Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-03-02
READING FOR THE YOUNG.
LEAF FROM MY LIFE.

LEAF FROM MY LIFE.
Dear Nettie, how loved her. She was my
sister and was six years older than myself
1t was in the spring time-when the blne-birds
were just beginning to carry straw and sticks
into the box that was nailed TO the north gable,
above the window of the room where Nettie and
used to sleep. Nettie was sick; and every
morning used to go down into the garden, and
pull handful of flowers, and place them in
little gilt vase that stood at the head Of her
bed. And I'd raise the window for her when
she wished me to and when the breeze, which
smelt ofviolets,came in and the blue birds perch
ed upon the wndow-sill, the tears would come
up into Nettie's eyes; but when she saw me
looking at her she would smile, and say some
thing pleasant.
One morning, after had placed hand full
of fresh flowers in the little vase, and hoisted
the window, Nette called me to her. "Come
here, Nat," said she; come here and sit beside
me-" | went, and saw two bright tears that
looked like the dew-drops which had shaken
off the flowers had brought her, rolling slowly
down her cheeks. "Dear Nat, you are so kind !.
Pm great trouble to you, amt :"
"No indeed, Nette; love you; and ! love
to raise the window for you, so that you can
hear the birds sing palmer No, Nettie, | don't
get tired doing these things for you; but You'll
soon get well, won't you? and then we can both
gather flowers ); and then you can see them up
on their stems-they look so much prettier in
the garden, Nettie You will get well, won't
you!"
While was talking to her saw more tears
gather in her eyes-her deep blue eyes-and
thought they were prettier than all the violets III
the garden.
81 shall never 90 into the garden, Nat, unit
they carry me there in coffin, and bury me
down in the ground-down deep in the ground
Nat, where you can never see me again, anC
where | can never see you."
"Won't you grow up into flowers, Nettie,-
into volets with dew drops in your eyes? Do
Nette, and III come and sit by you all day anc
I'll talk to you" Nettie wound her arms abou
my neck, and drew my face down to hers ant
kissed me- She held me there, and although
could not understand why she did so, cre'
too.
"Nat," she resumed, f" I'm going to die. In
going where sweeter flowers grow than thos
in our garden where the air is always sweet
where no cold winds blow, and where no snow
fall. I'm going to heaven"
"Where is heaven, Nettie, and how can yo,
60 there when they bury you in the garden q
mong the fowers!"
Heaven is long way off, Nat,-away u
above where you can see the stars shining q
night. My body shall not 60 there, but my sou
shall"
: "What is the soul, Nettie!"
at is something within me that passes ava
/. when die; butyou cannot see it go; and whe
it is gone cannot then talk TO you any more
Nat; cannot hear you any more; cannot Sc
you any more; l shall be still and cold"
was too young to understand what she mean
exactly, and | asked:
"Whom do you know in heaven, Nettie?"
81 do not know any one, Nat; but mo,he
; ;, says that God lives there; he who made you, an
me, and all of us, and the trees, and the birds
and the flowers. And she says, too, that angel
live there; angels with wings and long whit
! dresses aud that all who are good while the
live here on earth go TO heaven when they di'