Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-06-07
Spirit Of tge Age, 8drigg, UortB


study tomorrow, won't your But the
child shrieked convulsiyeIy, as his kind voice
touched her heart, and laying her head low
on her hands, sobbed as she had motto or many :
days.
A bitter look crossed Mrs. Eastman's face.
just then a servant came in. Take Miss
Mary to her ~room-where she can stay till
she feels better she said sternly and her
husband,fwh could think of no UAnse for
such strange conduct, silently acquiesccd.
Il shall dislike her by and by, | fear said
the lady, half c%ommuning with herself, i
don't see what it is-she has every comfort.
I'm sure poor Mary, her mother, was one of
the most amiable beings that ever lived
How little her child takes after her. She
is for ever weeping, Notwithstanding all L
can do. I've loaded her with toys, and an
ticipated all her wishes, yet she will be sad
and miserable. don't understand it. Pm
out of all patience
All! kind mother and gentle friend, you
know not that little tender heart. You could
not touch its quivering strings but to wake
discordant notes. The spirit SO sensitive,
shrieking if a breath brushed it too harshly,
needed at least something akin to a mothers
love. 1t yearned for the goodnight kiss
for the arm placed involuntarily about the
slight form for the gentle pressure some
times given when least expected. This, that
little sensitive one longed form the far dark
distance she looked back, remembering how
it had been with her.
Tiney and Mary slept in two small, adjoin-
ing chambers. Twice, before bedtime did
Mrs. Eastman send up to know if Mary could
come to her supper but the servant return
ed, saying she was still Gin the sulks," she
called it-but she did not know. So the babe
was laid sweetly in it's cradle. Tiney was
aornfullu AicrohoA hofora Tho arp chipinp
fre-her snowy night-dress put on-and
kneeling, with her white hands raised, and
clasped in those Of her mother-her little
body swaying to the measure of her good
night hymn, she happily prepared for slum-
Der.
90! dear, oh dear, dear, dear" sobbed a
small childish voice, twill God please take
me home to Heaven 2"
Mrs. Eastman paused in absolute astonish-
ment before she entered Mary's room. The
door was slightly aiar-the full moon laid
lovingly over little Mary, its beams bright
ening the white objects about the bed, and
making her, with her grieved upturned face,
clasped hands, and streaming eyes, seem like
an angel sorrowing over some mortaPs un-
timely sin.
"Oh! l am so lonely" signed the little
thing, still talking to her Father in Heaven +;
this mother don't love mel know she
don't-she loves her own little girl, for she
kisses her a great deal, and she looks at her
happy; but, oh dear God, she don't love me
like her-please take me right to Heaven
Mrs. Eastman swallowed her emotion
pity swelled at her heart-she remembered
how quick and rebuking words sprang forth
/ at any of her faults-how often she called
her lazy little thing" because she turned
d~reamily away from her book, and how fire.
, quently she sent her to her slumbers without
one word of praise, while she Utmost smoth'
cred her own child with caresses.
/ All this while the child was sobbing al
she prayed" Don't let me cry so much, dear
: God, because they say I'm cross and wicked
, Oh, God do let me think of my own deal
mamma, without feeling so very bad, and lie
me think what nice times we used to hav'
when Willy was alive, and mamma used tt
smile on us so sweetly oh dear, good God
if l might only go to Heaven with my dea,
mother, l never could want to cry again"
Mrs. Eastman hurried down stairs, an
. going by herself, bitterly wept. She saw a.
. kHS~@y~ss1sAd bow sarrayfnl she was maxim
o PRAYER for guidance, she FASTENED up stairs
Little Mary had undressed, and with all
d wOman's precision had laid her clothes care
fully aside.
MARY" said Mrs. Eastman, in a sol
, voice.
= The child looked round, alarmed.
"Mary, shan't l hear your prayers
love p
Nota word said the child but with he
great eyes wide open, she came slowly t.
wards her foster-mother, and dropped on he
t. knees nor did she take her wanderin
glance from that gentle face till she la
\ repeated the last amen.
"Now, kiss me, darling" said Mrs. Eas
man, with trembling voice.
There was a pause of a moment-the chi,
caught her ~breath-then flung her arms pa
sionately about the neck of her mother, XII
:; singher again and again. With anew impul
lr the foster-mother, strained her to her bosor
i'll and SO held her, while the hot tears fell lii
rain &a9Ygna d her Ya Ghfass lnk YOU can vovo ~.
she murmured, ~disengaging herself from Il
= rapturous embrace.
"Oh! yes, do love you / love you lii
er my own dear mamma-ohl you never we
er so good to me BEFORE"
" And you will not cry 50 much, my da
ling, and make me sad"
he "No, l will never cry, for | think nv oW
90 mamma has come back from Heaven-m
"A sorry has all ~gone-how kind you ar
z" mamma! - and the beautiful head repos,
lovingly, and without rebuke, against Il
heart beating with new and sweet tende
JIG neSS anu When MRS. Eastman again look
h. down, the child was sleeping, an angel
ic- happiness playing over her serene cou
l. tenance.
hit From that time little Mary was like a ne
creature. 1t was love she yearned for: h
= tender nature, like the flower for the de,
~ y pinned for its sweet nourishment. New
II, more she wept without c~ause-never we
alone to her Father, and in agony, cried
az Dear God, please take me home to Heave
er W)tber's Journal and Family Ntsitant.