Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-02-02
THE GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY MORNING., FEBRUARY 2, 1859.
TIE ADOPTED son.

A mother buried her little boy. lie was
three wears old, and darling boy to his par
ents. His mother's heart was almost broker.
Like poor Rachel of old, she almost refused
to be comforted God took her little boy, and
she knew He had a right to take him but she
wished He had taken her also. Yet God
knew best. .
One day her husband thought he would
bring home something to comfort her. What
was it. Another little boy, just the age of
the little boy who died. lie had no father or
mother-he was an orphan; and he had no
mother. and this poor mother had no little
son-the good man hoped they would be
mother and son to each other. When she
first saw him, she looked and looked ut him,
then, with tear in her eye, told Sophy to
take him away and give him some supper.
Sophy gave him some supper, and after
supper she took him to bed with her. Are
YOU my mammal" asked the little boy when
Sophy lay down by his side "No," said
Sophy, but l shall love you dearly, know"
Then Is found my dead mamma, said the
little boy: .mans said l see my mamma
dis place" mot your dead mamma" said
Sophy Dead mamma under ground" said
the little boy; ''but mans said see my MANI
ma dis place" Perhaps you WILL, said
Sophy, Ito morrow or some time" ''Iwish
Tomorrow would come" said the little boy.
You must 90 to sleep now" said Sophy.
The little boy clasped his hands together
upon his breast, shut his eyes. and said
softly
Lord Jesus, take me to thy breast,
And bless me- that NAV he best
Both when / wake, and when Sleep
Thy little lamb in safety keep"
The next morning. after breakfast Philly,
for the little boys name was Phillip had the
blocks to play with in the sitting-room, they
were the very blocks the little boy who died
used to play with. Towser, the great black
dog. came in and smelled him all over, and
then lay down beside him, with his nose be
tween his fore paws looking at him. The
lady was in the room. She was sitting on a
cricket before the fire. She was crying; the
big tears rolled slowly down her pale checks.
Philly looked round and saw her. He left
his blocks, and went up to her, and said in a
little kind tone, What for you KEEP
Because Pve lost my little boy" she an
swercd, land I've no little boy to love me"
Cant Philly be your little boy?" he asked,
turning up his face full of tender concern
Il love you; you kie no more"
The poor woman took the little boy in her
arms. and pressed him to her bosom. She
kissed him. and wiped her eyes and smiled,
and kissed him again. "You my mamma,
l find," he said; "mans said / find my mann
ma"
Yes, Philly." she answered, kissing him
again:-'.I will be your mother, and you
shall be my dear boy" And from that sweet
hour the poor mother felt her heart begin
ming to heal of its sore wound.
She put Phillip to bed that night as she
used to put her own little boy that died.
"You pray, mammal" he asked her, as he
was undressed, and stood by her knee, in his
white night gown, looking like her little boy
in heaven, as she thought. She knelt down
with him by her side, and she thanked God
for his great goodness in giving this poor lit
tie orphan to her motherly charge to help to
make her heart and home whole again. AT
ter she finished Phillip prayed, and added of
his own accord, please bless my mamma,
and mans took me here, my papa, and all,
for Christ's sake" When he gave his good
night kiss to his new mamma, "You kie no
more, mamma" he said. And as she watch
ed by his side until he went to sleep. she
again thanked God for her little adopted son.