Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-07-14
EVENING STAR.
"HE SAID HE WoULpw

"HE SAID HE WOULD
"Please don't shut the shutters, mother
the moon is so bright" said little Willie
Angus-addiEg, as he moved uneasily on the
sofa. - it's a nice night for him to come"
who is coming, my dear ?" asked his
| mother. e
Mr.. Elm to be sure.>sao.her. It's Satur.
d-y, and that N+4-Slas day % the wcek"
But why did you think he would come
| this week, WiIlie?''
- lie said he would mother"
This Was said a. if no would make his moth
er ~ sure as himself; and then half closing his
eyes, Willie isy intently listening to the pass
| ing footsteps, his cheek flushing "a one after
| another seemed to stop At their house. But.
| unfortunately, a passage leading t. many 9TH
| er houses went close by the door Of theirs. and
one by one the sound of footsteps died l Say,
and none came to their door.
Poor Willie had long illness, which he had
borne very patiently, and he was quite aware
| that there was no chance of his ever getting
| be't,r. His greates. pleasure was in being
read TO; but. unhuppily, his mother had never
been well taught, and though everything else
she did for him was the best and pleasantLst,
she was quite aware that be derived no pleas
| ure from her reading, and she was therefore
Always glad TO get some one TO read to him. A
young lady, his former Sunday school teacher,
| used to come two or three times week, but
| she had row been Ill herseIffor several weeks,
and this Mr.. Ellis, having called accidentally
| to speak to his mother about some sewing. had
| been pleased with the child, and had been in
several times 10 read to him. His voice was a
| very musical one, and Wille's quick ear was
fully alive to the beauty of his reading, though
he could not, perhaps, have told why he en-
Joycd it more than that Of any one else. This
| evening, as he lay listening, he held tightly
| In his hand n little book Of poems. with his
finger in the place where his favorite was
- Charlie and his father
Eight O'Clock struck. Willie turned away
his head from the bri sht moon, and, as he shut
| his eyes. his watchful mother saw a tear es-
| cape on the pillow. He had given up hope for
this night-and more, and worse than that for
his loving heart, he had learned that he must
| not trust implicitly in what "he said -
For another week the little invalid watched
every week between seven and eight for his
| friend. He said nothing. He could not bear
to rcprOach him, and it would have been far
worse to hear him reprOachcd by his mother
lie kept tie book under his pillow, instead Of
| his head, and each night, as eight o'clock
struck, he gave up the hope.
But this constant restless expectation was
bad for the child. His mother saw that he
became feverish towards evening, and did not
sleep so well; so, having finished part of the
| work for Mr. Ellis, she determined to take il
home herself, and see him if she could He
came TO speak to her, and inquired kindly
after the little boy. She would not lose such
| good opportunity, and said he was not so
well, and that he had been much disa ppointed
at not having seen Mr.. Ellis
Poor little fellow. l will come some day
soon" he said.
Some day soon, repeated Mrs. Angus to
herself, as she went home. " When will that
be, wonder! Poor Willie,''
AnxiouSy were the poor boys eyes fixed
QDOu her : she came he knau har
| she had been.
He asked very kindly after you, DEAR
| said his mother answering the look.
Did he say he was coming!'
Yes, he said he would come some day
SOON
Willie's eyes Frightened. He had not vet
learned how easily promises are made and
hccdlessly they are broken.
week passed, another was nearly at its
clo5e-and the mother knew that her child's
| lite was ebbins away fast. The medical man
Sald that he had not many days 70 live, and
must be kept a. quiet and happy as he could
She could not quite understand the fascination
| which Mr.. Ellis appeared to have had over
| the boy, but she knew that he was constantly
IN his thoughts, and. she was determined. if
possible, TO bring him. Again she went, and
found MIN as kind in manner as before
Worse, is he? Poor little lad. 1 must
come SOON"
- beg your pardon, sir, said Mrs. ANUS:
" but there Is nothing but your coming that
will do him any good. He has been looking
for you ever lice came here last, whom YOU
said you wculd como soon"
Did forgot Poor child will 20
with you"
He put On his hat, and accompanied her
nome. She went In first to tell Willie who
was coming. lie did lot say word, but
stretched out both his hands, pressed his
friend s hand to his hot lips, and then slipped
MS 1avorlte book into it. The book opened
at the usual place, and how Willie's ears
and heart drank in the low music of the words
Father when people die,
Will they come back in May!'
Tears were in Charlie's ewes
VIII they, dear father-say!n
No, they will never come;
We 20 TO them. nv boy
There, in our heavenly home,
To meet in endless joy.D
When this was read, Willie did not, as ususl.
ask for another, but keeping Mr. Ellis hand
he looked at his mother and said, as if hardly
conscious of his presence, at was long to me.
but 1t was soon to him. He said he would.
Mother, and in a few minutes his hand re-
laxed and he slept more quietly than he had
done for many nights. What q world Of graf
flied trust in those few words, How the little
loving heart had been wounded when il thouybt
its friend tr1u forgotten, and how sweet The
feeling that, after all, the intention had been
fulfilled.
The words sank deep in the listeners heart,
and he resolved that for the future he would
be more watchful in keeping his promises.
Would all do 50, how many a weary hour Of
old N
Not many days did Willie's gentle spirit
linger here; but no day passed without a visit |
from MIR. Ellis, and the boy passed from life TO |
death as he listened to the words: "In NV |
Father house are many mansions: if it were |
not so L would have told you. 20 to prepare |
place for you