M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1859-01-06

nc 10 you. Dut-Dut-l VIII see You
again. | will see Abby again!"
Abby listened to him no longer
With wildly beating, bursting heart
she hastened to her room, and threw
herself upon her bed, and there she
lay for a long time. When her hus-
band came up, she was sick, and when
he asked her what he could do for her,
she said she would be left to herself.
ln a moment, he mistrusted that she
had heard some part OF her fathers
remarks, and left her.
One day, little Nellie looked pale
and sick, and cried a great deal with
a pain. 1t was the youngest--the
"baby." Abby was fractions, but she
did not speak as harshly as uspal.--
She had tried TO reform since her
father left, week before, but she al.
lowed spirit ofanger to come int her
soul on account of the course he had
pursued, SO her trial did not amount
to much. When Albert came home,
the child was worse, and by this time
it had become so sick that the mother
was sorry that she had been so harsh
through the day.
Mr.. Leeman went for the doctor,
and when that man came, he said Mel
lie had the scarlet fever. All night
the li!tle one suffered much, and its
checks and brow seemed on fire. On
the next day she grew weaker and
sicker; then Abby feared she might
die. Oh, what thought
Sabbath night came, and little Mel
lie had grown very white and thin ;
during the whole day she had been
calm and quiet. Could she be dyingl
"Oh, God, spare my child" the fran.
tic mother prayed upon her knees.
The clock had just struck nine,
when Nellie raised her eyes, and they
looked very strange.
"Mamma--good mamma she
whispered, kiss little Nellie"
The mother pressed her lips upon
her child's brow and kissed her fer
vently.
"Mamma--you love little Nellie ;
and you love George and Mary"
The mother could not speak. Just
then Albert entered the room.
"Papa--papa--one kiss for little
Nellie. Love little Nellie always
Love George and Mary, and love
mamma" ....
When Abby Leeman next looked
upon her child the spirit had fed!--
The little sufferer was free from all
earthly pain, One moment the moth.
or gazed upon the broken casket, and
then she sank down upon her knees
and wept as though her heart would
break. Her husband knelt by her
side; he placed both his arms about
her neck, and with one deep burst Of
passionate grief she pillowcd her head
upon his bosom.
On the next morning, Lydia came
and took care ofthe body OF the little
Nellie. She dressed itsweetly, comb
cd its golden hair back, and when she
placed it in the coffin, she spread new
and fragrant flowers all around it..
She had done all this when Abby en-
tered.
The sisters were alone by the dead
child. The bereaved mother gazed
awhile upon the lovely face of the lit
tie sleeper, and then she turned to her
sister. Lydia opened her arms, and
the next moment the cstrangod ones
were locked in each others embrace.
1t was long, long while ere either
could speak. They could only weep
and sob, and cling more closely heart
to heart.
We will not tell the thoughts which
dwelt in Abby Leeman's mind upon
this occasion; nor will we tell Of the
long hours she spent upon her knees in
prayer while all others Of the house
hold slept.
"Loce George and Nary! Lone
little Nellie alorayS! Lore Mamaaa!"
Oh how those words rang in that
mothers soul. And how other words
came back upon her, too--harsh, un-
kind words which had been spoken to
the cherub that had gone! Bat she
ionnd balm in the solemn resolution
she took to herself never to be unkind
again.
And the resolution was sacredIy
kept. Albert aud Abby mourned for
the departed one, but they felt, too,
that the gentle spirit Of the heaven
born child was dwelling still with
them, making a paradise Of their
home, and leading them or in JOY and
peace.
Ere long the old man came to live
awhile with his eldest child, and from
that time he divided his months
equally between them, and he could
no more feel that one home was pleas
anter than the other. Both were alike
Joyous, peaceful, and happy. When
ne now looked upon Abby's happy,
smiling face, he knew that she had
l.E.. Tl,n