Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1855-04-05
From Grace Grccnwood's Little Pilgrim"
ANGEL CHILDREN.

From Trace drccnWOOO' Altuc xtSTims
ANGEL CHILDREN.
70 whom Is the hour OF twilight % sweet
40 TO children? Too tired to play, and yet
unreconciled to the nightly trial of being put
to bed, children, half the world over, have
simultaneously raised their tender voices, and
consecrated this hour to strengthening.
Attwilight, not many evenings ago. five sis
tiers were cozily thrred around the dear pa
ternal hearth. s'Sisser, tell me a story, = said
little Virginia, climbing on my knee, and cir
cling nv waist with her tiny arms until the
dimpled hands met, then nesting her curly
mead upon my shoulder, ''Tell me pretty
sto,y."
There is no refusing our pretty Jenny.
"What must the story be about, Jenny 20
ooh, about fairies and good children"
ssShall tell you about three little sisters
whom knew--who are oil angels now--and
shall l tell you of heavenly dream once
had about tn m ?''
SYes-about angels-angels will do as we'll
AZ FAIRIES"
Well, then, listen. One Christmas morn
ring.I wa< ing in church amongst number
Of cherished fri nds--the church was yai.y
dccked with evcrgreens-the Sag Of Bethle-
hem shone on the eastern wall-tho Sunia :
school children had sung an exquisite HYMN,
written for the occaslon-our beloved pa stor.
in his hottest mood, hal spoken words Of
promise and encourae EN- mt, had breathed
upon Us sssoft rebukes in blessings ended >.
around him wsr- hopefully happy faces, but
amongst the cheerful crowd missed one dear.
familiar countenance. father sat sur-
rounded by his children, but their mother was
absent. She was ut home, watching over q
little daughter who was very ill.
The frmily lived short distance from the
city, and after services drove out to see thu
sick child. Among my Chris. mas presents
was basket m lde Of moss, and filled with
every description of green house Howsrs-ca-
melias, heliotropes, orange blossoms, las
mines, roses,&c. The haEde, too,was woven
OF flowers, embedded in moss. Thought the
refreshing sight of the flowers might do little
Clara good, 20 stopped on the way for thi.
lovely floral gift. At the door OF Clara's
home was greeted by . host of little ones
and first they took me into the parlor, where
stood Christmas tree, so tall that 1t nearly
touch d the ceiling. The spreading branch,
es were loaded with gifts, and waxen lights
were scattered about amongst the smaller
boughs.
The children delightedly exhibited their
abund mt Christmas presents, and then led
me up STAIRS to their mothers room. As
they entered there, every one trod softly, and
the gay voices were hushed to whispers. On
o small couch at the foot Of her mothers bed
lay little Clara--a patient gentle child, bout
seven or eight years old. She Was " ny so
motonless that you might have thought
her some beautiful statue; her thin
tiny hands were as white as the sheet or
which they were exten led-her countenance
had an alabaster hue, and her large dark . es
Were looking fxedly up towards the ceiling
% though they could see more than we saw.
The mother sat near the bed, her face
blanchsd with apprehension, and aroun1 her
eyes were red circles that showed she had
been weeping perhaps the whole of that
Christmas night. Little Clara did not no.
tice Us when we entered, nor did she answer
when spoke to her; but when brought the
massy basket to the bedside, she lifted up
her shadowy hand and laid it on the flower
woven handle, and looked in nv face and
sm led one angelic smile Of thanks.
The next morning the Christmas tree still
stood in the parlor, but in the chamber above
lay little coffin; within rsposed the earthly
form Of lovely child--but the angels had
borne away little Clara to her eternal hom !.
Lizzy was the name Of one Of Clara's
younger sisters. She was called after a
most beloved friend Of her parents. Lily
was the pet name by which she al WAYS went
Lily WAS her fathers especial darling--the
sunlight of his home and his heart. The
moment he entered the house she flew into
his arms; wherever he went she was at his
side, her baby hand seldom GU. of his; If
he were sad she comprehend It in nom Mt
and would cheer away his gloom with her
merry Pratt,e, her arch infant graces; if he
were gay, she was full Of widest sport.
When he was out Of the house Lilly seemed a
d .ferent being, all was seldom we'll with her
until he returned; at night she slept in his
arms, and in the morning though tho world
called him grave wise man, thy frolicked
togeth = like hiidren. If such thing could
BE-, Lilly was almost too dear TO her father
ard he TO her. Not long after Clara was
summoned away, little Lilly fell sick Faith
er and mother watched her night and day
with breaking hearts; but her heavenly faith
or had call d b r, he sent his messenger to
gather th fair flower also; and as she Law
on the bosom Of her earth faih r, the beau
teous blossom was pluck,d.
The youngest child Of all, tie baby, the
swse'ess brightest little creature, was called
Anna. She too, was named after dear
friend, Before Christmas had come again
little Anna sickencd as did her sisters. How
her mother clasped her to her yearning breast
and prayed the Lord to spare this one, her
baby. her latest born, whose joyous presence
had enabled her to bear the parting from her
other little ones! The Lord knew best what
was good for little Anna; His heaven needed
this bright infant a,so, and He called her
to be one of His angels.
| had taken far of journey after the
Christmas morning when saw Clara, and
the next time | beheld my dear friends, the
traces Of great anHarpm ~, orDc;c> &c L..