The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1857-07-30
g 8rautjfQl STORY.
A Little Child Shall Lead Them.


We were both skoptically inclined,
my wife Paula and I. Paula, like nv
self had doubts of a hereafter. We
ridiculed the simplicity Ctho Stiffness,
we were wont to call it, of those who
are led blindfolded by the self-styled
teachers Of the day. We reioiced in
our freedom from the foolish supersti-
tions Of those around us. We pitied
those who we're so weak as to have what
they called faith. We lived for each
other. We determined to be happy in
ourselves alone, and one soft Septem-.
Der day another drop of bliss was in
fused into our cup. Our child was born.
We called her "Our Wish, and in the
joy Of her coming all disquiet, all doubt
was lost. Like the feverod visions of
past night all remembrance of by-gone
heaviness and trouble seemed to depart
from us.
Our Wish throve, and grew apace,
like other babies No very terrible anx-
ioties marred our happiness in her baby
hood. Her first serious ailment came
when she was nearly twelve months
old Then, indeed, 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 n
change. Hitherto the child had almost
been a part Of herself On her lap, in
her arms, or at her feet, Wish had al
ways been with her. The helpless de-
pendence Of her babyhood had been to
to the mother the dearest. sweetest
blessing Of her life, but from this time.
every week seemed to take away from
the blessing, and render it less perfect.
And as little Wish progressed in
strength and growth, and learned to
creep along the floor, then to stand on
her timid, staggering little feet, at last
to walk or run, fearlessly or alone-as
all these epOchs in baby life, one bv
one, came to pass, and the child's exis-
tence became daily more separate from
her own, Paulas complete ioy faded. her
coutontment fed An ever-restless
anxiety began to rack her heart. To
leave the child, even for an hour, was. I
knew, utter misery to her.
Our child was very quiet always, and
liked nothing better than sitting on the
grass, grooming softly to herself over
the daisies or the flowers we had gather
ed for her, often stroking them with her
tiny fingers, as if they were sentient
things She was a happy little creature;
childish ills seemed to come lightly to
her. she never pined or fretted, and
seldom cried with the passionate griev-
ing or anger that seems natural to most
young children 1t was not either of
us who first noted the fact, that our
Wish, if she were never pettish rest
less, or unhappy, like other children.
also never showed any of the glee, of
the overwhelming life that is so mani
fest in ''other children"
l remember the day that my friend
pointed out this fact to me. The child
she was then nearly four years old
was sitting in her accustomed place at
her mothers feet, her radiant little head
leaning against her mothers skirt
Such a picture they madel my Paula,
with her queenly head bent low over her
darling, and Wish, so fair, so exquis-
itoly, purely fair with her baby fingers
busted among the colored worsteds she
had chosen for playthings.
GLOW quiet she always isl" said my
friend, an eminent physician, who lived
near us.
His low tone, his intent look at the
child, startled me, and L glanced hastily
towards Paula She was smiling, hap
ply l could not tell why her smile
smote me with a sense of pain just then.
But DR. Lethby had his hand on the
door and / followed him from the room.
eyes, " said 1, indiderently; "little
Wish is a quiet child Only children
are apt to be so, I suppose"
GLOW old is she-nearly four years?''
1 nodded He was silent; but L felt
urged on to speak
"She is backward with her tongue, too,
which makes her seem quieter She
can only say very few words imper-
feotly."
az know"
"Yourlittle Lucy, who is not'o old