Freeman's champion., 1858-02-18
Terms4--S2 Per Annurn.
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Our Charlie.

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Reader, did you know our little
Charlie? 1fyou did not, your life
was deprived of one spot Of sunshine
among its clouds. ..as Charlie was with
US but one short year, ,iwhen God
called him home ). but though his stay.
wasSo short, yet wordsIcapnot express
the anguish Of our hearts, when death
cams, and-bore him from us. And
when he was gone, we could not real
ize that we were never more to, hear,
his happy laugh, or see his bright
blue eyes, so full Of intelligence and
depth of soul, turned toward us, and
his little arms outstretched, to be
clasped to our hearts, oh, how loving
|ly! Perhaps, to some, all such in
dications of childish love and intel
ligcnce may seem triaing, but to a
mother, they speak of d soul within,
of endless existence already begun,
and should they notrremind her, that
the little immortal being, dearer TO
her than life, is but intrusted to her to
be trained for God? Our Charlie
had, in his own childish way, twined
himself among our heartStringS, till
it nearly severed them when he,was SO
suddenly taken from us. All, stern
and cruel death, to close forever his
bright, laughing eyes, and stiffen his
dimpled form, in thy cold embrace.
Thou lowest well to Gull the brightest
flowers of earth, rare and beautiful
buds thou wilt pluck from the parent
stem, Regardless Of a mothers tears
and prayers; thouloveSt we'll to lead
us on inChope, and dIwhen our cup Of
10y is full, thou wilt dash it to the
earth, regardless of the sorrow we
may feel, that we may never quaf the
the precious draught; thou strewest
bright flowers before thou bid'st us
pluck them, alas M oft-times, Ito
strew on the graves of those we love,
Thou hast taken our little Charlie
from us, but on his pure spirit thou
mayest never spread thy wrath ; thou
MA vest close brighe eyes, and still
} warm hearts true beatings, for ever!
thou mayOst hush glad voices eyerF
: more, and lock all life in "the sleep
that knows no waking" but, when
thou hast done oil this with poor,huA
man clay, thou csnst go no further,---
the wasting clay may be thine, bat
the spirit returns to Him who gave
! il. Andn oh God, we thank Thee
for thy precious promises to us, and
when wo remember that Of those, like.
|. our Charlie, is the kingdom Of Heav-
en-, we may hope amid our Affections
and chastenings that thou lowest us
,, still, and we will trust in Thee, and
we know tina" Thou dost not "wil-
,, lingly aflict those who put their trust
l in Thee" Oh, help us to live pure
: and blameless lives before Thee, and
may our trust and lalth DO unwaver-
9 ing in Thee, and may we ever feel to
. say "Thy will be done" Oh, help
8 us to live in such a manner that in
|, another life, wO may meet our loved
i ones who have gone before, but little
!, whilo I; that we may Gle down in
{, green pastures" and be led "beside
Il the still waters" for He is our Shep-
8 herd who hath said "ho that follow
! eth alter Me, shall not walk in dark
t ness, but have eternal life" And
2 may God in his mercy, through
. Christ, save us, and bless us with
: etcrnalblessings, in the mansions pre-
: pared in Heaven for the righteous.
I h. bglGlul1m b1r uIlH0i An. Il.