Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-12-17
Lucy, the ChiId-MiSSiOnary.

! in Lucy; and since then have seen many more
but none happier or so fraught with gentle nau.
ences as was that one long, bright holiday.
When spring came, we planted beautiful little
/ flower garden in the midst of grandpa's, and in
this small inclosure were gathered the prett;est
and choistest varieties which We could find
| Grandpa built US, too, fine and substantial
/ swing, and we would sometimes accompanied by
some older person, take lovely sail on the beau
tiful river which ran directly through Whitefeld.
| Once that stream had for me thousand
charmes, both on account of its own beauty and
for the delight which had often filed my heart as
| sailed on its beautiful bosom; but now, even to
this day. can not look upon it with just that pleas
ure, and why | am going to tell you
One afternoon in the heat of July. accompani-
ed by our man-servant, Tom, we prepared for our
usual sail. By some accident, the boat upset and
although we all escaped drowning, Lucy took
severe cold, from which she never recovered: vet
she lived until the leaves fell in autumn, and these
seemed to me then, just like my dry and withered
heart. s
When Lucy had recovered her senses, her Inns
moved for short time IN prayer, and it was then
that remembered that God alone had preserved
our lives, and that should thank him. too, for his
greet and undeserved mercy Weeks passed ON.
and Lucy was able after while to walk about q
httle but this exercise was soon denied her and to
sit up in bed with her head resting on pillows, was
all the position which she could Comfortably
take. f-..
One afternoon, near the close of summer. as 7
stood by her bedside, thought and thought about
her DYING till the large tears dropped on her pil.
low, and were gently wiped from nv cheeks with
her own emaciated hands.
"Charles," said she, "don't CRY because the doc.
tor says cannot live, for am going home, and
my mother used often to tell me that the Chris
tIan had no home on earth, b., that this life was
only travellers road to the next"
just as she said this, the door opened, and her
father, who had himself been confined for two
months with severe illness, arrived He was ac-
companied by my cosns-both strangers to me-
and feeling like an intruder, made my escape
from their presence to weep alone. As sat on
the stairway with my face buried in my hands.
some one touched me; l looked up, and saw that
it was my aunt Milly
"Charles,' said she, 'you must trv to be cheer
ful now, for the sake of others. Jack Jones is
waiting to see you in the kitchen; go and hear
what ne wishes to say, and if he asks to speak
with Lucy, tell him she is tired now, that her
friends have just come, and that she will see him
in the morning"
Judge of my surprise, children, on entering the
kitchen to see-not dirty, ragged aforsaken- look
ing boy; but Jack Jones, respectfully dressed, and
by his side,a large Newfoundland dog, SO like my
own Carlo, whose body had buried under athe
old elm tree,' with sobs and tears, that could
hardly be sure that his death was not all dream. |
'Chales," saidhe, "heres another dog for you
as much like your own as two peas, and since |
cousin Lucy has been so kind to me I've been sor.
ry enough that killed the other; and it wasn't
really right, but thought you acted proud and |
ugly, and meant to pay you for it. How's Lu- |
cy? Can't speak to her?
While Jack Jones had been talking stood |
petrlhed with astonshment, and when ne had fla |
ished | could scarcely speak, but at last my !
thoughts found utterance.
"Ihats noble dog, Jack, and thank you for |
him, but really never expected return, and al |
though thought at the time that you were very |
unkind, | have since almost forgiven you in my |
heart, but not quite, for every time | passed the |
"elm tree" | could not help wishing he was back /
again, and feeling sorry that you killed him. Per-
haps this one will make you happier now, than /
it ever will me, for if Lucy dies, shant care for
any thing after that"
"No, take him, Charles, for in a few monhs |
am going to sea, and may very soon go to the
bottom, SO he'd better stay on land"
"Oh! don't talk so, Jack-dont speak so lightly
of death, when it seems to me such dreadful
thing to die" ..t
because you've got plenty of friends and a good
home to leave, when your time comes, but no one
cares for me except Lucy"
As he said this, large tear fell on his cheeks,
which he quickly brushed off with his coat-sleeVe.
Lucy would like to see you in the morning,
Jack; but now her friends have Just come and she
feels tired.
Jack made no reply but giving the dog orders
to alie down." he hastily quilted the house.
This dogs name was Bose" and | was not
sorry, for Carlo had his own place in my heart,
and did not care TO have this filled by a stran-
ger, much as might love him.
My new friend diverted my mind from its sad
thoughts, and hearing the voices of my cousins,
Robert and Mary, approaching, | called out to
them to come and admire my dog.
They were both some years younger than my
self, and evidently did not realize what was before
them, so that while burden oppressed me, | irled
to shake it off with efforts to amuse them.
The next morning, as soon as | could obtain an
interview with Lucy, l told her of Jack Jones'
present, and of his altered appearance, how kind
ly he had spoken of her, and how much he ap-
preciated her love.
when ] am gone, Charles" said she, as her
face was sufused with joy, 81 want you to be the
firm friend of Jack. Follow him, even if the boys
laugh at you for doing it, with every possible
kindness; they have friends enough, and do not |
know what il is to be left an orphan and friend |
less in the wide, wide world; but Jack does; and |
then Charles, if we meet in heaven, as | trust |
we shal-here emotion almost choked her utter
ance as she family added, 81 hope Jack will be
there too"
Perceiving her excitement hastily withdrew, |
to give vent to my own feelings, and as passed |
out of the door, met Jack Jones, who, with aunt |
Milly's permission, was just going in.
What passed between them, then have never |
heard, yet doubt not that Lucy spoke many words
of instruction, hope and comfort for that almost
friendess and forsaken boy.
l had often read in my Bible about that glori-
GUS place called heaven, and that there God HIM
self lived to receive and comfort all those who
pass through sufferings and trials in this world,
that they may be made honorable and glorious 4
there. Still did not bid these great and COM
forting truths hearty welcome. until Lucy
spoke of them as the foundation of all her peace
and Joy; and now as my steps are growing feeble
ba oF rory ciay tabs