Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-05-23
The Little 0 ne

There is darkened chamber in the house.
over the windows of that room the thick cur
tains sweep downward heavily and the sun.
shine and the daylight are excluded. Soft
voices mingle in gentle cadences there, and
softer iootialls across the covered floor
There are no loud tones no harsh sound A
hush and halo rest there, like the soft
dropping of an angels wing. Close pressed
to heart awakened to new fonnt Of JOY it
never knew or dreamed Of before, lies little
babe. Only the young mother feels the bles.
sing and the responsibility of the precious
boon and in the shadowy room she lies and
thinks Of the little God-gift on her bosom; Of
the world untried, the path untrod, viii. h lie
before the portal Of life It has just crossed
Tears Of love and feeling upon the little brow
as SIZE thinks in what way is the world to try
this pure young spirit, and whose hand will
| safest guide it over that untrodden way
The twilight comes, and the stars shine out
and bcnediction and prayer sway like hea-
venly pinions over the gently pllowed head
| OF the new born; while through the house n
new ligh ht shines, and manhood's brow grows
| brighter, aud woman's eye grows softer. and
under the roof.trec of homo they "rejoice
with exceeding great joy" for little one is
there.
| Spring has come, and the babe, bright
I and pretty prattler now. is out among
the flowers. The eye Of affection watches
him anxously, for the lily disputes possession
with the rose on that fair cheek, aud the blue
eye, soft as a dew-laden yioletsis lifted TO the
tar.ofi skies, as if il knew its home was there
Slightly the little feet patter upon the stairs,
sweetly the little voice sings through the
house, and the mothers heart melts with
fearful delight in listening TO it, Out on the
turf the father lies down in the shade Of The
summer sunset, aud like q child himself plays
with his babe, and clasping his treasure 10 his
manly breast, feels his eye grow moist with
the dew Of affection, and thankfulness TO God
for his glorious gift
Again there is a darkened chamber in the
house. The windows are more deeply shaded
the footballs are soft the voices are subdued
and sad. The little one is i'll Quietly upon
his little couch he lies and suffers. The
sweet lips utter no moan; The gentle features
evince 10 pain; and it seems as though angels
soothed him into silence. Again the twilight
comes; again the stars shine out but there
is no ioy now in the house, and the prayers
Of thanksgiving are turned TO supplcations
for mercy TO pleading at the throne OF grace
no spare the loved one yet a little while Ion
ger.
Morning dawns, and there is coffin in the
house. A little narrow box, not two feet
long ROBBED in white with flowers among bis
golden hair and waxen hands folded over
the heart that is still forever, lies the dead
babe Oh, the aching hearts that bend over
him; oh, the hot tears that fall down upon
the flowers and golden hair How they tell
of earthly love and the frallty of earthly
things How they tell of hollow human
hopes and the mockery Of mortal trust In
the very room where he was born, they close
the cofin-lid and yield him back, dust to dust
earth to earth. ashes to ashes.
Days and months roll away. Time, the
consoler, has laid healing hand upon the
broken hearts of those who loved the child
and they have learned the great lessons the
T babe was sent to teach. The tendrils OF the
, young vine. though faded, still retain Their
I clinging hold upon their memory and theiI
, love; but out in the graveyard stands pure
, white monument. never forgotten. and never
} passed by without tear which points its pale
> fnger to the blue skies, and whispers, "Lsy
r up for yourselves trsssurss in Heaven"