Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-09-08
rowlul pity with which her eyes we're


lifted to my face. She seemed ST.
wing to gather self-command snoug
to speak calmly. AT length, 10
y and quiet, yet earnest, her words fe
!. upon my ear, "Oh, Alien, the rectt
e says our Heavenly Father know
$ what is best for every one! He is OF
d Father; and he does not make u
|, unhappy. This is the passage M
/. Green told me to repeat to yor
; Like as a father pilieth his children
, so the Lord riiieth them that fea
him. y
} Her childish voice had deepene,
into thrilling energy as she recite'
, the words OF inspiration. Then sh
turned to leave me; but / detained
her. Already she had comlorted ne
"How came Mr.. Green to tel
you to repeat those words to me?'
/ asked.
You are not vexed, Allen?" she
said
No, am grateful" I replied
IL only wish 20 know bow it hap
pened.' .
He was at our house last night
and he spoke of you. lie pitied
you very much; be said you had a
great deal ler, in life yet, if you
would not despair. After while
my mother left the room; and told
him you we're very good to me, and
| wanted to tell you something to
make you feel better. Then he
said might repeat that verse to you.
Does it DO you good?" asid she.
Much good, blessed child
Your words have helped ME more
than you can ever know" / replied.
She left then. ! did not strive to
de.ain ber. / felt the need of soli-
tude, to receive reverently the light,
brighter than earthly Gawuiug, which
was rising upon my spirit. Her
words bad thrilled me-, as if they had
come from some angels lips. "a
groat deal left for me yet in lie!
And as ] repeated these words. my
blessings seemed TO rise up before
me and reproach me. For me, Ha-
gsr's prayer had been answered.
! had neither poverty nor riches; hut
q competence was mine in my own
right, which would secure me against
want. / had health and strength
and many friends. The paths to
our little village were all familiar to
me-. | could traverse them without !
a guide; | could feel the free winds
sweep my brow: | could iuhale the
sweet breath Of the flowers; / could
hear the beloved voices Of home. =
Verify, my heavenly fhther had not
torsaken ma.- | had been wilfuliy
shutting bis mercies out Of my heart.
| knelt now, and thanked him for
what had been left--prayed him to
teach me to bear patiently the loss
of what bad been taken.
When the tea bell rang rose
aud went quietly down stairs
They gave no noisy greeting to the
son who had not sat beside them
there since the spring flowers had
blossomed, though, now the summer
lay green and luxuriant upon bill
and woodland. But | understood !
my father swelceme-th the unutterable
tenderness which deepened my moth
er's voice the eager grasp in which
my brother Richard held my hanl
l found my chair in its old place.
After that never secluded myself
from them again.
When tea was over / went out
to 60 to evening prayers at the
church. ] had not thought II
could ever go there again. l had
dwelt morbidly on the curiosity with
which the congregation would
look at me. l never thought
of that now. The Almighty had
opened the eyes Of my spilit. /
went there to thank Him for this
great mercy. l had never before
been SO deeply thrilled With the
church music. Hearing seemed to
me like a new sense; through it |
drank the deep draughts of pleasure.
I had sat in the choir; and, when
were over, | entreated the
to play for me again.
Soon we became firm friends. II
| think that my enthusiasm pleased
BIN, for twilight after twilight found
Us alone in the church, with only |
the little boy who blew the bellows
Cunningham playing, and
listening and dreaming.