Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-16
Gboite Mlistellanp,
A Little Child Shall Lead Them.

wewere both skeptically inclined, my
vile Paula and l. Paula like myself, had
doubts of a hereafter. We ridiculed 'he
simpIici,v. the Stiffness we were won to
call il. of those Who are led blind!olded by
the selsstyled teachers of the dsy- Were
;oiced in our freedom from the foolish super
.stitious of those around US. We pltied
E those who were so weak as to have what
they called faith. We lived for each other
We deteruined 10, be happy in ourselves
alone dnd one son Sep.embss day anotier'
drop Of hiss was Infused into our cup Our
child wss born We called her sour
? WISH" and in the JOY of her coming all
: disquiet, all doubt was lost Like The ie-
yered visions o! past night, all remem-
]. brapce oil. by-gone neaviness and trouble
seemed, to depart from u.s.
Our Wish throve, and grew apace, like
sofher babies. No very terrible anxae ties
marred our happiness in her babyhood.-
Her frst serious ailment came when she
was nearly twelve months old Then In
deed,it was dark time, and the desperate
look i knew OF yore began to shadow Paula's
face. But the illness was passed safely,
and the gloom went safely with it.
But. from that time, there was change.
Hitherto the child had almost been apart Of
herself. On her lap, in her arms, or at her
feetssSVish had alM ays been with her The
helpless dependence of her babyhood had
beer to the mother the dearest sweetest
tlessine of her life. But from this time
everv month, every week seemed to take
away from the blessing, and render it less
perfect. And as little. Wish progressed in
strengthsand growth, and learned to Greer
along the floor. then-to stand on her timld
. staggering little feet, and at last to walk OIL
run, fearlessly or alone--ss all these epoch'
N baby life, lone by one. came to pass ant
the cbild's existence became daily mere
ssnarate from her own, Paula's complete jol
faded. her contentment. fled. An everest
: less anxiety began to rack her heart. II
leave the child. even for an hour, was,
knew. utter misery to her.
Our child was very quiet always. and like
nothing better than sitting on the grass
Grooming softly to herself over the daisie
or the flowers we had gathered for hei
often stroking them with her tiny fingers
as if.they we're sentient things She was
banuv little creature; childish ills seemed I
come lightly TO her; she never pIned
fretted. anG seldom cried with the passion
ate prieying or anger that seems nature
to most young children. 1t was not eltne
of us who first noted the fact, that our w ISL
If she were never pettish. restless, or uI
banny. like other children, also never show
ed any of the glee, OF the overwheimln
life.,bat is SO manifest in "other chlldren
remember the day that my friend Poln
ed ont tt,ss fact 10 me. The child--she W;
Then nearly four years old-was sitting
her accustomed place at her mothers zee
her radiant little head leaning against b
motber's skin. Such picture they mad
snv Paula, with her queenly head bent 10
aver hsr darling, and Wish, so far, SO e
quisitely, purely fair, Nth her baby, tnge
busted ameng the colored worsteds she n
chosen Tor playthings.
slow quiet she always isw said II
friend, an eminent physician, who lis
near US.
His low tone, his intent look at the chi
startled me, and glanced hastily iowa
Paula. She was smiling, happily; eor
not tell why her smile smote me with
sense of pain just then. But DR.. Leth
had his hand on the door, and | follow
= him from the room.
aYes, said I, indifferently; "little Wisf
a quiet child. Only children are apt to
so, suppose"
- allow old is she-nearly four years!"
= / nodded He was silent; but felt urg
on to speak.
gaShe is backward with her tongue, t
which makes her seem quieter. She c
only say few words very imperfestly.
"a, 81 know 49, Ga
"Your little Lucy who is not SO
talks quite well, doesn't she. we shall
Jealous. 49, .e1e
He did not echo my slight laugh.
stood pulling on his gloves, and looking
biosslyspowfat me-now at the ground.