The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-06-02

where they stood. George and Willie
were up in an instant, and off after them;
and still on they ran, never considering
that they might lose their way. BY and
iy, however, they were obliged, once moro
to desist; for, added to fatigue, hunger
now made itself felt They looked around
them and at each other aghast; they had
never been in that part of the wood be-
fore. 1t was getting intensely cold, and
already the twilight was coming on apace;
for in the thickness Of the trees of course
the days were very short. What were
they 10 do2 Willie could not walk any
more, and George corld not carry him.
Then, it may be, for the first time they re-
pented of the step they had taken.
90, George" said little Willie, "where
will mother think we are, we don't return
to dinner, and then to supperl I am so
hungryl Do you think it is supper time
yet 2" he continued, and he began to cry.
"No, not yet" said George; "but don't
We fret So"
They sat down completely exhausted,
and neither spoke for some time: at last
Willie looked up.
"Georgy, dear, I'm afeard We are very
bad boys, to come away without asking
leave of father or mother. I thought so
once before, but you told me not to tell"
Poor George! his sin was now meeting
with its own punishment, and he knew it.
The thought that they might both die
of cold and huhger came with fearful in
tensity to b;s mind. He tried once moro
to look .round him for some place to 90
for shelter, but it was Of no avail, and he
gave it up.
II am so sleepy. George" said the lit
tie boy, once more. 81 think can 60 to
sleep here, only I will first say my pray
ers, and ask God to forgive me-"
And he knelt with folded hands as he
was won't and he repeated the Lords
Prayer; and after commenting himself
and all dear to him His gracious keeping,
he lay down beneath tree, while his
friend tried to cover him with his own
coat.
George watched till it was quite dark,
and he too prayed for forgiveness; and
then, with mind more at peace, lay down
by Willie's side.
The night passed on; hour after hour
flew swiftly by; the cold was intense, and
their clothes and hair became stiff and
frozen. George could not sleep, and a
strange feeling came over him. He look
ed at his companion, and he saw him with
a face like marble; he touched him and
and he was cold and rigid. Still the truth
was not clear to him, and it-was only in
the grey dawn Of the early morning, when
he tried to awaken him, that he found
that little Willie had left this world for
over. Then tho wood resounded with
the unhappy cries Of the unhappy oy,till
at last he fell back completely exhausted.
In this state he was found some time after
wards by his parents, who had sought
him for hours. He was carried home
and put into warm bed, but so weak
that no one expected him to live.
But who can describe the agony of poor
Willie's mother when her child was
brought to herl 1t was only after my
cousin had been with her, and told her
how to bear this grief that she could be
at all comforted; it was not until then
that she could try to say, "Thy will,
not mine, be done"
George fingered for two days, and then
expired. His sorrow was deep and sin
cere, and an hour or so before his death
he asked to see Willie's mother, to beg
her forgiveness for having led her son AS
tray, and for the grief he had brought on
her.
LET me be buried with Willie, mother;
and on the same day." he said, "and
plant some flowers on our grave"
These were the last words he spoke !:
and he died that evening.
1t was the Sunday following, after the
evening service that the funerals took
place. Mr.. c. had arranged that all
the school children should be present and
those belonging to Georgy's and willie's
class bore thsif coffins. 2
In less than week the place that had
known them knew them no more a week
before they had worshipped in Gods
Church for the last time on earth and
now they were come to be committed,
earth to earth, dust to dust and, we will
hope in prospect Of joyful resurrection.