The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-01-19
WASHINGTON, ID. c..
For the National Era.
4 RRoTHER'S RECOLLECTION OF AN ONLY
SISTER.
BY MARY IRVING.
BY MARY IRVING.

,gbat hidden recess Of the human heart has it
mr. penetrated to arouse, to convince, or 10
Ic,IP II carries everywhere the same lesson
tha nn, it 80 lately learned from the angels
he sho careth for us, little helpless ones
,bag He not also care for fheee"
Tie door opened, suddenly, and nurse
maid apI cared holding chill rs frock OF black
Grape in her outstretched hand.
DIS here you are then, Miss LuEe! Oh,
lax yer pardon, sir !" dropping courtesy ut
the unexpected sight of a stranger. Savin
yer presence, SIR, ito high time little Miss was
dressed for the buryin'. Cene here wild ycr-
self Missy, and put On your new gown !"
Tho child stared ut her in bewilderment
then Efjcd the hem Of ke- blue frock, and in
s1e::ci it carefully
don't want any new gown; this one is
ciesa!r she answered, laying her cheek to
mine again, with a soft sigh
Was ever the ike heard Not to put on
moUrnin' for yClr poor papa, that's dead and
gone, Heaven rest his SOUL Oh, but you're q
BIZ child to your father -
G. J. isn't a. pretty gown, Nancy, and papa
don't want mo TO put it on he never told you
So Take it away !"
Pot on the dress, little Lule," said |, lift
ing her forward, and looking firmly into her
blue eyes. Put it on, for the sake of your
dear father, who has gone to Heayen.o
Size lid from my knee, without resisting :;
bar - Nancy took her hand, she hesitated and
looked into my face, with eyes dilating in the
light OF a new idea.
Pspa has gone to Heaven IN she repeated
Brother Ralph, Heaven isn't black it is blue ~
AMI SIC lifted her tiny finger toward the sky
bathed in the deepest azure of q summer after
noon.
Go, darling" l said and she was led
away.
have often thought of the child's philoso.
Thy, in calmer hours When have seen the
last earnings and energies of the "widow and
iatherless" taxed to furnish the symbols of
greet in fashionable form; when have seen
counters piled to supply the wealthy with the
pomp CT shrouded woo | have turned in
disgust from the graceful folds of Grape and
bombazine, and repeated, with Lulie, "'Heaven
Il mol black = Why do we belle its bright real
i;y!'
Still the custom of civilized word has its
charm even to the fearful eyes Of the true
mourner 1t is soothing to find that one thing
more can be done in behalf of the beloved
friend for whom all other labors have ceased.
Whether the fashion of this world will ever
acccps of a fitting substitute fer the parade of
mourning which has so long Swallowed society,
Is extremely doubtful.
telt the mOckery of this outward show,
when the badges Of grief we're brought to me,
Jet Iassively submitted. My little sister was
JTolght in by the pastor and his wife, her fair
hair and face thrown into bright relief by con-
trast with the gloomy dress
" Il It necessary to take this child to the
chugchyGrd !" ! asked, as the clergyman, in
the course OF our brief conversation, made re-
mark to that effect
d. II thipk. the In ression' might be. salutary
hpr No & NJ
thinking being is too young to learn much of
the mystery of Death. Eulatie, should you
like to follow your dear father to his grave"
les, III, if mamma and brother Ralph are
gong she answered, with puzzled look
Ia; when we stood by the portal of "the
house appointed for all living" and lifted her
ia my arms. while the ccfin, with its black,
sFceping dfapery, was lowered into its depths,
shc gaye.a piercing scream, and chung to nv
neck conVulsvely. "Oh papa-papal take
hlm away from the earth uorm house :"
io.ced my way through the crowd of s'ar-
Iag villagers, ard hurried with the trembling
creature iato little grove just behind the
ahlTchyarl close by the hank cf the stream
aatAei Lee face and head famed and ca
ieszet no., until sh3 ceased to shudder, and lay
pan.laE VITA closed cyelids, in my lap As
"atehe the blue veins, whose clearness and
flmk tbrobbing told CT her fragile, nervous or
EanIzttion and reelected on the hereditary
H1dsfosltion t. insanity that might have
iostd her infant blood, resolved to shield her,
"t all hazards, from the shock of excitement
aut terror.
"ith stlrt, she opened her eyes, and her
hES lpvered with the word" Papa!o
Your pIpa-ouc papa is in Heaven, | told
y"n, little sister said !, as gently as possible
u d they take him out of that dreadful
t.p ttal,n xrki ch,
She shaded her eyes with both hands, and
gazel kecnly into the clouds above Mamma
said he would be a great angel with white
wings but, oh, it scared me 30 when they put
him in there 1t was Ike a story mamma
told me in the night, when che lighted the
candle and woke me up!
How much the child has to learn and I'M
learn J sighed, collecting my thoughts to give
her II possible, some truthful idea Of the sub
lecr that should conquer her terror The river
i!r"ei song Of eOntentment at my feet, calm
ing my over wrought spirit into something like
Us vented trust in Providence At little dis
lance, group Of lambs were quietly feeding.
Luhe,' began, your papa did not speak
to you, when yen carried those h)wors to him,
little while since u
Ne" she art,css,y answered he had gone
g. sleep and mamma told me not to disturb
Blessed sleep how difiicult to make child
oommehend its meaning! | tried anew
w III that lamb answer you when you speak
20 ~. ! asked pointing to the nearest and
whitest Of rho ho3k
Fr.-ky! No how curious !" She laughed
but II has mouth larger than yours. Why
can gu talk, ard understand what is said to
you wllilo the lamb cdnnotl"
She fixed her eyes on the lamb. then dropped
Them ID the river. Suddenly they dilated, and
She exclaimed Frisky doesn't know anything,
and DOR
but what is it in you that knows? Is it
J'ar mouth-your eyes-your hands,"
A silent shake of the head was given to each
u 'hese queries, and her eyes were still peering
,ii'o The clear water, as though the solution lay
W hat is it, brother Ralph 2" she at last
asked, IN low, earnest tone, drawing closer
to my SIDE
1t Is your soul, my dear child. You have
soli that thinks, and is glad and merry;
nave one, and your papa had ono before God
''Ik IL from hls body 20 Heaven"
mad not cleared up the difficulty for, after
d moments musing, she said 81 never sac
papa's SOUL"
Hark !" exclaimed, as a sweet strain stole
over oar heads. 1t was tho hymn of the con-
gFegauon at the grave, succeeding the prayer
OF TIE pastor
"Unvei thy bosom faithful tomb"
Inc child listened, with hushed breathing,
uhtil the last solemn echo died Then with q
siga OF delight, she laid her hands softly to-
gether
DID you see the singing, Lulie 2" She lift
co her head to glance toward the churchysrd.
=, Go not mean, did you see the people
aid you see the anging2 You have heard