The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-15
For the National Era
" ONLY A LITTLE CHILD"
BY MIRIAM GRAY.


TIE closed shutters, and the black Grape
with the intertwiuing white ribbon attached t.
tue cell, told that the messenger of death had
been doing his work in the home across the
way. |" 1t is only Moore's little child" said q
gentleman who was passing, in reply to the
questioning Of his companion. "Only a little
child!" Come 10 the house of mourning; enter
the chamber, from which the young life has de-
parted, and stand by the silent crib. The folds
OF snowy cashmere lie softly around the little
form, which loving hands have robed for its
last sleep. How beautiful the baby brow, which
no care or sorrow has ever rufled the closed
eyes, that never met any save the answering
look of love; the little lips that had just learn
ed the dear homenames. Father and mother
SIT By the little bed, and in mute anguish watch
the beauty from which the life has gone. God
help them! Ayel God bless the childess
mother!
Since the little child was first given to her, a
gift from the Father of all, and the GROWING
glory of womanhood was hers, the realities o!
the present, and the6reams of the future, have
N'0u iuil VI nope anu Joy.
Her little daughter She should be taught
all gentle affections, all precious truths of life
AS the years rolled around intellectual and re
hsious culture should unite to make her life
beautiful and good, and give her power to live
LOT and to bless others. The vain seeking and
careless living, which blight so many natures
that God meant should be strong and true, abe
should turn from, ard should choose "the bette,
part"
Day by day, dreaming such dreams, shs
folded her darling in her arms, and prayed fol
strength and wisdom to guide her Alright; ant
now, the Father has taken her, and she need
no earthly guidance, but the mother arms YEAR,
Vain!y to embrace her lost one, and the mother
heart has not learned to say, "Thy will b,
done"
Mother, whose frstbor has been taken, tn,
one whom you first called yours, whom nigh
after night you have hushed to rest upon YOU
bosom, and, day by day, have watched, as i
grew in beauty and strength, while fancy paint
ed the bright future which, with Gods help
you would make for your darling, can you fee
what it is when only little child" is taker
from home?
As the years have passed, and other children
have been sent to bless you, yet the one wh,
was given and taken has kept its own sacret
place, while in the sleepless hush of night, aut
AMID the WEAKNESS of daily life, you have fel
Hgam the Joy Of that first year of motherhood
and the terrible anguish of that first bereave
Tent, and almost unconsciously You have beef
e'aWn by those memories, by the power of tha
Joy ana sorrow, nearer and nearer to the unseel
0 NUr'd and to the heart of the Infinite Father
v mother do you not know what it is to hsv
gwen only little child" 10 Heaven?
Dressed are the homes to which the littl'
Sues nave been given, and blessed, too, TIT
Somes rom which they, in their purity, hav'
been taken! The beresved hearts are draw,
UPWARDS oy the treasures in the Heavenly home
Eaaergetlc efforts are row being made BY th,
Pniladeiphians 70 purchase the Gojrns stss ~
gFs, with view to the establishment of a stea
me ost"een Philadelphia and Europe. Ac
yOroing to the Pensyloanian. arrangement,
ave oeen made for their ACQUISITION bv re
isu4,oie parties of that city. The sum O
,bVV'yVO Is required to accomplish the object
., N2nce OF the purchase money to remain
So property. tits intended to forn ioin,
n, 'A company; and to this end a subscription
MS. 70 De opened at the Exchange, and an
i ~ ION Will be made to the State Lsgislatur.
quarter. The plan is to run the steamer,
n;s Philadelphia and Southampton, with
t,are' 70 secure the passenger and freigh
AID u r'alcn IRON the continent of Europe
BIZ ,aas avoid, to great extent, the formida
pa mpeiition of the Cunard, line. In cas-,
resn ~.elPhia should succeed in purchasing tb,
esnn.e Fs' The Pennsytcanian thinks Congress
y O. ~ refuse contract for carrying the mails
Vuras A.ng such appropriations as may be re
s~fea to sustain the line.