The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-06-10
LITTLE CHARLEY.

'Haias. Dy goibg ddietiy az tne "oIi'
taking care not to pstlo my neighbors, o
hit against any Of their rough angles,
manage TO be cheerful, contented aud hap
Ipy. In my multitutinous migra,ions,
have had snrne opportunity to study human
nature. Latel, have become tempora
~ inmate of crowded boarding house.
Ny little room has already begun to look
home like. The cheerful sun has nlready
expanded the fragrant flowers love 81
well TO nurture, my canary tril's bis salts
faction 10 gaser song than ever, and my
pictures, books aud guitar drive .dull care
away" and begule many p'easan, hour
And now my heart has found new objec'
Of interest I've noticed on the staircase
and in the hall and lobby, lopely child
who seemed wandering about at his own
sweet will; sometimes sitting YEARLY or
The stairs, almost asleep; then lettering al
The kitchen door, watching the operations
Of The cook; then peeping into the half
opened doors of the different apartments
AZ by the rule Of the house, "Nn children
were permitted al the table," il was some
! time before could ascertain who claimed
| his lille stray walt.
One morning attracted by the carol ol
ny canary, he sentured TO pu, his lill'f
curls head inside nv door, he needed little
| prain. To enter, fer be read, with chiid's
quick instinct, bis welcome in nv face
An animated conversation soon ensued
about birds, flpwers and pictures, his large
blue eses growing bright, aud his cheek
flushed with joy as story followed story,
while he sal upon my knee.
| Atleng,h said tn him, "Char'ey. won'i
mamma be anxious aboht YOU, it you sta, ,
30 loug!'
..Oh. no." said he, .Lis=ie don't care"
"Who's Lizziea"
"Why, mamma! She don't care if fm
onlv out Of The wav. Lizzie made me
this pre,t, dress" said he, holding up hi,
rchI, embroidered frock, .'bu; Lizzie don'i
know any stories, and she saws I'm a
b re" ..What is a bore?" said The sweet
child. SIS he looked trusriugly in my face.
"Neyer mind now" said |. ,eaTtuIs
.yoa may stay with me whenever on like.
nd We viii he very good friends"
Tue dinner bell soun3ed, a saily dressed
Young thing vociiera'cd, In avo'ce aus- :
thing la, m.siral.l "CharIes Charley.
Wien :apo,osizea TOR keeping him, she g Al
careiessls, as she re.arraBged her brace
let's, ..Oh II don'i signify, if yoa can have
patience with him, hes 50 tiresome with
his questions. I've bought him heaps Of
ioys but he Eeyer wants TO play, and i
forever asking me such old fashioned ques
lions Keep him and welcome, when You
like, but take my word for it, You'll repen,
your hargain;" and she tipped gaily down
10 dinner.
Poor little Charley! Time is plenty &c
adjus, all those si'ken ringlets, time TO en-
brni5er all those gav dresses, time 10 linger
ill midnight over the last new novel; bui
for The soul ths, looked forth from these
ewes, M time 10 sow the good seed, no time
TO " waich lest The enemy should "sow tares.' >
From that tine Charley and we're in
separah!e; the ,hough,Iess mother. well
content to pass her time devouring all
sorts Of trashy litsrature, or in the idle gos-
sip with her drawing room companions,
the Young father weary with business
troubles. conien,ing himself with quiet
"good night" closing The day BY visit t.
The theatre or concert room, poor Charley
meanwhile put TO bed for sale keeping.
would lie hours, tossing resilessly from
side 10 side. "wiih nothing in his mind" as
he innocen,lv said to me. What a jov n
sit bv his side and bsgnilc The lonely hours +!
There learned the Saviour's words, "For
Of suck is the kingdom Of He.zren."
Ia his clear silvery tones, he would re-
peat after me, sour Fn,her.n asking me
the meaning of every petition; then he
would saw. "Wby don't you tell LisSie!-
Li=sie don't know any prayersf'
One nigh, snnG him these lines
"Sweet fields beyond the swelling food
Stand dressed in living green"
He raised himself in bed, while the tears
lremb'ed on his long lashss and said, "Ob,
sing that aeain!-i seems as if l sap a
beautiful picture" Then taking my gli-
tar, would sit by his bedside and watch
the blue eyes d,oop and grow heavy wi,h
slumber as ! sung TO him. And she!--
whose duty and JOY and pride il should
have been to lead those little feet 10 Him
who bidde,b ''lit,le children TO come," was
indolen,ly and contenledy bound in flow
cry letters OF her own weaving; unmind
ful that an angels destiny was entrusted 10
her careless keeping.
Little Charley lay tossing in his little
bed with a high fever. Ii is needless TO
say the hold he had upon my heart and ser
vices. His childish mother, either unable
or unwilling 10 see his danger, had left me
ia charge OF him, (drawn from his side by
the attraction Of great military bal,.) |
chnnged his heated pillows, gave hi,n the
cooling draught, ba,hed bis ieverish TEN.
pies, and finally Al bis request rocked him
gently in my arms, to quIrt his restless.
ness. lie placed his iiiie arms around N
neck, aud said feehls, "Sing 10 me oi
tieaven' When finished, he looked Ian.
uuidy up, say ing" Where's Li.-ie. 1
muN Kiss Lis.ie" and as the words died
on his lips. his eye dropped, his hear, fin'.
tered like prison bird, and little Charlie,
was counted one in the HEAVENLY FnLp.
| As closed his eyes, and crossed his dump
led hands peacetuly upon his breast, his
last words rang fearf,!ly in my ears,
..Where's Lis=ie?"