The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1854-04-06
The lITrlE ANGEL.
by MRS. CAROLINE A. sOuLr.

Il.
little pet, Isabel Lee, in voice that was
sweet as the song Of "a bird at sunlight; and
up and down the stairs she went, singing
her childish ditty, and searching eagerly for
her mother that she might obtain the de-
sired permission.
"Say yes, DO now, that's dear, good
mother" she exclaimed when at length
she found herself in the arms Of the loved
one. "Niss Jane says I've been very
good grrl, indeed; and she says too, that air
and play will do me much good. Andthere's IS
no p. ace in all the world where | love to
play as on that dear old common of ours
| call it our little country mother, cause
there aint no horses there, nothing but grass
and trees and water"
"And birdlings from human .nests."-
said the mother, as she lovingly kissed the
darling. ayes. ycu may -; but mind and
not play too hard-and be sure, Bell, to get
home ere the dinner is ready.'
Merrily then battered the slippered feet
after bonnet aud cape and hoop-and mer-
rily sang the happy voice;
+ ~ may 20 on the common TO play,
guess I'll be good then every day."
Very demurely did the little girl pace the
crowded and fashionable thoroughfare; but
o, how lightly and joyously she bounded
down the stone steps. And once on the
grOvell.d path, with Gods green grass be-
side her-his noble trees arching above her
his free glad sunshine quvering on their
tops, dancing through their interlacing
boughs Here nothing the soft turf, and
there bathing it in golden tide. Once be-
side the mimic lake, with its leaping, laugh
ing, musical fountain ---oDce ot in that
"lttlS country" and Isabel, happiest of the
happy, fitted through the long walks, with
step that seemed almost winged, so fleet.
so airy was it's tread; while her voice rang
in childish glee, and again in bird-like
songs; and her pulses beating with quick
cned life, sent fresh bright hues TO the del
cate cheek, gave an added lustre to the
brilliant eye, a warm glad gush to the i'm
prisoned soul. Out on the common she
might be what God ment she should be
while her years were young A child, q
romping, wild, frocsoms Child and ga her
in her buoyant sports that strength SO need
ed in the Ii to come; that vigor which
shields tho heart from muiiled notes. She
rolled her hoop, she tossed her velvet ball;
she hipped and hoped to The barber's shop;
she made f,iends with the little girls
that romped beside her, and lent them her
hoop while she jumped their rope; she
watched the little boys launch their boats,
smiled with them when they bore gallant
sail, and spoke comforting word when
they met with a subdening wreck; she play
ed with the babies-gladdened the hearts
vi u ;:hhc weary nurses with kind and loving
word; and then, fairly tired out, wandered
away from the noisy group.
81 wont 90 home quite yet" said she.
"I'll get rested first. Yes, lll find me a
nice cool shady place, aud sit down there
and think while. Mother says it does
little girls good to think" and she trIpped
away in search of a musug spot.
But suddenly her steps were arrested; the
light faded from her joyous eye; the scng
died on her lip. There, on the green turf
beside her, the mids MINER sun pouring its
torrid rays upon his upturned face, buried in
what seemed deathlike sIumber,lay man'in
the prime Of life. Tattered and torn were
his garments, battered hat beside him. u
broken bottle clenched inthe right hand.
"The poor, sick man" id tho wonder
ing child, "out here in the hot sun asleep.
It's too bad, too bad. How sorry his folks
would be if they only knew where he was.
He must have been going to the doctors
for he has u bottle and paper, and guess
he was SO week he could't get there and
fell down. The poor, sick man how wish
could make him we'll"
She look ed awhile and then hesitatingly
approached him, and sat down beside him.
She took out her handkerchief and wiped a.
way the great drops that had gathered on
his brow, and then famed him with that
soft, delicate motion which we give to the
dying friend. And all the time tears were
streaming down her cheeks and she was
waiIing with hushed voice but sobing
heart over his lonely lot. She was won,
dering if he had wife and little children
and if they knew how sick he was; and she
wished he would wake up and tell her
where they lived that she might bring them
there.
A long while she sat there, a patient,
thoughtful watcher, only once she ceased
the cooling breezc-it was to fold her little
hands as she had been taught, and breathe
over HIM childish prayer. That prayer!
The angels hushed their harps 10 listens
and "there was joy in heaven"
At length the sick man turned and tossed
as though his sleep was mostly over
"Poor man." said his little nurse, "poor
man, you'llbe sore and stiff I'm afraid
sleeping SO long on the ground When II
raned only last night. Poor man, fow sor-
ry | am for you" But now her little
cheek is laid close to his boted face, for his
4 lips murmur and she would hear his words
Broken, indistinct ones they are at first,but
then audable and pleading.
"Just one glass more; one, one, only one
---I'm dying for it; give, give, one mcre;on
ly one!"
"He's begging for water" sobbed she as
she raised her damp face. "He's dreaming
and thinking they wont give tito him. o, il
only had some; it's so hard'te want drink
of water and not to have it," Here hei
eyes rested on the broken bottle,and hap
py thought struck her. She carefully un'
ciasped his hand, seized tie dark glass ant
fastened to the pond. at will bold some
it will be better than none," said she as she
dipped it in and bore away the cooling, lif'
giving dsaught She poured few drops OF
his parched lips and then laved his hot fore
head and burning cheeks. That waier,iha
dew of human love, dripped through his lli'
pores and down to his very soul. 1t brok'
: the stupor that palsied his nerves. Ill
spened his heavy eyelids and gozed, frs
vacantly, then wonderingly about him.
do you feel better!" whispered the lit
tie girlsin tones low and sweet as the era
die hymn of a mother; edo you feel an!
better! Pm so sorry for yeuo 4, 500