The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-04-22
RAYENNA, THURSDAY, APRIL %, 1858.

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Alice clasped her faded hands involuntari.
ly, nnc, although no words were uttered, her
heart was fill of prayer!
Wehave called her, in our love, pure and
iRnocent; but sine, Of her holier wisdom,
knew that she was but weak and erring
creature, after oil, end took courage only
from remembering that there is One whc
careth even for the very flowers Of the field
and how much more for the children OF
earth! But gradually, as she sat thus in the
pale starlight, the white lids dropped over
her heavy eyes, her hands unc'nsped and
sunk slowly and listlessly down; the weary
and toll frame had found rest at last!
And then the room seemed filled on q sud.
den, with strange brightness, and where
poor Alice had sat erstwhile at her wheel, is
an angel with shining hair and raiment
white and radiant as sunbeam, while
another bends gently over the slumberer,
and, looking frst OF hef and then at her com.
Panion, smiles pityingly; and she smiles
too, in her sleep; and, as if still haunted BY
her favorite hymns tunes, sings again, very
family and sweetly, till the soGnds die, lin
gefihg away at length upon the still night
air. Fast aha hoiSelessly ply these holy
Ones at their love- TASK. while the whixzng
of the busy wheel, accompanied BY a gen.
tie rushing sound, as Of wings, alone dis
turbed the profound silence of that little
chamber. And now Tie morning broke
again over the earth, and; their mission
performed, they have sped away to their
bright home rejoicingly.
Alice awoke, trembling. from her long
and refreshing slGmbet, thinking how she
must work doubly hard To redeem these los,
hours. She drew her wheel toward her
she looked wildly at it, rubbing her eyes to
be sure she was not still dreaming and then
gnzed around the quiet apartment, where all
remained just as che had left it; but the
task--the heavy task for which ahS had
marked our more weary days and nights Of
toll, and feared even then, not having time
enough to complete it--lay ready finished
before her! But, ufet a little time, the
girl, ceasing to wonder, or, remembering to
whom she had prayed the previous night,
guided by on unerring instinct, knelt down
and poured out her full heart in gush Of
prayerful thankfulness to Heaven. And we
caR almost fancy the angels standing lit
tie way off, smiling upon each other and
uPoh her, even as they had done before, and
rejoiced in their own work.
We dre told in the legend, that from that
hour, the wido% and her good and pious
child never knew want again. 1t may be
that Alice's employer Wis pleased with het
diligence and punctunlity, or the stern land
lord, shamed out Of his prejudlees by the un:
looked for appearance Of the glowing and
happy face OF his youthful tenant, three
says before the appointed time, with the
money ready, and maAy grateful thanks be.
sides, for what she termed his kindness in
waiting so long fol it; or there was charm
in that web, woven by holy hands. which
Brohght Alice maby more such tasks, with
better payment and longer time to COMPLETE
Iheth in. The only thing that makes us sad
in this simple and beautiful legend is, that
the age OF such like miracles shotld Haze
PASSED away. -.
And yeti, fear not, ye poor and suffering
children Of toll! Only be gentle aud pure
heated ua that young girl; trust as she
tristod, pray as she prayed--and be sire
that Heaven in it's own good time viii de.