Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-02-10

naked feet she won't into the sram.
and shook the heavy s,one. some
time elapsed before she could move IL
from its place; but, At length. BY task
ing al her strength. she roIledit out.
and got II 10 remain on the top Of the
bank. Then the s;reamlet Moved
merrily By. AMI the purling waves
seemed to be marmuring thanks 10 the
gentle child. iaslHr
And onward still went Amy. Cor at
home she knew there WAS no one who
cared 10 inquire alter her. She was
disliked by her step-father. and even
her own mother loved the younger
children much better than size loved
her. This constituted tho greatest
sorrow Of Amy's life. -.sass
Going far about. and ever sad be-
cause shehad done good TO no one. she
at last returned to the village. Now,
by the very first cottage she came 10.
there lay. in little garden. sick
child whose mother was gone 70 CLEAN
in the neighboring fields. Before she
went, however. she had ma le n toy
aliltle windmill put 10 sether witliihin
slips Of woodland had placed IL by
her little son, 10 amuse him, aud TO
make the time appear shorter 70 him
during her absence.
Every breath Of mir. however. had
died away beneath the trees. 70 that
the tiny sails OF the windmill turned
round no more. And the sick child.
missing the playful motion, lay sor-
rowfulIy npon the green turf under
the yellow marigolds. and wept.
Thcn. Amy stepped quickly over
the low garIrn- hedge. needless thatit
tore her only Sunday frock, knclt be-
fore the little windmill, aud blew with
all her mlght upon its slcnder sails
Thus impelIrd, they were soon IN mer.
ry motion. ms at first. Then the sick
child laus shcd. and elappcd his little
hands; aud Amy. delighted At his
pleasure. was never weary OF urging
the sails round and round with her
breath. bf rala .NfIf =, @nffa
At last the child. tired out by the
Joy which the little windmill had given
him. fell fast aslcep: AMI Amy. warned
by the evening shadows which began
to gather roand her. turned her steps
towards home. Faint and exhausted
was she. for since nooa she chad eaten
nothing. =
When she reached the cottage door.
and stopped there for moment with
beating heart. she heard her slep-iath-
cr's voice. loud and quarelsome, re-,
sounding from within. lie had Just
returned from the alehouse. and was in ,
his well-known angry humor. which
the least cause OF irritation might
swell into a storm. Unfortunately, as
Amy, trembling. entered tie room. her
torn frock caught his eve. his pas,
sion was kindlcd at the sight. Rous-
cd to fury in a moment. he stumbled
forward. and. with his powerful fist.
struck the poor little child on the fore.
head.
Then Amy bowed her head like the
withered rosesin the field. for the blow
had fallen upon her temple. As she
sank, pale and dying, TO the ground, Q
her mother, with loud lamentations. !
sprang forward and kneeled beside her.
Even the stern and angry man. sud-
ienly sobcred by his own deed, became
iouched with pity. sa ~
So both the parents wept and
nourned over Amy. and laid her upon
her little couch in the small inner
chamber, aud strewed round her
green branches, and various kinds OF
lowers. such as marigolds and many
'olored poppies;for the child was dead!
But. while the parents bitterly re- q
'roached themselves. and wished they i
lad been kinder 10 poor Amy, behold
wonderl t...li..,s lss .ss'
The door Of the chamber gently
'pened, and the waves Of the Brook.
which Amy had set free. came gently
ippling by, in the stiffness, and sprink-
ed the mouth and eyes Of the dead
hid. The cool drops flowed into her
ems. and once more set the arrested
Hood in motion. .sa- .ltim5nf1 tlp il
Then she again uncloscd her eyes, b.
Thich SO lately had been dim and mo-
onless, and she heard The soft waves. 4
Ike gentle voices, murmuring these
lords in her ear
This we do unto thee, in return
,r the good thou didst uuto u.s.
Yet u little while. and tie chamber
as again stirred by the presence Of
,me Kindly power. . 80 .asef'
This time it was gentle Breeze s..
hich entered, with softly fluitering
ings. Tenderly it kissed the fore
cad of the child. and lovingly it ri
-eathed its fresh breath into her bos--,
n.
Then Amy's heart began to thrill =
lth quicker life. and she stretched out
,r hand to the many-colored flowers.
Id rejoiced in their beauty. neaah Ai Z
And the Breeze softly said:--- a.a ea'
Il bring thee back the breath which 3
ou didst expend upon the sick chili's es
casurel'' Hes.se.
Then Amy sniled.ss il she werefull
bliss. 50
When the Breeze had ceased tomur-
ur It's sOst worIs. an AngcI came
iding in through the low door OF Tie
tic chamber, and in his hand he he'll
garland OF fresh fragram roses. --.aas
iese ne laid against The sheek OF the
lie child; ami, 10! they restored 10 il
e. hues OF life. and they bioomed
AIN. And the flowers seemed 10
iIspcr:--t so
"rbis we do unto thee. in return for
q froad fhnu ii1.t .,..t. ...ftf