Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-21
lNortester Daily Spy,
THE STORY OF A LITTLE LIFE

there was an angel in Heaven who had worn
that name, and who the mother prayed might
be the young child's guardian angel. The lit
tie one grew daily more lovely in the eyes of
all who saw her She was so gentle and sweet
that it was great happiness to be near her.
She had rosy mouth, and when she was
grieved, her lip would culver so beautifully
that it 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 cunningly in her tiny red shoes, and even
walk across the carpet, if her little sister led
her. Then two or three white teeth shone
between the shining lips, and she learned to
call mamma" and "papa." She filled the
house with sunshine by her lovely face, and
wise, old-fashioned ways.
The Winter and Spring passed away like
the tabled time of fairy land. The baby was
daily learning something either to say or to do,
and the two little sisters played SO merrily and
slept so quietly together, that their mother
would often say there was never another fami-
ly so blest and happy.
Although little Clara was often sick, she
was seldom fretful. 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 al
ready to give up anything ever so pleasant, if
it was forbidden, and would soon be seen hap
Ply and busy about something else. Whenev-
er she was reproved, she would come close to
her mamma, and put her little quivering lips
for pardoning kiss, and then hide her little
fearful face in the loving bosom already to re-
ceive it. Beautiful, loving pet names were
lavished upon her. Hours before the time of
her fathers return home, her little feet would
patter across the carpet, and she would stand
on tlptoe on the Threshold of the nursery, and
call, Papa, papa; where's papa?" Her toys
would all be laid aside and her time divided
between watching for him at the window,
calling him at the door, and sitting in NAM
mas lap trying to express her love for him.
And when he did come, at the very first sound
of his latch-key, she would bound away and
what haste her father had to make up stairs,
for fear his little one might fall in her eager
ness to meet him! Then she would ride laugh
ing in his arm, putting her happy face down
on his neck.
When the warm weather came, the family
went into the country, and here the little ones
We're 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,
or chased the chickens. Sometimes they
would go-grandmama, papa, and all-away
for a ramble in the fields, and then little Clara
was carried in her mothers arms and when
ever they came to a fence, she always would
be put down and creep under, like Alice.
There was 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 pleas
ant, flowery country, where the hours had
sung themselves away, full of children's happy
voices. There were a few quiet days after
their return, when the darling baby could play
about her, and climb up to kiss her but one
Sabbath morning, long before daybreak, the
mother was awakened by little weak voice.
calling, Mamma mamma" She found her
darling standing by her bed, with her tender
hands and feet of an icy GOODNESS. 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 YEARLY by. 1t was heart-breaking to
watch by the little sufferer. Never had she
seemed half so lovely in her life and health as
now, when they saw her gently and quietly
putting aside her, one by one the toys her sis
ter tried to tempt her with, and the food her
mother offered her. She only wished to lie
still
At last, after some weeks, they thought she
was a little better. She turned over the leaves
of a little picture book one day while she 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 fin
ger She watched Alice about her play, too
with some interest. But the resting time was
of short duration. That night neither she nor
her mother slept The child lay all night with
her face on her mothers bosom.
Once she called "Papa papa!' but the
sweet voice was so changed and full of pain, it
was agony TO hear it, and her mother gently
hushed her.
The next day, the mother, who could not
bear to believe her darling was so much worse,
put little ivory rattle into her weak, tiny
hand, which dropped under the weight of the
TOW to her lap "Ah!' said she sadly, INV
poor baby cannot even lift it." The darling
looked up moment into the sorrowful eyes
bent upon her, and then, with apparent effort,
she raised it and shook it once and then it
dropped from her feeble grasp-foreyer! She
had done with toys and with life
That evening the father came home to a sad
and fearful house. All through that night of
agony the parents watched together, alternate
ly carrying the dying lamb in their bosoms,
without being able to soothe or relieve her
distress and when midnight had passed they
put her in grandmother's arms, and sat down
to wait.
The mother, on her knees beside the dying
baby, pressed her own cheek against the little
tender one, that had rested for a joyful year
and half upon her bosom, and gave her back,
as well as she was able, to God while the lit
tie weak fingers grasped one Of her own close
and lovingly. There was little time of quiet
broken only by the labored breathing and
then she laid her head on the kind arm that
supported her, and fell asleep
Never more will the little blue eyes unclose
never more the little sweet lips be opened
never more the little arms be folded round
the mothers neck What will the poor moth
er do without her child All, she must go to
the gentle Shepard who holds her lamb in his
bosom.
1t was on fair Sabbath day that the baby
was laid in a little grave in Greenwood
There are flowers planted above her, and
there is beauty all around her; and an I'M
seen angel watches over the place, and shall
watch until the resurrection, when the dead
shall be raised, and shall never die.-Inde-
pendent.
A GREAT GUN.-We see it stated that the
Cacratarv of War has discovered A new Drinci-