Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-31
GAZETTE.
MORNING. MARCH 81. 1859.
OVER TIE RETURNING.

Wv Elk
&c following affecting tale ola lost child
from the pen of the Rev. Dr. Eddy, the edi-
tor of the Chicago Advocate
1t long seemed strange tous that the word
of the Lnrd described the return OF the SINNER
as occasioning such thrilling rapture IN hea-
ven, and that it eontrasted, as ana tha'
;oy withSthe emotions toward those who re-
maincri in the father house, those who had
not wandered aud tnecded no repentance"
1t surely could NOT he that Heaven of puri-
ty loved one sinner more than ninety and
nine toiling struggling: faithful Christians:
That WAS impossible The children Of God
are precious in his sight He has told US
that 1.-The righteous is more excellent than his
neighbor." BUTT is possible that the All
merciful who pleads with sinners Ito be re-
conciled" that the kind Shepherd who goes
afar over desert and mountain after the one
wandering sheep, shall feel for the imperilled
solicitude not felt TO- those in safety, and
that it's deliverance from imminent peril shall
cause thrill ofioy such as is not occasioned
by contemplation of the already saved
One almost gone is saved One poised upon
the crumbling bank of the dark river is res
cued. ,.a.' go
But to us, such declarations now have a
meaning such as never before. We can see
how there is joy deep and thrilling over the
wanderers return, such as is not. and cannot
be felt over those who have not ''been from
home" and yet how love for the latter may be
none the less tender and enduring.
Monday evening Of last week. after hard
days work, we left the office and started
homeward. In the room below we found
Mrs. f. in waiting, and together started up
State street. About half way, we met our
oldest son, and saw that he had some tidings
of evil He could only say, Little Rainy is
lost, and we cannot find him anywhere. -
The little one is the lamb of our fold, a bright
eyed boy between two and three years of
age, with fair hair hanging in sunny ringlets.
Dear chld-his little feet always patter on
the hall when We ring the bell at noon, his
arms have always "a hug" and his rosy lips
kiss for papa.
We hastened home and ascertained that he
had been gone nearly an hour. The immedi-
ate neighborhood had been searched in vain.
We started instantly-the streets, alleys,
etc. within reach, were traversed, but no
tidings. Night was at hand and evidently
our child was beyond our neighborhood, and
that cold night was lost in the midst OF this
great Babel. .. ..
Notice was sent to the police station, and
to some of the churches having service that
evening A friend procured the crier. We
had often heard that bell, and the cry of lost
child but never fell the tones so sadly as we
heard them that night, AZ he cried. Lost
child-a little boy, not three years old, lost
from ll2 Edna Place--bareheaded light
curly hair, had on a red dress stockings and
little slippers" o, those cries! We have
heard them ever since. Kind friends came
TO our aid, strangers came with fearful SYM
pathy: parties were formed who patrolled the
streets and alleys, in all directions. but came
back with the sad word, 'No tidings."
The hours wore on, and near midnight the
search was given up for the night.
Dear reader, may you never pass night
of such suspense! We sat 10y the FIRE, and
how our hearts would bound as a footstep
neared our gate Perhaps it is some one
from the police station with our child. No:
the steps sound on. Our door is passed!
We did pray, we did commit our child to
the All-Father. and that alone sustained us.
But we could not blot out the visions which
crowded upon us unbidden. Now We inl-
asined we heard his wall above the moaning
ofthe tempest and signing of the waves; now
we see him lying upon the cold ground, those
locks frozen to the earth; then again We saw
him caught in the net work of railroads on
Clark street, and crushed to shapeless mass.
Slowly passed the hours. Will daylight
never come? 1t came at last. Ere we began
onr search again, we went into the breakfast
room, and there, laying upon the sewing ma
chine. was his little hat We turned from 1t
and in the corner stood his rocking horse,
with the reins drawn over its head, just as
he left it; while on the table was his plate,
with his high chair beside it. Up to that
moment we maintained our frmness, but we
could no longer. =,
Friends came to assist us. God bless them!
Never did we need them mOre-neyer did
we appreciate them more highly. The author
tiles placed the police at our service, to make
the search thorough. : ..
Still no tidings. Nearly eighteen hours
had passed, each hope had been crushed, ana
the prospect grew darker.
At this juncture came German 20 the
house, and said that if our child was the one
described in the morning papers, ne was SAFE
and he would bring him. We did not see
him, and on learning the news drove to the
place we supposed he designated. but found no
child. IOmcwafu again ue uiu hos No''N'
The friends in the search had in part return
ed, and were awaiting the result OF the intel
leence, ere they should 60 again. The
anxiety was too deep for words. At last we
saw some one coming-how far one can see
who looks for a lost child-nearer and near.
er. 1t vast was our child! God be prals-
cd he was safe! ......, !.
Sacred be the mothers emotion-mothers
can imagine them. :,
Our friends gathered with swimming eyes
about the child. There was no need to cah
them to 'eome and rejoice with u.s.. They
came unbidden. There we're three other chill,
dren who had not been in peril; three who had
not wandered: three whom We loved as we low
ed the fourth, but o, there was in our hearts
there was among our neighbors more Joy
over the one than over the three that went not
acknowledgements, more! We did not
love them less, but the JOY was over the res
cued. .... 49,,
An honest German had found the little
wanderer long distance from home. ana
saw that he was lost He took him up ana
carried him to his house, placed him in the
crib and rocked him to sleep. had washed
and fol him and restored him to our arms.