St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-04-14
JOY OVER THE RETURNING.

The following affecting tale of a
lost child is from the pen of Rev. DR.
Eddy, the editor of the Chicago Advo
cate:
1t long seemed strange to us that
the word of the Lord described the re.
turn Of the sinner as occaslOnlng such
thrilling rapture in heaven and that it
contrasted, as it did, that joy with
the emotions toward those who re-
maiucd in the fathers house, those
who had not wandered and needed
no rcpcntance.' 1t surely could not
bc that a Heaven Of purity loved one
sinner more than ninety and nine toll
ing, struggling, faithful Christians.
That was impossible. The children
Of God are precious in his sight. He
told us that the righteous is more
excellent than his ncighbor." But il
is possible that the All-mcrciful who
pleads with sinners "to be reconciled,
that the kind Shepherd who goes afal
over desert and mountain after the
one wandering sheep, shall feel for the
imperilled soIicitudc not felt for those
in safety, and that It's dClivCrance from
imminent peril shall cause a thrill of
joy such as is not occasi0ned by a
contemplation of the already saved
One almost gone is saved. One poised
upon the crumbling bank of the dark
river is rescued.
But to us, such declarations now
have 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
a hard days work, we left the Office
and started homeward. In the room
below we found Mrs. E. in waiting
and together started up State street
About half way, we met our oides,
son, and saw that he had some tidings
of evil He could only say Little
RAINY is lost and we cannot find hin
anywhere The little one is the laml
of our fold, bright-eyed boy between
two and three years of age, with fail
hair hanging in sunny ringlets. Dear
child-his little feet always patter il
the hall when we ring the bell ut noon
his arms have always "a hug" and
his rosy lips kiss for papa.
We FASTENED home and asccrtainet
that he had been gone from home near
ly an hour. The immediate neighbor
hood had been searched in vain. W.
started instantly-the streets, alleys
etc, within reach were traversed, bu
no tidings. Night was at hand ant
evidently our child was beyond on
neighborhood, and that cold night wa
lost in the midst of this great Babel.
Notice was sent to the police sta
tion, and to some of the churches hay
ing service that evening A frien
procured the cricr. We had ofte
heard that bell, and the cry of los
child, but never fell the tones so sac
~ as we heard them that night, as h
cried Lost child-a little boy no
three years old, lost from ll2 Edin
Place-barcheaded, light curly hail
had on a red dress, stockings and lii
tie slippers" Oh, those cries w
have heard them ever since. KIM
friends came to our aid, stranger
came with tcarful sympathy ; partie
were formed, who patrolled the street
and alleys, in all directions, but cam
back with the sad word, "No tidings
The hours wore on, and near mis
night the search was given up for tn
night
Dear reader, may you never pass
night of such suspense +! We sat b
, the fire, and how our heart woul
: bound as footstep neared our gate
Perhaps it is some one from the polio
station with our child No; the step
sound on. Our door is passed.
Fl We did pray, we did commit ou