Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-04-12
5ilisfeIIaneOlls lasaoinp.
Written iOs The PhIlAdslphla Merchant.
The Prayer and the Vow.
ur sEll uOOpvrLlE.

ano tWuigut hao ocBan " hhthef w ncT uuhkl
hand the golden trssses Of the day. Bat The
gathering obseurity hid not the lOvs.liUht in
ClAra's eye. While il sofened to extreme sweet.
mess the smile upon her lip. She sat upon q
rastic bench before q little cottage, over which,
one might hare fsncisd the goddess Of taste
presided, 20 graceful and appropriate were all
its appointments within and without. The
hour was besutifal, and an artist or poet would
have dwelt ezra ptursd upon the dreamy beau.
tyof the scene. But the young mother heed
ed naught but her little Charlie who rolled iu
frOlicsome glee with Carlo on the turf at her
feet. She saw only the pretty boy; heard only
,Ss gushing laugh whose lightest tones made
music in ber heart.
ia A .;;rrsugsr's eye he was surprisingly
t.;r and "a tbs: mothers heart how beauti.
fall His delicateIy psne,. Ia FEATURES ~ners
imaged from her own, tho bis brOS 'AO u DOi'
der cast, aud his blue eyes looked up with =
mirthful glance very unlike the serious tender.
ness Of her own.
Clara bowed her head upon her hand and
closed her eyes ia a sweet revery, still she saw
in her minds eye the golden head of Charlie
resting on Carlos black, shaggy coat Then
she wOVe in fancy the web Of the future and
every thread was bright with love aud happi-
ness: she led her boy in flower streWed path.
way, saw him noble youth. and then man
with fame and honor encircling his name. She
forgot the temptations of life; she forgot the
passions and weaknesses Of this earthly nature,
and fondly saw her son grown up with all the
innocence uf childhood. How proud and hap
py she would be in him; how fond and tender
he Of herl She smiled unconsciously at these
pleasant imsginings, and felt her heart go out
to her little one. With a love that was almost
worship.
An angry cry smote her ear, and her vision
dissolved in air, as many a sweet vision has
before. She raised her head in time to see
Charlie's tiny hand fall with an uhkind blow
upon Carlos head which but moment before
be had hugged to himself in fondness!
%, ChsrlieP cried the mother imploringly.
bad, naughty Carlol he scratched me with
his great paw cried Charlie, passionately.-
Clara took her child in her arms, kissed the
little wound and soothed the tumult in his in.
FAINT breast, then a few gentle, judiciOus words
sent Charlie to the dogs side again; he put
both arms tightly around his neck. and Carlo
forgiving fellow--growled good natured
growl to evince his satisfaction.
Though Charlie was good and happy again.
Clara still looked sadly and seriously upon
him: The sensitive child observed it aud said,
Don't look sorry now, mamma; I'm good now.
l was thinking what sad temper my little
boy has. Do you know, Charlie, that persons
sometimes do things very wicked when they
are angryS o, ifyOu should grow up q bad
passionate mani .
Charlie stood before bis monther and the
look Of snxiety. almost Of terror, upon his face,
said plainly. What shall do. mamma, what
shall dof
1i 'Kneel, my child said Clara, as ifin answer
to his inquiring look, 'Kneel, and ask God to
help you. and to teach me how to lead you'll
The little one kneIt with claspeG hands. and
the penitent tears glistened like dew upon
the roses Of bis cheek. Clara bent over him
till her dark curls mingled with his golden
locks.
Il was a holy. sightl that young mother, in
her girlish grace and beauty, praying with her
little one. The stars came forth and looked
down in silent awe upon them, and the record.
ing angel traced that mothers prayer in char
aeters Of gold.
Eighteen ysars have circled away with their
changing hopes and fears, their sorrows and
their joys. let us look again upon the little
cottage, oEce 80 sweet home. 'Fis night,
and the full moon looks down smilingIy upon
the spot; yet there is lonely look on every
thing that ssddensus as we pass up the grav-
eled walk. Tall, rank weeds have checked
the flowers. and the zephyrs whisper mourn
fully through the unframed vines. Let US en-.
ter. How still it isl How oppressive is the
silencet gf zrF& sRsE gE 4E
Clara is sitting here alone and bowed as If
f, In grief or meditation. The hand supporting
her head Is pale and wasted. and though the
slender fingers the tears are falling one BY one.
Why sits she here alone and weeping? Whers
is he who won her girlish heart with ts trust
ing affectionsi There Is grass grown grave
halloeed with her teaFs--Clara 10 widowed
But Charlie, have the angels taken him too, to
the happy land. and Is Clara indeed alone?--
Yes, Clara Is alone in the saddest sense; yet
Ghar.ie 10 not with the angels, but with those
who coald soon change the angel in bis heart to
demon. Temptation has allured the youth
fsa aside from the narrow path. and Glars
weeps despairingly for her erring son.
- Let us seek him, and perchanee We may