Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-01-29

as usual. She had tried toreform since he
father left, week before but she allowed
spirit of anger to come into her soul OF
account of the course he hao pursued, SO hel
trial did not amount to much. When ZAP
bert came home, the child was worse, and
by this time il had become so sick that The
mother was sorry that she had been 50 harsh
through theiday. -.
Mr.. Leemanwsnt for the doctor, and
when that man came, he said Nellie had
the scarlet feve5 All night thes:ittle one
suffered much, and its cheeks and broY
seemed on fire. On the next day she grew
weaker and sicker; then Abby feared she
might die. Oh, what thought: ~
Sabbath night came, and little Nellie had
grown very white and thin; during the whole
day she had been calm and qaiet. Could
she be dyingl 'Oh. God. spare my child
spare my childn the frantic mother prayed
upon her knees. & sea.r - ~
The clock had just struck nine, when
Nellie raised her eyes, and they looked very
strange. c
'Mama-good mama,' she whispered, kiss
little Nellie -. a.- Z
The mother pressed her lips upsn her
child's brow and kissed her ferven:Iy.
'Mama--you love little Nallie; and you
love George and Mary
The mother could not speak. Just then
Albert entered the rom.
'Papa-papa-one kiss for little Nellie
Love little Nellie always. Love George and
Mary, and love mama
When Abby Leeman next looked upon
her child the spirit had Aed. The little
sufferer was free from all earthly pain. Ore
moment the mother gazed upon the broken
cssket. and then she sank down upon her
knees and wept as though her heart would
break. He husband knelt by her side; be
placed bath os his arms about her neck ,and
with one deep burs, of passionate grief, she
piIlowed her head upon his bosom.
On The next morning, Lydia came and
took care of the body of the little Nellie.
She dressed it sweetly, combed its golden
hair back. AMI when she placed Is in the
crHin, she spread new and fragrant flowers
all around it. She had done all this when
Abby entered. @
The sisters were alone by the dead child.
The bereaved mother gazed awhile upon the
.o"ely. face of the little sleeper, and then
she turned TO her sister. Lydia opened her
arms, and the next moment the esransed
ones weie locked in each others embrace.
1t was long, long while ere either could
speak They could only weep and sob,a ,and
cling more closely heart to heart.
We will not tell the thoughts which
dweIt in Abby Leeman's mind upon this
occasion; nor will we tell Of the long hours
she spent upon her knees in prayer while
all others of the household slept. .g.
.Loue George and Mary! Loue little Mel
lie olways! Love Mamar Oh! how those
words rang in that msther's soul. And how
other words came back upon her, ,tso-harsh
uskipd words whichgflad been spskenste the
cheru5 that had gone! But she found a
ba I'm in the so:emn resolution she took to
herself never to he unkind again.
And the resolution was sacredly kept--
Albert and Abby mourned for the departed
one, but they felt, too, that the gentle spirit
of the heaven born child was dwelling still
with them, making paradise of their home
AID leading them on in Joy and psace.
Ere long the old man came to live awhile
with his eldest child, and from that tine he
divided his months equally between Them,
and he could no more feel that one home
was pleasanter than the other. Bolh were
alike, joyous, peaceful, and happy. When
he now looked upon Abby's happy, smiling
face, he knew that she had no other :ace
for domestic Use. The beaming, genial
that welcomed the visitor to
her dwell Ling, was never laid aside. Its sun
shine was for her husband and children, and
the cloudy brow was put away forever