Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-17
to come with her, but she looked pleadingly
up in Crcssy's face,
"If YOU only would come up stairs with me-

cd, bat trGSSY TOOK tne prOHGfeQ manu-, anu
followed the nurse to Nelle's quiet little room.
Speedily the little one was dressed for her slum
bcrs, and then her tiny feet patted over the
carpet to Crcssy's side where she knelt and
with clasped hands, lisped her evening pray
er. CrcSsy felt her eyes fill with tears as
the low breathed words from those pure, young
lips, fell upon her ear. Oh, the weary, weary
DAYS that had passed since she knclt at her ia
theirs knee and whispered I" Our Father. =
Softly she laid her hand on the bowed head OF
the child, and felt that il "a life like hers lay
before her. how much better it would be, could
she be taken now from the world, While the
dew of innocence and love were still fresh in
her young spirit, then in low tremulous voice,
she began 70 sing. Nellie held her hand fast
aud Ioosed in her face with an expression Of
deep affection.
DO You love me p she asked after awhile
Every much,' said Cressy.
viii you take care of me while | stay
here 2"
How long will that be p enquiEcd Cressy.
Not very-I don't know just how long
then I'm going to Heaven will try and be
very patient, if YOU will only hear my prayers
and sing when go to sleep. 1 do love youso
much" and then LAYING her soft cheek on Cres-
u
and as Crcssy noted the -feverish flush on her
pale cheek, the short and apparently drawn
breath, and the hot, dry hand that even in
sleep claspeti hers she felt that Nellie was in
deed fading flower, and would soon bloom in
the heavenly gardens
Days passed away, and the child vas almost
always with Mrs Carol and Crcssy 1t was
impossible not to love her, she was so affec-
tomato and gentle, and winning in her ways.
Cressy would permit no engagement to inter
fcre with the hour given to Nellie when she re-
tired to rest; for she was learning from those
childish lips to put her faith in the Heavenly
Father,-and how sweet seemed such faith
to her restless heart The little one loved to
talk of Jesus Christ, and often Cressy would
read to her the sweet story of his life Oh earth,
while the words came like a balm to her own
spirit.
Oh, those quiet hours passed at the bedside
of that child. whose footsteps were even then
pressing the threshold Of Heaven. and whose
pure brow was lighted by its inefablc glory,
were worth her whole life time.
Mr.. leicester thrown much into the society
of Cressy acknowledged her rare loveliness, and
the new charm that now lit up her face soon
won his heart. Helen had been to him like a
beautiful toy that amused him in his leisure
hours and he deeply mourned her loss but he
felt that she had never been to him what Cres-
sadl Carol might be--a sharer of his inmost
life aspiring like himself towards everything
good and true, and beautiful. Helen had been
pettcd child, bending her head in time of
trouble, and leaning on him for support. Cres-
sada would be a true, firm friend alike in the
sunshine of prosperity, and the storms of ad-
versity, and so lie told her the story of his true
and earnest love, and waited for her reply. In
low fine tones it came, and Fred Leicester,
went forth from her presence, under the solemn
stars and threw himself down on the damp
ground, his love rejected, while CresSy sought
her room and wept bitter tears of anguish
1t was past midnight, yet still she sat by her
open window, when q hasty knock at the door,
was followed by the agitated voice of Nellie's
nurse.
"Will you come to Nellies room, Miss" she
said % | think she is dying In an instant
Cressy was at the bedside The child looked
intently on her face" an so glad that you
are here" she whispered. The father, almost
heart broken, knelt with his face buried in the
pillow, but Cressy needed not though she
knelt beside him, and wound her arm around
the chds little figure.
"Wll You read to me, The Lord is my
Shepherd 2" papa can't" she whispered again
Cressy opened the Bible, but when she came
to the words % when | walk through the Val
ley and Shadow of Death, l will fear no evil"
her voice faltered She paused and hid her
face,--but Nellie'S weak, sweet voice went on
" for Thou art with nle; Thy rod and Thy staff
they comfort me-
Can yoa sing to me a little ?" she asked,
after pause, and CrcSsy sung, but her voice
faltsred no longer. When she ceased, Nellie
thanked her, and taking her hand she put it
in her fathers, and ciasped them in both her
own. Then silence reigned in the room for
hours, until the little one whispered very faint
ly, I" / love you" There was huttering of
the young heart, slight easping for breath,
and Nellie Leicester was with the angels in
Heaven. Gentle fingers shut the waxen lids
over the blue eyes, and laid pale blossoms in
the small hands; and in after years, as in that
hour of deep anguish, CreSsy thanked God
that the little one had lived and been known
to her
But under this new trial the poor father
sunk, aad for many DAYS lay in dclrious fe
yer. Mrs. Carol and Cressy watched with
Bessy by his side, for Cressy had forgotten ey-
erything now, save that Leicester was the first
one who was friend to her. when she was
friendless-that he had taught her first to
know herself, and that after all her lonely life
he loved her still. and now perhaps might die
Day and night she was beside him, holding to
his lips the cooling draught, or tanning his burn
ing brow, watching every change that passed
over the face of the physician, for ray of hope
At length the fever reached its crisis, and Lei
ccster would recover Then Crcssy stole away
to her room, and thanked God, while soft re-
freshing tears raincd down her pale cheeks.
CrcssyW said Leicester, one morning, as
she laid down a book from which she had been
reading aloud She started and trembed.-