneering sceplic-of the beautiful and modest
the shameless and abandoned--and tins Is wha
the porH does for the little one.
There was a time when the DIVINE ONE stood
oh earth, and the little children sought to draw
near to him. But harsh human beings stood be
tween him and them, iorbiddng their approach
All has il not been always sol Do not even we
with our hard and unsubdued feelings-our worldly
unscriptural habits and maxims-stand like darI
screen between our child and its Saviour, and keep
from the choice bud Of our hearts, the swee
radiance which might unfold it for paradise SUI
fer little children to come unto me and forbid then
not is still the voice of the Son of God, but th'
cold world still closes around and forbids. WheI
of old the disciples would question the Lord o
The higher mysteries of his kingdom, he took lit
child and set him in the midst, as sign OF hin
who should be greatest in heaven. The genll
teacher stills remains to us. BY every hearth AM
fresde, Jesus still sets The little child IN the mids
of u.s.
Woulds thou know, o parent, what is that fat
which unlocks Heavenq Go not 10 wranghng pc
lemics, or creeds and forms of theology, but draw
10 thy little one, and read in that clear, trusting eye
the lesson OF eternal life. Be only TO God, as tn
child to thee and all is done Blessed shalt tho
be, indeed, when "a little child shall lead thee