Litchfield enquirer., 1859-01-27
THE STORY OF A LITTLE LIFE.

l One cold still February day, little chil
 was bora. They called her Clara, becaus
 there was an angel in heaven who had wor
 that name, and who the mother prayed migh
 De the young child's guardian angel The lit
 tie one grew daily more lovely in the eyes C
 all who saw her She was so gentle and swee
 that It was great happiness to be near her
 She had rosy mouth, and when she was grcv
 ed, her lip would quiver so beautifully, that i
 would bring tears to other eyes than hers. By
 and-by she began to play with little Alice, and when the autumn came she could step cunning
 ly ill her tiny red shoes, and even walk across
 the carpet if her little sister led her. Ther 1 two or three white teeth shone between the l shining lips, and she learned to call Mamma and :" Papa" She filled the house with sun shine by her lovely face, and wise, old fashion ed ways.
 The winter and spring passed away like the fabled time of fairy-land. The baby was daily learning something either to say or to do aud the two little sisters played so merrily and slept so quietly together, that their mother would oiten Say there was never another family so bIest and happy.
 Although little Clara was often sick, she was seldom frctful. When she grew older, she often went to ride with her mamma and sister, and sometimes they were obliged to wait for the carriage, but the baby was never out of humor with the delay, and was never unwilling to obey her mamma. She was always ready to give up anything ever so pleasant, if it was iorplddelI, and would soon be seen happy and busy about something else Whenever she was repfoVed, She would come close to her mamma, ana put mp her little quivering lips for par doning Kiss, and then hide her little fearful face III the loving bosom always ready to receive it. Deautllui, loving pet names were lavished upon her. Hours before the time of her fathers re- turn home, her little feet would batter across the carpet, and she would stand on tiptoe on the threshold of the nursery, and call Papa, papa where's ?" Her toys would all be lad aside, and her time divided between watching for him at the window, calling him at the door, and sitting in mammals lap trying to express her love for him. And when he did come, at the very first sound of his latcil-key, she would bound away and what haste her '"ther had to make upstairs, for fear his little m one would fall in her eagerness to meet him inen she would ride laughing in his arms put Ilng her happy face down on his neck.
 xct tiff strir turre ones were as happy as kings the whole day long Sometimes their mamma would go out into the orchard with them, and sit down under the trees while they played about her among the clover blossoms, and made hay in tiny stacks, 2r chased the chickens Sometimes they wou d yo-grandmama, papa, and al-away for 'amble in the fields, and then little Cara was carried in her mothers arms !; and whenever they came to fence, she always would be put down and creep under, like Alice There was a pleasant grove near by, where they would stay for hours sitting under the trees, while the little ones made miniature houses and gardens.
 The quiet summer flew away, and they came back to the noisy town. The mothers heart was heavy with a shadow of coming evil when she turned her back on the pleasant, howery country, where the hours had sung themselves away, full of children's happy voices. There were few quiet days after their return, when the darug baby could play about her, ana climb up to kiss her but cue Sabbath mofh- ing, long before daybreak, the mother was awakened by little weak voice calling, Mann ma, mamma" She found her darling standing by her bed, with her tender hands and feet or all icy coldness There was no more sleep in the house for that night. Troubled hearts and fearful eyes watched over her and sleepless nights and anxious days went wearily by. 1t was heart breaking to watch by the little sui ferer. Never had she seemed half so lovely Ill her life and health as now, when they saw her gently and quietly putting aside her, ~one by one, the toys her sister tried to tempt her with, and the food her mother offered her. Sae only wished to lie still.
 At last, after some weeks, they thought she was little better. She turned over the leaves of little picture book one day while sue lay in her mammals arms, and held her china mug in her weak hands while she traced the shapes of the painted flowers on it with her delicate fiuger. She watched Alice about her play
 too with some interest But the resting time was of short duration That night neither she
 ror her mother slept The child lay all night | with her face on her mothers bosom.
 Once she called Papa papa !" but th'
 sweet voice was so changed and full ot pam, T
 was agony to hear it, and her mother gent!
 hushed her.
 The next day, the mother, who could no
 bear to believe her darling was so much worse
 put little ivory rattle into her weak, tn.
 hand, which dropped under the weight of tn
 toy to her lap. "Ahp said she sadly m.
 poor baby cannot even lift it." The darling
 looked up a moment into the sorrowful eye bent upon her, and then, with apparent effort she raised it and shook it once, and then dropped from her feeble grasp-foreyer Sh
 had done with toys and with life.
 That evening the father, came home to a sa
 and fearful house. All through that night {
 agony the parents watched together alternat' I ly carrying the dying lamb in thelr bosom d without being able to soothe or relieve her di tress and when midnight had passed they pr