The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-06-03
THE 1NF1DE1 AND HIS DYING CHILD.

| Ihe following passage has touching in-
terest. 1t is extracted from Mrs. Mc1ntosh's
"Charms aud Counter Charms" Euston
Hastings, their father, is an infdel.
The childs disease was scarlet fever. Ten
Edays and nights of ever deepening gloom
had passed, and in the silent night, having
insisted that Evelyn, who had herself symp.
toms of illness through the day, should re-
tire to bed, Euston Hastings sat alone watch
ing with " tightening heart the disturbed
sleep OF the little Eve. 1t was near mid
night when that troubled sleep was broken.
The child turned from side to side uneasily,
and looked somewhat wildly around
her.
"What is the matter with my darling ?"
| asked Euston Hastings, in tones of melting
tenderness.
"Where's mama?" Eve want mama to
say. "Our Father"
Euston Hastings had often contemplated
the beautiful picture Of his child kneeling
with clasped hands beside her mother, TO
lisp her evening prayer, or since her illness
forbade her rising from her bed, of Evelyn
kneeling beside it, taking those clasped
hands in hers, aud listening to Ewes softly
murmured words. Well he knew, therefore,
what was meant by Ewes simple phrase
"To say Our Father!'
"Mamma is asleep" he said !" "when
she awakes will call her."
No-no-papa; Eve asleep then"
will call her at once, then, darling"
and he would have moved, but tho lit
tic hand was lain on him TO arrest
him.
No don't wake poor mamma =; papa,
say Our Father! for Eve"
"Will Eve say it to papal Speak; then,
my darling" he said, fnding that though
tho hands Were clasped and the sweet
eyes devoutly closed, Eve remained 81,
No-Evc too sick, papa-Eve can't
talk so much-papa kneel down and say,
Our Father, like mamma did last night
won't you, papa9"
Euston Hastings could not resist that
pleading voice, and kneeling, he laid his
hand over the clasped ones of his child,
and for the first time since lie lad muir
INJURED 1t with childish earncstncss in his
mothers car. his lips gave uttcrancc to that
hallowcd form OF prayer which was given
to man by a Divine Teacher. At such an
hour under such circumstances it could not
bc uttere'l ca, elessly Euston Hastings i'm
dcrstood its solemn import-its recognition
of Gods soverciguity-its surrender of all
things to Him. lie understood it. we say
but he trembled at it. His infdelity was
annihilatcd; but he believed as the unrec-
onciled believe, and his heart almost stood
still with fear while THY will be done on
earth even as it is in heaven" fell slowly
from his lips.
Soothed by his compliance, Eve became
still, and seemed to sleep, but only for
few minutes. Suddenly, in louder voice
than had been heard within the room for
days, 81 exclaimed, "Papa-papa-sce
thete-ut there, papam
Her own eyes were fixed upward, on the
ceiling as it seemed to Euston Hastings, for
to him nothing else was visible, while
smile Of JOY played IN her lips, and her
arms were stretched lApwaf I'd as to somo &C.
lcstial visitant.
Eve coming" she cried again. "Takc
Eve"
" W'll Eve leave papa!" cried Euston
Hastings, willie unconsciously he passed
Ills arm over her, as if dreadng that she
would really be horne from him:
{" With her eyes fixed upward, and ex-
pending her last strength in an effort to rise
from the bed, Eve murmured to broken
tones, Papa come too-mamma-gran
little brother-dear papa"
The last word could have been distin-
guishcd only by the intensely listening ear
OF love. 1t ended in sigh and Euston
Hastings felt, even while he still claspcd
her cherup form, and gazcd upon her
sweetly smiling face, that his Eve had in.
deed left him forever. That she had ceased
to exist, with the remembrance Of THAT last
scene full in his mind, he could not believe.
lienceforth heaven with its angels, tile min
'ster'ng spirits of the Most High, was a
reality; it was the habitation of his Eve {;
and his own heart heat longingIy for It,.
Ills proud, stern, unbending nature had
been taught to tre,uLle at the decree of
" him who 1uleth over the armies of heaven,
and among tire inhabitants Of the earth %
The Being and Nature upon which lie had
hitherto specuaated as grand distractions.
become at once unspeakabIy interesting
facts. Would lie contend with him in
wrath7 Would He snatcl, from him one
by one the blessings Of Ills life, crushing
the l'npious heart which had rcviIed His
attributes and denied his existence 2-or
was he indeed solong suffering" so 81 plen-
teous in mercy" that lie would prove even
to him that His might was the might Of a
Savior2