The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-05-04

lsonab.e shape, for he did mischief with an en-
ing. Once he secured the floor with .Auu,
Betsey's very best Scotch snuff, once he wash.
led up the hearth with Uncle Able's most i'm.
macnlate clothes brush; and once he was found
ttrying to make Bose wear his fathers specta
lcies. In short there was no use. except the
fright one, to which he did not put everything
THAT came in his way. aeEse
I But Uncle Able was most of all puzzled to
know what to do with him on the Sabbath, for
on that day Master Edward seemed TO exert
himself to be particularly sdiligent and enter
tanning. 'Edwardl-Edward must not ptay
snndayt his father would call out; and then
Edward would hold up his curly head, and
look as grave as a catechism; but in three
minutes you would see pussy scawpering
through the best roam,' with Edward at her
heels to the entire discontinue of all deyo.
tion in Aunt Betsey and all others in authority.
At length my Uncle came to the conclusion
that it wasn't 10 nafur' to teach him any bet
ter and that he could no more keep Sunday
than the brook down in the lot NV poor
Uncle! he did not know what was the matter
with his heart but certain it was the he lost
all faculty of scolding, when little Edward
was in the case. and he would rnb his specta.
cles quarter of 40 honr longer than common
| when Aunt Betsey was detailing his witticisms
and clever doings.
In process of time our hero had cempassed
his third year. and arrived at the dignity of
going to school. He went industriously to the
spelling book. and then attacked the cate
chism, went from mans chief end to the
'reqnirins and forbiddins' in fortnight and
at last came home nordinately merry, TO tell
his father he had got to 'amen.' After this
he made regular business Of saying over the
whole every Sunday evening, standing with
his hands folded in front, and his checked
apron folded down, occasionally slancing
round to sec if pussy gave prompt attention.
And, being of practically benevolent turn of
mind, he made several commendable efforts to
teach Bose the catechism, in which he sue.
ceeded as well as might be expected In short,
without further detail Master Edward bade
fair to become literary wonder.
But alas for poor little Edwardi his merry
dance was seon9over. A day came when he
sickened. Aunt Betsey tried her whole her.
bariam, but in vair; he grew rapidly worse
and worse. His father sickened in heart, but
said nothing; he only staid by his bedside day
and night, trying all means to save with affect.
ing pertinacity.
Cant you thir;k of anything more, doctorg'
said he to the ply Jsician. when all had been
| tried in vain 1.., ~
Nothing, answered the physiciad.
A momentary convulsion passed over my
Uncle,s face, The will Of the Lord be DONE
said he. almost with a groan of anguish.
Just at that moment ray of the setting
sun pierced the checked curtains and CLEANED
like an angels smile across the face of the lit
tie sufferer. He awoke from troubled sleep.
o, dearl l am sickP he gasped feebly. His
father raised him in his arms; he breathed en-.
sier, and looked up with grateful smile
just then his old playmate, the cat, crossed
the room. There goes pussy, said he; %
dear! shall never play with pussy any more. ;
AT that moment deadly change pas sed
over his face. He looked up in his fathers
face with an imploring expression and put out
his hand as if for help. There was one mo
ment Of agony, and then the sweet features
all settled into smile of peace, and mortal.
itv w was ewoIlou mod nv, &, Eco
Ny Uncle laid him down, and looked Que
moment at his beautiful face. 1t was too
much for bis principle, too much for his con.
sisteney, and he lifted up his voice and wept.'
The next morning was the Sabbath-the
funeral day-and it rose with breath all in.
cense and with cheek all bloom Uncle Abel
was as calm and collected as ever, but in his
face there was sorrow stricken appearance
touching to behold. remember him at fam
lily prayers, as be bent over the great Bible
and began the Psalm, Lord thou hast been
our dwelling place in all generations Appa.
rently he was touched by the melancholy
splendor of the poetry. for, after reading
few verses, he stopped. There was dead 81.
lence, interrupted ooly by the tick of the
clock. He cleared his voice repeatedly, and
tried to go on, but in vain. He closed the
book and kneeled down to prayer. The ener.
gy of sorrow broke through his usual formal
reverence, and his language flowed forth with
a deep and sorrowful pathos, which l shall
never forget. The God so much reverenced.
SO much feared, seemed to draw. near to him
as friend and comforter, his refuge and
strength. "a very present held in time of trou.
be' gaS
My Uncle rose, and saw him walk to the
room Of The departed one He uncovered the
face. 1t was set with the seal of death, but
o. how surprisingly lovely! The brilliancy
of life was gone, but that pure, transparent
face was touched with a mysterious, triumph.
ant brightness, which seemed like the dawninp
of heaven. "a.
My Uncle looked long and earnestly. He
felt the beauty of what he gazed on; his heart
was softened, but he had no words for his feel.
alings He left the room uncoDsciously. and In
the front door. The morning was bright: the
bells were ringing for church; the birds were
lsinging merrily and the pet squirrel of little
Edward was frolicking about the door. Nv
4 Uncle watched him as he ran FIRST up one tree
and then down and up another, and then over
the fence, whisking his brush and chatteripg
Just as if nothing was the matter. at-. y
With deep sigh Uncle Able broke forth:
louy han, khns -, - - n