Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-10-07

er child Stop for me ! And presently
they would see very little figure, growing
larger as it came along, running to join
them. When it came up, they all crowded
round it, and kissed and welcomed it; and
then they all went on together.
Sometimes, they came to several avenues
at once, and then they all stood still, and
one of the children said, Father, am CO.
ing to sea- and another said, Father am
going to India, aud another; Father, lam
going to seek my fortune where can,' and
another, Father I am going to Heavenp
So, with many tears at parting they went,
solitary, down those avenues, each child
upon its way; and the child who went to
Heaven, rose into the golden air and van
ished
Whenever these partings happened, the
traveller looked at the gentleman, and saw
him glance up at the sky above the trees,
where the day was beginning to decline,
and the sunset to come on. He saw, too,
that his hiir was turning grey. But, they
never could rest long, for they had their
journey to perform. AID it was necessary for
them to be always busy
i At last, there had been SO many partings
that there were no children left. aud only
the traveller, the gentleman, and the lady
went upon their way in company. And
now the wood was yellow. and now brown,
and the leaves, even of the forest trees,
began to fall.
i So, they came to an avenue that was
darker than the rest, aud were pressing
forward on their journey, without looking
down it, when the lady stnppel.
j My husband, said the lady. Il am called.
They listened, and they heard voice, a
long way down the avenue, say Mother,
mother
1t was the voice Of the first child who had
said, Il am going to Heaven" and the
father said, Il pray not yet The suns ct
is very near. pray not yeti
But the voice cried Mother, mother.'
without minding him, though his hair was
r now quite white, aud the tears were on his
face
t Theu the mother, was already drawn
e into the shade of the dark avenue, and
, moving away with her arms still around his
} neck, kissed him, aud said, my dearest, ]
! am summoned, aud | 60! And she was
e gone. Aud the traveller and he were left
alone together.
: And they went on and on together, un
e til they came to very near the end of the
+ wood-so near, that they could see thu
r sunset shining red before them through
It the trees.
d Yet, once more, while he broke his wal
!. among the branches, the traveller lost hi
friend. He called, but there was no re
; ply, aud when he passed out of the wood
1t aud saw the peaceful sun going down upol
$ wide purple prospect, he came to an oil
y man sitting on fallen tree. So, he sal
k to the old man, what do you here? An
d the old man 5 id with calm smile, L an
r always remembering. Come and remem
J. Der with mel
ID So the traveller sat down by the side o
Of that old man, face to face, with the sereu
of sunset; aud all his friends came softl
" back and stood around him. The beaut
u, full child, the handsome boy, the youn
= man in love, the father, mother, and chi
he dren; every one of them were there, an
ne he had lost nothing So he loved thel
all, and Was kind and forbeariug to the
se all, and was always pleased to watch the
be all, and they all honored and loved him.
i'm AndI think the trav eller must be yoursel
he dear grandfather, because that is what yo
ng do to US, and what We d. to you.