The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-06-06
VOL. XVII---NO. Al,
Little Matte.
"Nhen ! can real my tito clear
To mansions In the skies -"


sang sweet childish voice. / looked with.
in The little maid Of my adoption was busy
with the brush and pan, her curly pate bob
ping up and down as she went the rounds of
her daily task.
MATTE was bright eyed. happy creature,
Always singing; and had boosted 10 NV
flenas oi my treasure, till they had almost
! cnvied me the possession Of the honest I;,,jo
waiting maid; | went up stairs TO NV toilet
and thanked God that too, could sing in
/ the language of faith,
"Ill lid farewell TO every fear.
And wipe my weeping eyes"
! The blinds were all closed, to shut out tho
hot sun. \ soft and agreeable dimness Der.
yadcd the large. old fashioned room and a
faint ruby tnge glowed through the heavy
crimson curtains. Seated in an easy chair,
| was reading sleepily, and the words were
just blending into that prismatic confusion
which prcccde Inconsistencies when heard
a light step trip by, and almost without
thought, | found myself following a light
form up the stairs
In my boudoir stood Matte, looking nj.
nay, handling, a small diamond broaeh.
which had often observed her gaze at with
childish admiration. Evidently some strur.
gle was going on in her hitherto innocent
mind. She placed it down, lifted it again.
held 1t at arms length, and iinaIy-oh, how
my heart slnk-cast a hurried glance about
her, put ii into her bosom. and guiltily took
up her simple sewing. She had always sat
there to sew in the afternoon.
At iirst felt Ike confronting her, for nv
temper is quick; but better thoughts pre-
vailed. ! returned to the sitting room. and
in little time sent for Matte.
She came in slowly; her ingenonsness
was gone. The vivacious sparkle of her eyo
had failed, and without intending it, she as.
sumel a sde.long position.
:" am lonely, Matte; bring your sewing
here; sit on this stool, and keep me compa-
ny. You were singing a sweet HIM when
came down this morning; who taught you
to s.ng!'
MY mother, ma'an," come in faint
low voice.
"ics, | remember your mother: she was
sweet woman. good Christian, and is now
an angel. ] don't believe she would willing
" have done a wrong deed; do You Matte?'
No, ma'am,' murmured the child, and
her checks crimsoned painfully.
. remember" | went on, as If to myself
how very beautiful she looked, as she Law,
wasting away, and how quiet and happy she
fe't when she came TO die. All. Matte, YOU
and viii have just as sweet and happy pill
lows, II We never do anything wrong-if We
only try to obey Gods commandments"
| saw the Hush deepening, the lips begin
to culver. The little fingers shook violently
as they passed the trGmulouS needle through;
the little bosom heaved; had touched the
right chord.
Matte, | love to hear you sing. Sing
me that sweet hymn beginning
"A!as and did my Savior bleedG"
The poor conscience stricken little crea-
ture obeyed my request with a faltering
voice. She conquered the first verse, but
when she began on the second,
Was /; for crimes that l."
her voice fa'tered, her frame quivered all
over, and she burst into passion Of grief,
burying her face in her lap.
Tears were running in swift streams down
my own cheeks, as the heavy sobs told her
suiferingS.
Matte" I said, as well as was able for
child to make YOU weep thus:"
She dashed the guilt out Of her bosom
with the brooch, and throwing it wildly
from her, sobbed.
Il took it stole it meant to sell it
Oh, and her prolonged moan was anguish
itself
| took The struggling child to nv heart:
| laid my hand upon her burning temples,
and hid the wet, shame-covered face in nv
bosom. God knows that felt fully at that
moment something Of the divine forgiveness.
and the compassionate pity of sin, vet love
for the sinner, which methinks. in their pcr.
fection, proved Christs divinity. In my
minds eye, | saw 4 long sorrowful process
sion of unfortunates, headed by Mary Mag.
dalen, forgiven and sancttied by the pre-
cIous intercession and holy benediction of
the Savior of sinners; and my prayer was,
- Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trcspass against u.s."
Matte is sitting by me at this moment
She is saved. Oiire Eranch