Litchfield enquirer., 1850-12-05


failing. They were in her thoughts al
the day long. and in her dreams by night.
The youngest of these children was n
boy. He had large deep blue eyes, and
his long lashes, when he slept hay upon
his cheeks like the lashes Of a woman.
Something in his face ever awakened in
the minds of those who gazed upon him.
thoughts Of heaven. ard many said 81
him hat he was but u stranger here and
would soon return 20 his own county.
And such thoughts came. sometimes, to
the happy mother. and then her heart
grew faint 81 sad. r
Al lengtfwhat had ben ssavsd, beGsl
the child. The Angel Of Death came and
removed him from his earthly abode to
a heavenly dwelling place, and the
stricken mother bowed her head. and
would not listen to the voice Of consola-
ton.
"God is good" were the words Of ore
who sought TO comfort her. "and He af.
flicts us ia loving kindness /"
~ will not believe it," replied the
weeping mother. 1t was not good to
take from me my precious boy"
"He is with the angtls-,hink Of that.
The great problem Of life is solved, and i;
is well with him.. There is neither doubt
nor fear, nor anxiety on his account, for
he is safe in the everlasting habita.ion Of
our father in heaven"
The mother listened, and the consider
wen on. A.sE+
mo more grief. ND more pain! Think
of that. Let not your thoughts droop
with feeble wings about the dark and
gloomy grave. H. is not there. But,
lie, them ,ise on swift AMI sunny pinons.
20 the beautiful dwelling place "f angels.
Ills d,caying body aln,e fills the grave
on, his pure spirit. that gave life and
beauty TO it's earthly tenement. has gone
to his better home. Would you have
him back again? Had you The power.
with a word, to call him back to earth.
would you speak that word. now that he
has escaped the long trial and suffering
that comes to all who have to make the
journey Of life? No. am sure you would
not. ..-.,..
The tears Of the mother ceased to Row
and she bent near to him who spoke. and
listened more intently. He proceeded
Ons = aa.l
"All children who die are raised up in
heaven and received by angels. VIII" love
them with the utmost tenderness Your
dear boy, though he has been taken from
i.n earthly mother, has already found IA
heavenly ont. And you have not really
lost him. for he is present in your
thoughts. and you lore him with even IN
'ntenser affection than before. I" part
with HIM j. hard, for our natural feelings
cling to those we love, and their removal
brings exquisite pain. But our natn'nl
feelings have in them the faint Of selfish
ness, and it is needful that they should
be elevated and purified: or rather. that
they should die. in order that spiritual
affections may be born. And what are
spiritual affections The love Of thing
good and true. for their own sake. And
such affections ave laid in the grave
The death ct these affections in always
accom- panied by pain but the birth %
corresponding spiritual affections will be
with joy. The deer sorrow so" nov
feel Is "a natural sorrow. Your heart Is
aching for its loss: and even while rea-
son and religion tells you that this reno
val from earth to heaven is one Of indnll'
blessedncss 10 your boy. you mourn BIZ
loss and will not be comfOrted. But il
is for you to look up and feel an exquisite
ivy in the thought that you rave added
one to 10 the company Of Gods angels,
1t may not be now it cannot he now
for the shifting If your mutual affections
is too recent. and the waters Of affection
must flow for time. And IL il good
that they should fow forth, in order u Al
the spiritual consolation may flow into
your heart from heaven. But this influx
Of healing water will depend on yourself.
You must be willing TO look up and 10
seek comfort from The only source whence
it springs. You must be spiritually glad
that your child has gone to heaven; thai
is, glad for his sake. and those who are
made happier in heaven BY his presence.
There is such gladness--but it thrill
in region Of the mind far above the place
where natural affections move and il is
full Of that interior delight which ellis the
hearts Of angels. /"
Thus spoke the comforter. and his
words found their way into the mo.her's
heart. She did not make - response. but
her thoughts were filed with new images
and even in the bitterness Of her sor-
row. she tried 10 look away from her own
loss and 70 think Of MI her absent one had
gained. ,
In the night following. as she lay slum.
herring On iier pillow. which was wet with
ears. sweet dream that was not all u
dreaW. came % her. She saw before her
a company of angels. surrounded by IN.
Iarts and little CHI deem. the latter dressed
IN white garments. with flowers blushing |
amid their clA Ger ~ eu.ls. They we'e
in garden. and Ehs children we're sport. |
;nss sneifh nsnss s.NaAl.ap mnA esvssP Aa they