Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-08-22
gBRDAF AgADsRG,
Fl CHILD ANGEL.

-
How few whose m are ttt,,isn
scsts, naOlheS, have any idea or understand
ing Of the solemn responsibilities resting
upon them in these relations. A few
years Of butterfly existence-the finish
given at a fashionable boarding school,
a short wooing, agay bridal, a gayer hon.
ey moon, and the young creature sets
herself at last BY her own hearth.s.one.
and wonders if life is all a holiday.
Such a one comes up now TO my recol-
lection The life of the social circle In
which she moved, always carrying sum
shine wherever she went, m~erfy-hearted
as a bird, thought,ess Of the morrow j:
light, all, motion. all sources of the keenest
enjoyment, rowing like the bee from
flower 10 flower, extracting only honey /;
sensitive. ardent, impulsiye, warm-bear-
ted-but remembering not her Crea-
tor hacking the one thing needful.. .
loved her, as did all who knew her,
for the world had not yet spoiled her
frank and generous nature but with all
that wealth of feeling, and without the
guiding star Of religionl 1 could only
say, I" May God keep her
Her husband was like herself. fond Of
The gay world. but fully able 10 appre.
ciate the strong deep love she bore him.
a babe was given her. With a flood
lot joyful Tears she welcomed it. Al
once she became the self-sacrifcing, pa.
tient. enduring mother. You could no,
have charmed her away from that babel
cradle, "charmed you never so wisely
Concerts, parties, balls, were alike for
gotten her chief JOY IA to watch those
tiny feateres-to caress that fragile form,
The gay, ringing laugh was heard less
frequently-a sweet. calm seriousness
marked her whole demeanor. She would
SIT for hours gazing on its cherub face
with moistened eyes. Years passed on.
The child grew up a delicate, fragile
thing. with large, thoughtful, earnest
eyes, through which the soul seemed
ever speaking: moved 10 tears by !
strain OF sweet melody, or the gorgeou.
beauty of the sunset clond-carins
nought for The sports Of childhood. bul
like the child Saviour " hearing and an.
swering questions"
The love and devotion Of Alice for be,
mother almost amounted 10 idolatry.-
AT night her fairy hand was outstretehed
from the little bed 20 rest 10 that Of her
mother. By day she was ever at her
mothers side, with her book, or with
those large brown eyes fixed on her mo.
Tiers face. intensely interested in he,
conversation When there were visit.
ors she would take a seat in spn:e quiet
corner, never losing a word. bordering
all she heard. II any one advanced an
opinion different from the views express
ed BY her mother. Alice would timidly
venture forth and say, /" I don'tthink Il
can be so; my mother doesn't think so p
or, Il I'M sure you are right, for I've
heard my mother say So" On these oc,
~casions an expression Of deepseriousness.
almost amounting 10 distress, would set
lie upon the mothers face, and hereves
would often fill with tears.
! watched that mother and child with
the most intense interest. / looked for
the time when all this weight Of respon-
slbility should lead her with her burden
to the loot of the cross. / saw with
et rJcSJ euAs puttC-duEeis lnfiStOty
drawing her hither. Nor did look long,
nor in vain. One morning she came q
me with a burst Of tear, and said, aOh,
teach me how TO 60 with that child to
HeaveB!" j told her simply, earnestly,
her duty ; she listened with pager inter.
est ; nay, more.-for God be thanked my
prayer was heard-she tried hard to per.
form il.
And now, little Alice's mission on
earth being accomplished, the mother.
newborn faith and trust ia God were Il
be put tothe trial. The Good Shephers
called her lamb gently to His fold. Tn,
little feet faatered-the large eyes exer
dim. With a food Of bitter tears III,
mother cried, "Iff be possible let thi,
cup pass from me-" But grace prevailed
and as she closed the child's eyes i.
death, | heard her pallid lips saw. "Nc
my will but Thine be dohe.D
Since then the grave has closed owe
the husband Of her youth-poyerty, suf
teFing and trial have marked her path
way. and 0 she can look back and Sc,
the kindness other Heavenly Father il
thns early sheltering the little shrinkin,
lamb from the storm and the tempest.