Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-03-09
miscellaneous.
A MOST EXTRAORDINARILY suFFEuEn.

A MOST EXTRAORDINARY sUFrEVER.
Rev. Joseph Warden, well known to the
Methodist Episcopal Church in CINCINNATI,
as well as through the connection generally,
speaks thus in private letter to friend res
pecting his little daughter, now some nine
years Of age. Three years ago the child was
merry-hearted and active as any of her fell
lows; now how changed A case so extra
ordinary we have never before read. VIII
parents read the sketch and not be moved to
tears
She was, as you know, our pride and glo.
ry. A chosen bud, we shaded, sheltered and
watched its unfolding loyliness. But un-
timely frosts have nipt its beauty. It is with
ering, wasting, win surely die.
The symntaais we're At aSs slight and
sll..r.5 .os.er---then staggsr---then Stun
bling-then falling down. Now, we led
her by one hand-soon it required two--and,
after a while, totally disabled, she could nci-
Their walk nor stand.
At present the lower limbs have crossed
each other, and are thus paralyzed, and gen.
orally are as stiff as steel. Her hands and
arms are slightly under her control. But
her body is SO powerless that she can no more
turn herself in her little bed than she will be
able to turn in her grave. The head has
grown SO large and heavy with the increasing
water in the brain that she is unable to hold
it up.
With the commencement of these symp-
toms we discovered that her sight was more
or less affected. This steadily increased, till
the broad and blessed noon became hazy as
evening twilight, and the twilight darkencd
into black and hopeless midnight little
girl with no gay hours harmless face with
out smiles
And now, for twelve long months, though
we are constantly by her side, she has never
seen her parents. Not single ray of light
has her little spirit caught in its darksome
prison. Look at her Her eyes are bright
and beautiful as ever-but she is blind yes,
alas alas she is stone blind
Yet with all these accumulated ills-thank
God she has her intellect And then she
is so patiepA 0-iaHnb-like, so full of prayer,
piety and holy hope. 0, it would surprise,
move, AMI melt your heart to SET her, and
hear hey-rweet talk about heavenly things.
She expects to be an angel and often smiles
with pleasure al the thought Sometimes
when she thinks herself alone, You may find
her lips in motion, and if you ask what she
is doing, she will modestly reply go, / was
only just praying little.'' At other times
she will lift her sightless eyes, and audibly
exclaim. go God, take me up to heavens
When letters from abroad, expressive of
sympathy for us, are read to her, she will
gently say to her mother-who is everything
to her-"Ma, am sure the friends need not
be SO sorry for me. I do not mind my af
Fiction, for know that when / get to heaven
I shall see and walk as well as anybody"
How, Or when, this long and solemn trag-
edy will end, We cannot say;
"But helpless, blind, and wan, and weakly,
Bearing all her pains so meekly.
To our heart she grows the dearer,
As the trial-hour grows nearer"
This little narrative of personal affection
will commend itself to the sympathies Of our
readers. Our brother is so widely known,
that large share Of those who will meet this
recital will offer prayer that he may be sus-
tanned by the grace Of the Lord jesus
Eternity alone will explain the mystery, and
there is strong consolation in the assurance
that "God shall wipe all tears from our eyes,
in brighter and better world.
PERNICIOUS LITERATURE.