The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-12-10
Original Artiele.
For The Cecil Wing.
TIE CHILD AT PLAY.

saw a child at playa bright eyed boy,
with tlaxcn curls ahout his temples twinrd.
His blue eyes turned to heaven smiling as he
gazcd up into the ether van!t, and ihen h."
clarpcd his hands and crowud, and with his
toys commenced to play again. And thus
content, lie seemed happy, as he tossed his
toys about, and laughed and shouted in his
childish glre; now answering his own voices
echo, and anon calling to the winds that
sprrtcd with his fair curls.
passed on and unused. and cnvicl. as |
unused, the happy child at play. n care had
come to cast its dark shadow across the SHINY
pathway OF his young life, and let fall bitter
drop ofpain among his joyous thonghts.-
ny could | not be happy as that joyous
child, who looked upon the bright sunshine
and saw nought but love and beauty in the
world, who sought and found pleasure in his
simple toys, that made his heart leap and
sing for joy? When happiness is all around
me, as honey in the flowers, why need my
soul then taste one drop Of pain why feast
it not on pleasure, like that simple child,
Thus mcdating, | went on my way; but
ere long returned again. The child $ bright
face was now bcgrimmcd with tears, and his
shont and laugh Of glec were changed to
walls of grief. He no longer answered echo
with his piping voice. or spoltcd with his tiny
hands his now neglected toys. A tempest of
grief had suddenly swept that childish bosom
and things that filed lis heart before with so
much happiness had lost their power to please
They gave no ray o! comfort to his thrubbipg
breast. But over that childish spirit sorrow
now reigncd supreme, despite the bright
world all around, and those shining toys. that
so late possessed such potent spell to charm
Again went my way, and unused. Whence
comes this sorrow. and WHITTIER hictl the iov
so soon that filed the infant spirit with hap
pincss His toys are there, in which so late
he found iount Of pleasure, and the bright
world around him, with III its sunshine, music.
beauty ahd soft air, and yet he sobs and walls
as though his little heart would break.
Once moro returned and found the child
aslecp-his cherub head was pillowed on his
nurses arm, his fair hair clustering over his
pearly temples and his bright blue eyes cur
tanned beneath their wazen lids. His little
bosom rose and fell in gentle slumbcr. nor
joy, nor grief was there to torture it with
thrilling power. And this was peace after the
conaict-thc calm after the storm.
That child will wake again with prattling
joy, to find new beauty in the shining world.
and pleasure in his toys. The storm of grief
will then have passed, and like the buds and
flowers which find new beauty when the
shower has ceased, so will his laugh and shout
proclaim that infant spirit filed with hopes
renewed. And this is Life and Death and
Resurrection, all mimiclied in the life rthlt
fair child. We draw our joys. our sorrows
from one simple source and death, like a
dream!ess sleep, Gains the troubled spirit at
last. SO may we wake as woke that fair
haired child, with life and hope renewed, and
mt world Of love, and light, and song!
CLINE.