Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-06-29


he would raise to heaven his fearful eyes, as
though to seek his mother where the purple
tint Of twilight fades, and the last rays of sun
set deepen into night
'Oh = he would exclaim, sye are all such
happy lads! Ye all have mothers but I 1only
have mine in dreams, and then see face so
fair and beautiful, bending above my pillow !;
or, at times, visit that lonely place, beneath
the weeping willow, where she sleeps sweet
and silent, and sometimes seek to trace her
name on the cold white marble at her head
But why she died, to me is all so wonderful
and strange-and they say she was SO beauti-
full Y
Thus often made he sad and mournful
plant, when he found kindred hearts around
him; and it was strange sight to see-this
bright-haired boy so early tinged with melan-
choly; and wearying the atmosphere with his
doleful music. 1t was like the story Of a soul
imprisoned, to the chains that bound 1T or
like the murmur of the sea-shell to the waves
that roll
He had often said, as we have stated, that he
meant, on some pleasant afternoon, to start on
journey after his mother He believed she
was in heaven-he had heard so; and when he
asked the direction 10 heaven, he was always
told, with hands pointed to The sky, that there
lay the happy land-there the golden country
there the pleasant hills and happy valleys,
and when his eyes scanned the space that lay
between him and the rosy hues Of even, the
distance seemed but short, and the way but
easy of travel, TO gain the portals of that prom
ised land of ever-bIssful glory.
And so, one afternoon, late in the autumn
time, after having been chastised and chided
for his dreaminess and wandering, he babe
tarewelrtO few of his compations, and with
little staff in company with his little dog
Tray, he started for the hilI-uDps-he started
for the hil-tops far away distant, over which
was shining the golden light Of an afternoons s
sun. His companions smiled at the conceit,
but concealed their laughter, for they loved
the child, and they only thought he would 90
but little way, and return again as usual
And so they watched him with lingering eyes,
till he went over the crest ofe little hill in the
distance, on his way 10 the setting sun, and
disappeared from their vision; then each one
sought his home, thoughtful and silent, won
dering if Willie really was pn his way to
heaven, and if il was SO best and happy land
as he had often told them They were too
wonder stricken 10 tell lhs'ir parents what
Willie had done, and each that night went to
his bed dreamIess, sleepless child.
Yes: Willie was on his way to heaven.-
With a manful, brave heart, he travelled on,
through pleasant meadows and skirting forests,
and as the last rays Of the sun fell upon the
landscape, he stood upon mountains top, and
saw the sun go out of sight away in the far,
far distance, over rich valleys and sombre
woodlands, and tears filled his eyes when he
saw he was farther away from the goal of his
hopes than when he started from the cottage of
his kindred. So he sat him Down and wept,
and called upon his mother, and little Tray
looked up in his face with wondering eyes,
and kissed him, and whiued, and little Willie
threw his arms around the dogs neck, and
wept abundant tears, aud made, him bed Of
leaves beneath the cedars, and sObbed himself
to sleep, while poor, poor Tray, as mysti6ed
as ever dog was, kept watch by, the side of his
little master, close huddled up tohiS windward
shoulder.
All what dreams possessed that poor boys
brain thatlong and solitary night. How many
times came his mother down from her bssful
home, TO cheer him in his loaely slumbers!
And the twinkling stars, and, the round full
moon, cast their soft and placid beams over the
landscape, and shed as it were, transient
warmness over the spot whereon slept the un-
conscious Willie, guarded by his faithful
Tray.
But in the cottage-were there no anxious
hearts at home for the absence of that dear
child! You may be sure there were. AT
first he had been seen to 60 homeward with
some of his companions, and, as often before,
he might spend the night with little Harry,
and SO they need not worry but then Harry
Ervings father came in a tie course Of the
evening, and he said the boy was not al his
house. And then they grew unqniet. The
whole neighborhood turned out. and they
searched the country about, and jn the barn,
and under the shed, and down in the well, and
at the spring where the cattle went for their
water, and at the brook in the meadow below
and down in the swamp, where the old COW
got mired in the summer, and where the bones
of old Jupiter were taken to rot. The search
was everywhere everywhere but in the right
place, and Willie Willie was shouted all
the country round, to no effect; for still Willie
slept, by the side of his little Tray, in his bed
of leaves, dreaming all the night long of his
mother. Was not Willie in Heaven! Not
yet. He was very happy, but not in Heaven !!
The next day--lowerng and cold, he took
up his line of march and from the old home
stead parties started out in pursuit of the lost
boy; but frutless was the search, and neither
trace nor track of him could they fnd But
when the mornings sun arose, and strived TO
struggle down through the sombre clouds, little
Willie with firm purpose, and never disheart-
a.oJ xxl,JJod ~, L;s with his Ii,t III