The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-05-05

He looked up, lie looked down auk
wardlv, and in his hroad Dutch dialect
said, half sheepishIy, Va as
/ Does you pray TO God in the morningF
persisted the little one, still keeping her
hand upon him-and he in the same
voice answered, Va as
Then the little one seemed satisfied :;
she danced and capered about-chalted
| with this coarse, boorish boy--watched
! the curling flame as it ascended, and
built, all unconscously. fire Of love and
I gratitude on the altar Of that dncuIlva-
ted heart.
/ The season went on, and Nettie's mo:h.
or improved in health The thin figure
! rounded out, the pale cheek grew flushed
and she took long walks and drives along
the quiet beach.
Every morning when Loose Ben came
! up to build the fire, that dear little voice
would say, Does YOU love Cod! aud
when he had answered with his stereo.
typed 'la as she would add in precisely
the same words rs before, Does you pray
to God in the morningr and agam with
that stupid, wondering look, he would say,
IA as But there was a change III this
semi.barbarian. Gradually The rough,
heavey locks were trained TO fall back
from his low, bat fall brow his wood
co'ored face grew clean, aud his great
hands evinced some marks OF attention.
By some mysterious process his clothes
were mended, and little Loose Ben seem
ed 10 emerge from bis Ioutsh shell into
region OF more thought and ireer scope
lhe hotel ioungers still jeered him, still
called him all kinds Of strange and orig
lnaI names but he did not mind them
and had one seen him going up to his
daily duty To room So, smile might
have been detected lighting up his home
/ ~ face, tiI' i Was almost handsome. And
aS lie entered day after day, came the
same question about love and PRAYER.
''ne sabbath morning. never to be for
gotten day, for am telling no story Of
'lc'i"n, dear reader. the rap came as usu.
Al nj rom SO, aud when the door WAS
opened IN walked Luose Ben, worthy Of
tie name no longer. He brought the
wood, no; IN his usual way, but in bas.
ket and, wonder OF wonders, he was at.
ufed III neat gray suit, from head TO
1901, aud under his left arm he carried
straw hat, bound with black rihbon.-
Le'snrely he went up to The hearth stone,
ana Ielsuroiy set the kindlings and the
wood in their place. Then he turned to
,"ok Tor Antoinet,e. A little voice came
rom under the curtains-'Billy, does you
love God Does you pray in the morn
mgr
The boy drew his hands before his ewes
and Nettie made herself visible, he went
towards Der and fell upon his knees at her
feet
'lou dear little angel he sobbcd TAX
III! her dimpIrd hand, and covering it
I win kisses; every morning YOU ask me
hat, and every morning lie TO YOU -
les, lie to YOU for no love God ms
YOU say. Then, You ask me If pray
every morning, and lie to YOU again,
and keep lying 20 Won, because didn't
know no better because poor Dutch
boy. But this morning, you dear little
angel, tell you love God. | tell YOU
pray To God-yes, | love Il pray he
added, the tears running down his coarse
cheeks, while Mr.. and Mrs. Hayden stood
looking on full of as.onishment. You
made me 60 To God, YOU little angel YOU
--you make me pray to God, and tell
you no lie any lodger.'
Tears choked his utternncc. Antoi
nette. scarcely knowing what it all meant
stood looking gravely towards him, a
childish wonder in her face, until John
Hayden snatched her from the floor and
folded her with many kisses to his bosom.
4
The scene changes TO handsome
dwelling in the city. Snow LAYS on all
streets. white and glittering-tho naked
trees, the gray caps Of the houses, the
iron ratings, all are robed in the shroud
oi the autumn days. All, some cold
wind, some snow has entered :hat honse;
the white drapery Of the windows is un.
luted children 20 in and come out again
with sorro~fuI faces-tha passing trave..
Ier looks mournfnlIv mp as ho wauders
by-there must be death in that house
Yes, the white snow of death lay upon
the forehead of an only child.
She is in her coffin now, with roses
above her pale bosom, and the little oil
yer plate saws : 'An:oniette Hayden, aged
seven" What ! is her mission done 40
soon! Does the angel bathe her wings
in the light "f heaven Even so
In darkened chamber sat the mother
OF this lovely flower, hearing her grief
alone with God. No sigh broke from her
hosom--no tear fell from her eye she