Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-11-24
Il Am Going to be an Angel"

The last rays OF the setting sun stole
through the dancing leaves, and shed COL
den radiance over a lovely garden, imparting
an additional beauty to every bud and bios
som. But the fairest flower upon which the
sunbeams shone was a pale, spiritual child,
who stood inhaling the perfumed air, and
surveying with apparent delight the many.
bued flowers. As she looked a-d admired,
her blue eyes sparked, and faint color just
tnged her fair cheek, as if reflected from
the roses, which, as she passed, scattered
their blushing petals upon her head Pres
emily her attention was withdrawn from the
flowers, and directed to the western sky,
which the suns departing rays had dyed with
gorgeous hucs. The trees upon the mountains
brow seemed as if painted upon the glowing
horizon, and clouds of silver white, tinted off
with gold and crimson, foated above them.
As the child stood enraptured with the
beauty of the sky. light fingers strayed
through her sunny tresses, fond eyes were bent
upon her, and voice sweet and gentle sa id,
g OF what are you thinking, Lillie?" The
child pointed upward with her slender finger,
saying, " o mamma, how beautiful How l
should like to be away up there with the an
gels!" The mother looked up and answer
ed, " Yes, darling, the cloudssarc very beau
tiful, tonight" But, mamma, do you know
what makts them beautiful? do; it is be-
cause the angels are in them, and | was just
thinking that when died maybe would
look right down here, some time, upon you.
mamma. Say, don't you think will?"
The mother made no reply, for tears were in
her eyes, and shadow upon her face, and
tenderly embracing the fragile little creature
and kissing her white brow, she tried to d.
vert her thoughts.
But the child continued, Mamma, want
to de an angel; but l don't want to die, as
little Bessie did, and be put in the cold
ground. You won't let me die and be buried
up will you, mamma "When my Saw
ior calls my little lamb, shall have to give
her up. You would be willing to 90 to
Jesus, and never be sick any more, wouldn't
you, darliug?" Yes, mamma, if He would
take me right up to the beautiful sky but
oh, mamma, don't want to be put in the cold
ground"
The mother kissed the fearful eyes, and
caressing the trembling form, said, Don't
you remember, darling, the little dark root
which you saw me plant right here in tho
spring." ooh yes, mamma, l remember
you dug little hole in the ground and put
it in, and then you covered it all up" "Do
you know what became of that little root,
Lille ?" Yes, mamma, | do" replied
the child, with Frightening eyes. 1t came
up with two lovely green leaves, and it grew
into this tall shrub, which has so many beau
tiful flowers upon it," If l had not planted
the root in the cold ground, would we have
had these sweet flowers, which you love SO
well, Lille ?" "No, mamma, we would
not" Listen to me, darling: we must
, die and be buried up in the cold ground, that
our spirits may rise up-as these flowers do
above the earlh--in beauty and purity to
heaven. If we do not die, my child, we can
7 never 60 to heaven to live with Christ and
1 the angels" The child looked for an instant
5 upon the flowers, then exclaimed, with her
= face and blue eyes radiant with hope, " Oh
= mamma, do not feel afraid now to die anC
n be buried up in the ground, because l shall
l rise up lar more beautiful than | am now
: to live away up i'll the blue sky with Chris
e and the angels
e And little Lille never thought again Of
# being afraid to die; but when at length sh,
lay upon her little bed, and could not walk
or be carried into the garden to look at thu
flowers and the sunset clouds, the thought o
that beautiful home whittier she was goin,
!. cheered her, and as her blue eyes closed ii
: death, she murmured, Mamma, am no
afraid to be put into the ground, for an
) going to be an angel"