The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-12-09

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membered his mothers deep affection
for him, and the kind and gentle tones
in which she used to talk. He remem-
bered what she had told him about
God and good people going to Heaven
when they died; and he thought he
would try to be good so that he could
60 and see his mother when he died.
This thought was his only consolation
while three long little dreary years
passed away. -
One day man came along exhibi-
ting pictures. He had pictures of sew
eral great cities which he showed
through magnifying glass. The boy
was then eleven years old. He had
never seen city or even a village.
He looked with delighted wonder on
the splendid towers, lofty dooms, and
crowded streets. He remembered
hearing his mother read once from a
book about celestial city; and his
imagination had pictured to itself at
the time an immense area covered with
churches, with their spires glitteripg in
the sun, and happy people going in and
out. One of these pictures reminded
him of that celestial city. There was
a church on almost every street with a
tall spire pointing up to Heaven. The
boy understood the meaning of that,
and he thought to himself surely that
is happy place; every body is good
there, they worship God and are kind
to each other He did not know what
all the other large buildings were for,
but he thought surely it must be a
Heavenly place where there was so
many steeples all pointing up so high.
He sighed when the man put back the
picture in his box, and he wondered
which way and how far off that beau
tiful city might be. As he lay on his
pillow that night he thought about it
and wept, and wished he could go
there to live. How happy he could be
among those good people who were
going in and out of those churches
they would talk to him as his mother
used to, and tell him all about where
she had gone and how he must live so
as to go there too. Every day for a
year he kept thinking about it, while
his master grew continually more harsh
and unkind. At last he resolved to run
away, and seek an asylum in that beau
tiful city where he was sure he should
find friends and comforters and guides,
and everything that he longed for. So
he stole out one night and started on
foot and alone; it was a dreary road
and there was no light but the stars
but his heart was full of hope and he
sped swiftly along with that one bright
vision before his eye; those church
spires and the good people thronging
there to worship. His faith never fall
tered, his courage never forsook him
during all that long journey, begging
his bread day by day, and resting any
where at night he arrived at last at his
bourne"
Again the speaker paused and covered
his face with his hands. Every eye
was rivetted OH him.
"It was Sunday when the friendless
wanderer arrived at the city of his
dreams. AS he passed through the
suburbs he was startled and shocked at
the indications of poverty and wretch
edness which many localities displayed.
Still his faith did not falter, and he
hurried along to the nearest church
where congregation were just begin
ming to gather. Faint and tired he sat
down on the steps to rest. His clothes
were coarse and faded, but he never
thought of them; his heart was beat
ing with expectation, and he looked
earnestly into every face that ap-
preached, with the confidence of one
who waits the coming of friend. A
glittering carriage was driven up and
stopped close by where the boy was
sitting. A gentlemen and two ladies
descended. The poor boys eyes were
almost dazzled by the splendor of their
dress and equipage, and he gazed at
them with wistful look. Get out, OF
the 'oay,' said the man as he pushed by
him, for the boy in his wonder had
forgotten that he was sitting right OPP
posite the church door. He rose upon
his feet and slept aside. A strange
pang shot through his heart-a strange
shiver ran through his frame. He stood
there watching anxiously through his
tears every face that came up, until the
whole assembly had arrived and passed
in. They all looked smiling and hap
py; but they didn't look at him. He
waited for some kindly greeting; he
peered wishfnlly among them for some
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