Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-03-03

cP~hu eos iSuihous Vi Jul OA IN Strug-
gle to forget. We cannot forget, but we
long since forgave; aye, before we heard
that she was dead. We have learned to
be happy, even with the memory of her
trial ever before US. But we miss the
hopes that were born with her, and we
would cherish you and your babe as we
should her and hers, had she come back
ere she repented, as they told us, and
died"
The old mans voice was hushed.
There was no sound but that of sobs
save when the babe cooed in its little
love song. A cry Of agony burst from
the white lips Of the stranger as, loosen
ing the hands that held her, she fell at the
feet of those who had been SO true-a
cry, and then words.
s'Father, mother. she did not die, she
lives; ! am she-your Lizzie-your lest,
found childm
Let the curtain drop. 1t is q scene too
holy for any but the sight of God, and
angels.
Yes" said the old grandmother, .It
was their long-lost, and as they thought,
dead Lizzie. She herself bad forged tho
story of her death; 10 secure herself in
the sin she had learned to love. But
when, after years of wrotchedness and
crime she became herself-when she felt
upon herself the touch of pure and holy
lips-then she became herself again, and
felt how much, how deeply she had sin
ned; and she longed to have her babe nur-
tured as she had been. 1t was long ere
she could escape from her sinful associ-
ates; but she at length succeeded and
reached, as have told you, her father's
house. She meant to conceal herself till
they were asleep, and then leave the babe
and 60 away: for she had no hope they
would cherish her again-fcr, o, she was
very vile. But the cold was so intense she
dared not leave the child, but was forced
to keep it to her breast; and worn and
wearied with her long and tedious strug-
gle with the drifts, at length became be-
numbed, and could no longer still the
cries of her little one; and thus was
brought back to love. to home, to Christ,
by the voice of the angel in her heart"
The old lady ceased her story, and
there was no word spoken for long while.
Then the young maiden broke it. saying,
"And what became of them all2"
The two aged parents lived near a
score of years, happy in the love of their
restored child, and in the caleSSes and
tender care of their little one hey lie
buried in the old church yard. The
grandchild lived TO be blessing to her
mother for five and twenty years: then
passed away, leaving little one to make
good her place. MotherleSs ere it had
seen the face other who gave it birth, it
was fatherless ere the year was out"
Another long pause.
"Yes, 1T is haunted hsartbstcne, this.
Those aged Christians that beautiful
young mother, that noble father-they
haunted it; not as did ghosts of olden
times, making in q weird spot for the
heart, but with such holy memories that
the hour spent in communion with them
seems like visit in better land.
"Hearthstones are ever haunted, but
few like this have angels for their guests"
The anniversary Of the bleak winters
night came roHAd. The fire burned as
brightly as before, the room was as warm
and rosy; but the young girl kneeled
now before the fire alone. There was no
lap for her to rest her head upon-the
old arm chair was empty. The hearth
stone was haunted by another spirit-a
spirit that had sinned and suffered, and
been fOrpiren,