The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1851-05-15

! once knew a little boy. a little child
Of three years old; one If lhose bright
creatures whnse fair lnveliness seems al
most more of heaven than Of earth even
at passing glimpse stirring our hearts,
aud filling Them with purer aud holier
thoughts. But this, the little Francie.
was more of a cherub than an angel-ns
We picture lllem-wilh his gladsnme ha-
eel eyes his dazz'iug fairness. his clus'
terlug golden hair. and hi4 amlst wing
eG step. SIch he was, at less, ,.unll sick
ness laid It's heavy hand upon him; then,
indeed, when after days of burning,
wasting fever hours If WARY restiessuess
the little hand at last lay molinnless
outside the scarcely whittier coverleI Of
his iiny bed, the fair. siI band pressed
down upon the pilluw, and tie pale face
gazing with the silent wonder of return
ing Consciousness On the anxious ones
around them; then. indeed. bright yet
plying look would fit across it; nr dwell
~ the anxious eycs--a hoax such as We
assign to our angels il our dreams, when
50 ne fancy seems 30 hriug rhrm near to
Us. weeping for m'rral griefs beyond
their remedy.
1t was a strange sickness Fur one 50
young the struggle ftyphus fever With
il baby frame; but life aud youth obtainrd
the victory; aud quicker even than hope
could venture to expect. tie pulses raj
| he'd, the cheeks grew round and rosy aud
the little limbs liied up again. Health
was restored health, but not Strength
we thought this for a while. We did
not wonder that the weakened limbs re-
fused thei office, and still we waited on
in hope, unl, days. aud even weeks pass.
ed by; then it was found the complaint
had left its bitter sting. and little France
could not walk step. nr even stand.
Many aud tedious and painfu! were
the remedies res,rted Ia; yet the brave
little heart bore stontIy up, with thai
wonderful lorti,ude, almost heroism,
which all who have watched 10y suffering
childhood, when its iractabe spirit bends
to its early discipline. must at some time
ur other have remarked Francic's for.
titude might have afforded sn example
To many; but dearer lesson was given
in the hopeful spirit with which the little
elDw himself motel the effect nf each
distressing remedy, marking each stage
of progress, aud showing off with eager
, gladness every step attained. from the
first creeping on the hands aud knees to
the liptoe urney round the room, hold
ing on by chairs aud tables; then To the
clnging to sune loving hand; and then,
at last, the graceful balancing Of his body,
until he stood quite erect, aud SO moved
slowly on.
1t was in Autumn this illness seized
on the little one, just when the leaves
were turning. and the orchard fruits be
coming ripe. His nurse attributed it all
to his sitting on grassy bank at play on
one of those uncertain autumn days; but
he in his childish way, always maintain
ed, at was Francle himself eating red
berries in the holly bower" However
this may have been, the season and the
time seemed indelibly impressed upon
his mind. In all his long confinement 20
the house, his thought. were continually
turned to outward objects, to the exler
nal face of nature, aud the seasons
change, aud evermore of hope was 'his-
."When the Summer comes"
He kept i, up throughout the long win
ter, and the bleak cold sp'ivg. A fairy
iule carriage had been provided for him,
in which. well wrapped upirom the cold,
aud resting on soft cushions, he was light
ly drawn along. by servant. TO his own
great delight. uni the admiration of ma.
nv Young heholder. But when any
une attempting to reconcile him the bet
!, ter to his position-exPatiated onihe bean
" or comfort Of his new acquisition. hl'
eager look and talk would show how
far he went beyond it. as quickly inter
, rnpt:np. he would exclaim, "Wait Ill
the summer comes-tuen Francie viii
t walk again!"
During the winter there was featfu
storm; it shrok the windows, mnaned ii
the old trees, aud howIed down the chin
news with most menacing voice. Old.
f er hearts than Francie's quaiIed that
r might, aud he unable tn sleep, lay listen
ing TO it all-quict, but asking many a
one srion, aud his excited fancy formed
similitudes to the sounds One time II
. was poor little children cruelty turned
g out, and wailing; then something sitting
n with its last hoarse cry; then wolves anc
f bears. from far off other lands, But al
p the while Francie knew he was snug aud
v safe himself no fears distnl bed hin
/. whatever the noise may have been.-
Throughou the whole of it he carried
his one steadfast hope, and in Tue morn
! ING telling Of it all, with all his marvellous
h thoughts. he finished his relation with lh'
=. never failing word of comlurt, "Ah! there
shall be no loud wind, no waking nights
when once the summer comes!
> The summer came with its glad bird
and flowe RS, its balmy air; and who ca
:. paint the exquisit delight nfthe suferin
: child that had waited for it 80 longl Li'
ing almost continually in the open air, h
seemed to expect fresh health an
i strength from each reviving breath b
drew. and every day would deem himse
= capable of snme greater effort, as if
= prove that his expectation had not bee
:, in vain.
g s One lovely day he and his little pIa..
fellows we're in group amusing theH
i L., Am