The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-01-05
"LlTTLE MAMIE WINN.,

Some ten years ago We were sitting by a
brisk pine fire in our humble sanctum of a
Sunday eve, when servant entered, leading
a beautiful child Of some six or seven sum-
mers, quite neatly and jauntily dressed. as is
most appropriate for these buds of CREATION
Our attention was iMmediately v attracted to
the lovely creature holding in her hand a
magnificent bouquet, which at that period Of
the season seemed to us a curiosity indeed
Never had We seen a more perfect gem from
Natures mine than this emanation of deep.
mysterious handicraft The flowers in her
tiny hand were reflected upon her fair
round cheek aud finely formed forehead. her
eyes were of that dazzling brilliancy which
meuts soft and elastic as iawn in he spring
time OF a southern cline.
Blushing, with the confidence OF innocence
and truth, the little creature advanced and
presented us with her rich gift. uttering a
few laudatory words that =, heir wav,
with the Iuckness of the electric fluid, to
the chambers OF the heart She thanked US
for some lines dedicated to the memory of
her father, hastily thrown oil in the hurry of
the moment at the solicitation of worthy
friend of the honored deceased and left us to
most pleasurable emotions and reflection ting
ed with the rainbow hues Of Imagination.
1t lsa principle of our nature and re-
decminS principle, We NAV Sav-:o love chill
dren for considered in any light, they pre-
sent the only evidence we have OF the perfect
ability which we are told is reserved for hu
man destiny. They are flowers with 81 ade
too circumscribcd Tor the coil Of the Ser; ent
OF Evil, they are the diamonds OF truth that
blazen the dark PATHWAYS of sin AM. sorrow.
As the stars relieve an inky sky; and We con
icSs to a feeling for them. up 10 certain age.
which is intense, atiording Us the most valued
pleasure We can Obtain iii weary pilgrimage
We would, indeed. at any time .iv" up any
>ocIctv tor the gratiiicat!on of converse with
a child whose mind WAS ust developing the
occult designs of God dcrrec->o pure. fresh.
suggestive and pleasing that We wonder Lot
at the beautiful admonition Of the Saviour of
man. " Suffer little children to come unto me,
for Of such is the kingdom o: heaven
Years passed away, and We saw our title
proteSe frequently. She had mind Of rare
power. quick perceptions and that vers,tli-
tv of intellect which We do not regard as for-
tunate in It's po>sc>Sor, although it is attract
i've an iShlv priced. She was heal hv.
heauteous plant. full of promise. In the
whrl of a thousand cares aud troubles WE par
tally lost sight OF her for a considerable
time, aud when our attention was again call
ed to our pet, Little Nanic," We had the
modification of learnin. and discovering that
the bright intellect of childhood had pal Il its
fires at the command of disease. The ia>id-
Gus worm had entered the ripcnng fruit up
on the tree. and worked It's wav 70 th. rich
core. Her mind, once so vivaciouS AMI win
ming, was i'll the dark gloom of insanity We
turned awav from the wreck As the mariner
does from his ocean bride, a favoritc larque.
yoin" down to the coral cavern> of the deep,
and offered up a PRAYER in our heart that if it
were impossible to reir>,a,, her heLt'-to
restore the brightness of the lewcl- She
might soon be called bv the Almighty to JOIN
the immaculate creatures who pace the
realms bv Seraphs tro1, and constitute the
ornaments Of Paradise
\ few DAYS ago. in far distant portion Of
the parish, and in the turmoil o political
StIut, VIZ ItdI Htl tIIdt tIt StTIchCu SUIltIcI
was summoned home. Our ftvori,e. " Little
Mamie" had brcathcd her las; rhc tidinS~
were quite acceptable although thew disturb
ed Tor a moment the almost congcalcd and
sealed waters OF the soul, and flied the eyes
of one " albeit unused to the mcltn. mood -
, We were thank "a! tha, Omnipotencc had in
tcrvened, and that dcthroncI reason had
closed her last account. The b!shtcd flower
was placed beside its parents to know tia;
blossoming that passeth not away when the
earth and all things thereon shall! be covered
with the pail of eternal gloom
Good bye, little fricnl-mrck rentlr. sui-
fering Mamie There was poison in the cuy
Of life for thee no flowers, but thorns upon
thy miniature path eternal thor,s. Th,
! oracle of fate proclaimed that earth should
be tn best mother, and she has thee now il
her cold embrace. The seal o. ETERNITY i:
upon the past, but the future is before thee
poor petrol upon an unknown sea, and W,
know 1t viii be to thee bright and beautiful
The last rose of summer has scattered ii
leaves to an artumnal tomb. and the branch
es Of the forest. once robed in green, wea
now a livery of gold but the rciuvcnain.
springtimc will return, and the lilies vii
stand sentinel upon thy small, honest tcne
ment. Then we NAV pass by and pause TO
moment on that holy hill Lon God's Acre. a
the old Saxon writers forcibl.' refer to the re
public OF the iead-but if we fail in this, W
will command favoritc bird meath our win
dow which appears to be commissioned TO
good, 20 90 where the cols OF the mountain
rest upon thee. and chirp requiem soft an
enchanting as the music heard bv the shep
herds who were watching the advent OF tn
Prince of Peace. Good bvc, Mamie ,-ilcl
andriu DemocrM