Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-08-29
SUNDAY RgADgGG,
THE CHILD ANGEL


How few whose names are written
ID.fe, mother, have any idea or understand
ing of the solemn responsibilities resting
upon them in these relations. A few
years of butterfly e~xistence-the finish
given at a fashionable boarding school.
a short wooing, a gay bridal, a gayer hon
ley 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 m up now 10 my recol-
lection. The life of the social circle in
which she moved, always carrying sun
shine wherever she went, merrY-hearted
as a bird, thoughtieSs of the morrow :
light, air, motion. all sources ofthe keenest
enjoyment, rowing like the bee from
flower to flower, extracting only honey /;
sensitive. ardent, impulsive, warm-hear-
ted-but Remembering not her Crea-
tor lacking the lone 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 religion! I could only
say, " May God keep her"
Her husband was like herself. fond Of
the gay world. but fully able to appre-
ciate the strong deep love she bore him.
A babe was given her. With a food
of joyful tears she welcomed it. At
once she became the self-sacrifcing, pa
tent, enduring mothcr. You could not
have charmed her away from that babe S
cradle, charmed you never so wisely"
Concerts. parties, balls, were alike for
gotten, her chief Joy was to watch those
tiny ieatures-to caress that fragile form.
The gay, ringing laugh was heard less
freqncntly-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
eve speaking moved to tears by a
strain Of sweet melody, or the gorgeous
beauty of the sunset cloud-caring
ncught for the sports of childhood, but
like the child Saviour " hearing and an
sWerIng questions"
The love and devotion Of Alice for her
mother almost amounted to idolatry.-
At night her fairy hand was outstretched
from the little bed TO rest in 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-
theirs face, intensely interested in her
conversation. When there were visit
ors she would take q seat in some Quiet
corner, losing a word, bordering
all she heard. II any one advanced an
opinion different from the views express
ed by her mother, Alice would timidlv
venture forth and say, Il don't think it
can be so; my mother doesn't think so;''
or, Il am sure you are right, for I've
heard my mother say So" On these &C.
casions an expression Of deep seriousness,
almost amounting TO distress, would set
tie upon the mothers face, and her ewes
would often fill with tears.
watched that mother and child with
the most intense interest. | looked for
the time when all this weight of
sibIlity should lead her with her burden
10 the foot of the cross. | saw with
spiritual eyes, this chilG-angel, invisibIy
drawing her hither. Nor did | look long,
nor in vain. One morning she came 70
me with a burst Of tears, and said, ooh,
teach me how to 60 with that child to
Heaven" told her simply, earnestly,
her duty !; she listened with eager inter
est /; nay, more,-for God be thanked nv
prayer was heard-she tried hard 10 pef-
form it.
And now, little Affects mission on
earth being accomplished, the mothers
newborn faith and trust in God were to
be put to the trial. The Good Shepherd
called her lamb gently to His fold. Thu
little feet faltered-the large eyes grew
dim. With a food Of bitter tears the
mother cried, Of il be possible let thi,
cup pass from me-" But grace prevailed
and as she closed the child's ewes II
death, heard her pallid lips say, mo
my will but Thine be done"
Since then the grave has closed owe
the husband of her youth-poverty. sui
fering and trial have marked he? path
way, anil ncw she can look back and see
the kindness other Heavenly Father il
thus early sheltering the little shrinkin.
lamb from the storm and the tempest.