Amador weekly ledger., 1858-06-12
Always in the Way.

ner Silaii iace Close 10 Tue WlnQOW-pane, IN
the vain attempt to see further round the
corner, whence sister Anna must come from
school. 1t was not one Of those rainy days
which every body loves, when the drops fall
steadily and cheerfully, and one feels sure
that they are completing their mission as rap
idly as possible, in order to treat US to
rainbow. 1t was cheerless, mizzly, drizzly
rain that seemed unwilling to leave cloudland,
and bent upon making everybody sympathize
with its ill-humor.
Poor little Amy looked the embodiment
of forlornity as she watched the long, pend
ulous branches of elms sway hither and
thither in an uncomfortable manner She
wondered what made the rain fall, and if the
poor little doves felt it through their glossy
feathers but she knew it was quite useless
to ask her mother, for she would tell her not
to ask so many questions and keep out Of the
way.
Mrs. Howard loved her child, but she was
bustling, energetic woman, whose chief care
was to keep well-ordered and tidy house.
and she did not understand the delicate ma
ture of the little Amy, who had been from
infancy feeble child, and stood sadly in need
of loving and tender sympathy. She was
not beautiful but for those who loved her
there was depth of love in her little heart,
which only needed answering sunbeams to
make it bear sweetest blossoms, and light up
her wan face with the beauty of contentment
This had been such q sad day. In the
morning she had climbed into a chair, to
watch her mothers proceedings at the pastry
table, when an unlucky motion of her hand
sent dish of -four to whten the floor, and
called forth an impatient reprimand from her
mother. Choking back a rising sob, she left
the table, and essayed to play with her blocks,
building with them wall to eonfne white
Lilly, the kitten. But kitty, impatient at
such close Imprisonment made vigorous ef
forts to free herself and as she succeeded,
scattered the blocks in every direction.
"What looking room !" exclaimed Mrs.
H. 81 declare its no use to clean up, you get
things in the way So"
No more house building for Amy after that,
so she walked up and down the room, sing
ing softly to the kitten in her arms, until it
was time to look for Annals return from
school Anna, the dear sister, who loved
anG petted the little one and never told her
to keep out Of the way.
At last her patient waiting was rewarded
by glimpse of Anna's bonnet, and with a
cry of Joy, Amy bounded to the open hall
door. to greet her sister with outstreched
hands and the words IL thought you would
never come"
What ails my pet !" said Anna, as she
took the child in her lap, and parting the
dark hair from her pale face, remarked the
look of WEAKNESS in her eyes.
Nothing" answered Amy, "only my
heart aches so, and | can't play without
troubling mother"
Anna sighed, for she knew the little heart
had sore trials so, far into the dusky eve
she sat with Amy's head upon her shoulder,
telling of the olden time when the fairies
danced by moonlight On the green sward
when every hill and dale, every river and tiny
streamlet was haunted by unearthly beings
Then she told of heaven, made glorious by
God and the angels, and as Amy listened.
her heart sweled with joy, her eyes beamed
with delight, and she exclaimed, raising heI
head. with animation
"Anna, must go there, / must-is it such
loug way?" Suddenly a shadow dark
, ened her face, as she said, sadly, Perhaps
though, | should get in the way of the an
gels, | am so careless"
, Never, darling said the sister, claspine
, more closely the little form, which an almost
prophetic sense told her was too surely fading
away.
At midnight there were hurried steps ant
/ anxious questions, as the household wa
> awakened by Annas cry that Amy was very
i'll. After days of anxious watching weep
E ing group surrounded the bed of the dying
E child
, Mother" said Amy's feeble voice, :"
' didn't mean to be naughty and get in you
/ way so much. l hope | shan't trouble tn
t angels-good-by, my darlings, | am going t
Q Sleep And little Amy was dead
r Long years the grass has grown on Amy
' grave. and harebels have rung their fair
r Chimes above it, while the birds sing re
0 ouiems in the shadowing trees but nightly
as she lays her head upon her pillow, Mrs
Howard sees the pale, weary face OF he
child. and hears sweet voice say :-"Moth
1 err | did not mean to get in the way" No
4 ali in vain was the lesson taught by thos
i dying lips. Seeds Of gentleness and patlene
0 were sown in the mothers heart, which, wa
r tered with the tears of repentance, CIV
s promise Of an abundant harvest OF peace
Little Pilgrim.
D THOUGHTS WANrED.-We tell you, reader
u that man has lived to purpose who ha
a peuned for a paper three lines of stirrln
It thought Let the the clergy, then, and a
s persons of intellect, leisure, or heart fe
IS good make it weekly task to compose
IS Few lines which paint some burning though
a as il leaps from the brain--a thought whic
e. shall kindle up humanities in the living, no
I. scattered over land and sea, and will contint