Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-06-11


and then look mot such an one as anguish anc
distress unwillingly wiring from the wratched) o
sorrow mantled the face. The mother asked o
herself what this might mean. Alas it was blu
\ few DAYS past six years since she first felt thu
short, faint breath of her darling upon her bosom
and now her daughter was as feeble as then.
The child awoke suddenly, and looked arounc
as if lost in amazement
What's the NATTER Mary THAT was the little
girls name.
Nothing, Mother; I feel BETTER said the sick
one. Then she turned her eyes to the window
and gazed first upon the flowers, then on the fields
and the stream flowing through them, then on the
distant hills; finally she fixed her steadfast look
upon the skies.
At length she turned to her mother and asked
What makes the birds sing 2
Because they are happy, dear"
Are birds ever sick 2
Sometimes, Mary
Yes, Mother, but they don't sing when they're
sick, do they 2
No, my dear
It's because they're not happy, isn't it.
Il think SO, Mary
The little girl was silent, and looked out of the
window again very earnestly.
Mother, is not this beautiful world !!
Very beautiful, Mary. Why and the tears
starting from her eyes, the mother turned her head
that her daughter might not see them. Why,
my dearp but the little girl was thinking of some
thing beside the answer, and it not till again
inquired of Why do you ask that question ? that
she said
But there is world good deal more bcauti-
full than this 2 There reply. The tears
ran fast down the mothers cheek.
Yes. mother, you used to tell me so, and that
good people went there when they died. Little
girls die sometimes, don't theya Say, mother,
don't little girls die sometimes!
Mary Mary!
Little boys do. You told me that when Willie
died, he went t6that happy land where the dead
had gone and become angels. Did you ever see
an angel! Mother, the lamps burning on the
stand Don't cry, mother; want to tell you a
sweet, sweet dream had while asleep. l have
felt better ever since
Don't talk any more, Mary it hurts you,' an
swered tho listener. There, don't try to get up
again. And she smoothed down a cool pillow
which she had laid under the fevered head of the
sick child
The little girl laid quite still.
In few moments she raised her head and asked
Mother, what makes children sick !!
The parent thought short time for an answer
What reply could she give! And she simply
said, Don't talk, Mary
The little girl laid quite still.
And the robins out of the window kept singing
their nournful song, and the blue-birds answered
With their soft and plantive note while lit was not
strange for it was spring. the sparrow carolled
forth his merry roundelay.
Ihe mother watched her child.
The long square of the window grew shorter
and shorter the floor as the sun rose higher and
higher
The mother watched her child.
The sufferer moved still it was no pang that
caused the motion for her face was as calm and
placid as the morning out of do.,rs
The mother watched her child
Oh! the intensity of deep, abiding, parental
love!
The little sick girl raised her head and asked
Won't you let me speak now =
There was something in the tone of that request
which fell mournfully upon that mothers heart
with cadence taking no denial. And as she sat
by the side of that wan, weak creature, whose &C
customed voice sounded SO strangely in her ears,
she looked from the bed through the window.
She saw the flowers, bright in the morning sum-
She saw the green fields joyous in the verdure of
spring, the silver waters dancing through Them
She saw the hills glorious in their pride and
strength.
She did not smile.
Then she thought how the frosts would descend,
the winter come, and 6esolation despoil them ALL
AZ last she looked upon the sky, serene in its
eternal blue, and thought how far surprising the
changing frailties of this earth is the stability of
those things above.
Perhaps she smiled.
She looked at the hills again. the fields, the
flowers, and thought how the spring would return,
the hills exult the fields rejoice, and the flowers
bloom again.
She did smile.
Then she turned to her child. There had been
no answer to the request. She looked at the little
sick girl again, but she did not see her, for the
hot, round tears stoodsin her eyes, and she could
not see.
Mother wont you let.me speak now q said the
invalid.
OF the twain, whose mind wondered there was
no replya
What beautiful garden / was in There
were no weeds in it. 1t looked some like ours
as ours did last spring, Imean. Such lovely flow
ers! There we're great wide fields beyond. II
walked alone in the garden, and when picked |
flower, it didsnot fade, and another came in its
place. wish ours were sol Such delightful
day and there was no sun. Away of, something
shone Ike thousand chnrchspires all gold, in 4
bright Sunday morning. So went along till |
came to river. A great many people were drink
~ ing nom il, and 50 stopped and drank. When
'hey saw me DO 80, some Of them came across, and