Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-02-04
ALWAYS in the Way.

Grain, rain, rain, viii it never stopi"
thought little Amy Howard, as she pressed
her small face close to the window pane, in
corner, whence sister Anna must come from
school. 1t was not one of those rainy days
which every one loves, when the drops tall
steadily and cheerily, and one feels sure that
they are completing their mission as rapidly
as possible, in order to treat us TO rain
bow. II was cherries, mizzly, Or zzly
rain, that seemed unwilling to leave cloud
land, and bent upon making every body
sympathize with its ill-humOr.
P~or little Amy looked the embodiment
of fUrlornity as she watched the long, pen
dulous branches of the elms sway hither
and thither in an uncomfortable manner
She wondered what made the rain fall, and
if the poor little doves felt it through their
glossy feathers; but she knew il was quite
useless to ask her neither. for she woud
only tel her no. to ask so many questions,
and to keep out of her way.
Mrs Howard loved her child; but she
was bustling, energetic woman, whose
chief care was to keep a well-ordered and
tidy house, and she did not understand the
delicate nature of the little Amy, who had
been from infancy a feeble child, and stood
sadly in need of loving and tender sympathy.
She Vas not beautiful; but for those who
loved her, there was depth of love in her
little heart, which only needed answering
| sunbeams to make it bear sweetest blossoms
and light up her wan face with the beauty
of contentment.
THIS had been such sad day. In the
morning she had climbed into chair, tic
,s; watch her mothers p5seeet,as ss-a, pas.ry y
sent dish of -four to whiten the fhoor, and
called forth ,,on impatient reprimand from
her mother. Choking back rising sob,
she left the table, and essayGd to play with
her blocks, building with them a wall to
confine white Lily, the kitten. But kitty.
impatient at such close Imprisonment. made
vigorous eff1r's to free herself, and, as she
succeeded, scattered the blocks in every di-
recfiOn.
'What looking room!" exclaimed Mrs.
Fl. 81 declare, it : no use to clean up, you
get things in the way So"
No more house building for Amy after
that; so she walked up and down the room,
singing softly to the kitten in her arms, till
it WIS time to louk for Annals return from
school-Anna, the dear sister who loved
the little one, and never told her to keep out
of the way.
At last her patient waiting was rewarded
by glimpse of Annals bonnet, aud with D
cry of Joy ANY bounded TO the open hal
door 10 greet her sister with ou'stretched
hands and the words, Il thought you would
never come "
"What ais my pet!'' said Anna as she
took the child in her lap, and parting the
dark hair from pale face remarked the look
of WEAKNESS in her eyes.
"Nothng," answered Amy. "onIy my
head aches so, and | can't play without
troubling MOTHER
Anna sighed for she knew the little heart
had sore trials; 81, far into the dusky eve
she sat with Amy's head upon her shoulder,
telling of the olden time, when the fairies
danced by moonlight upon the green sward.
when every hill and dale, every river and
tiny streamlet, was haunted by unearthly
beings. Then she told OF heaven, made
glorious by God and the angels, and as Amy
listened. her heart sweied with JOY, her
eyes beamed with delight, and she exclaim-
ed, raising her head with animation:
"Anna, must go there, mas.-is it such
a 'ong wsy!' Suddenly shadow darken-
end her lace, as she said sadly. "rerhaps.
though, should ge. in .'he way of the
angeIs-I am 80 careless"
"Never, darling" said the sister. oiasPing
more closely the little 'orm, which an "a
most Irophstic sense told her was 700 surely
! fading away.
At midnight there were hurried steps and
anxious questions, as the household was
awakened BY Annals cry that Amy was very
i'll. After days of anxious watching, a
weeping group surrounded the bed OF the
| dying child.
"Mother,' slil Amy's feeble voice, al
did MT mean to be naughty. and get in your
way 50 much. hope shan't trouble the
an.els-good-by my darlings, am going to
sleep" And little Amy was dead.
| Long years the grass has grown on Amy'S
! grave, and harebeils have rung their fairy
chimes above it, while the birds sing re-
QUEENS in the shadowinS trees; but nightly,
as she LAYS her head upon her pillow, Mrs.
| Howard sees the pale, weary face Of her
child and hears swre. voice say, Mother.
did not mean TO get in the way" ~" Not all
! in vain was the lesson taught BY those Gy-
ing lips Seeds of gentleneSs and patience
were sown in the mothers hcari, which.
waiered with he tears OF repentance, give
promise of an abuVtsnt harvest of peace -
Little Pilgrim.