Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-05-07
Miscellaneous.
THE STORY OF A LITTLE LIFE.

one cold, still February day, n little child was
torn- They called hcr Clara, because there wa
an angel in Heaven who had worn that name, and
who the mother prayed might be the young obild's
guardian angel, The little one grew daily more
lovely 10 the eyes Of all who saw her. She was
30 gentle and sweet that it was n great happiness
to De near her. She had n rosy mouth, and when
she was grieved, her lip would CULVER so beautiful
ly that it would bring tears to other eyes than
hers. By and by she began to want to play with
little Alice, aud when the autumn came she could
step cunningly in her tiny shoes, and even walk
across the carpet, If her little sister led her. Then
two or three white teeth shone between the shin
ing lips, and she learned to call "msmma" and
papa" She filed the house with sunshine by
her lovely face, and wise, old. Fashioned ways.
The Winter and Spring passed away like the
fsbled limo of fairy land. The baby was daily
learning something either to say or to do, and the
two little sisters played so merrily and slept SO
quietly together, that their mother would often
say there was never another family so blest and
happy. ,
Although little Clara was often sick, she was
seldom %fretful. When she grew older, sbo often
went to ride with her mamma and sister, and
sometimes they were obliged TO wait for the car
riage, but tho baby was never out Of humor with
the delay, and was never unwilling to obey her
mamma. She was always ready to give up any
thing ever so pleasant, if it was forbidden, and
would soon be seen happy and busy about some
thing else. Whenever she was reproved. she
would come close to her mamma, and put her lit
tie quivering lips for a pardoning kiss, and then
hide her little fearful faoe in the loving bosom al
ready to receive it. Beautiful, loving pet names
were lavished upon her. Hours before the time
of her fathers return home, her little feet would
patter across the carpet, and she would stand on
tiptoe on the threshold Of the nursery, and cnll,
Papa. papa ; where's papa ?" Her toys would
all be laid aside, and her time divided between
watching ror him at the window, calling him at
the door, and sitting in mammals lap trying to ex'
press her love for him. And when he did como,
at the very first sound Of his latch'key, she would
bound away and what haste her father had to
make up stairs, for fear his little one might fall
in her eagerness to meet him Then she would
ride laughing in his arms, putting her happy face
down on his mock.
When tho warm weather came, the family went
into the country, and here the little ones were Us
happy as kings the whole day long. Sometimes
their mamma would 60 out into the orchard with
them, and sit down under the trees while they
played about her among the clover blossoms, and
made hay in tiny stacks, or chased the chickens.
Sometimes they would go-grandmama, papa, and
all-away for o ramble in the fields, and then lit,
tie Clara was carried in her mothers arms and
whenever they came to a fence, she always would
be put down and creep under, like Alice. There
was a pleasant grove near by, where they would
stay for hours sitting under the trees, while the
little ones made miniature houses and gardens.
The quiet Summer few away, and they came
back to the noisy town. The mothers heart was
heavy with q shadow Of coming evil when she
turned her back on the pleasant, howery country,
where the hours had sung themselves away, full
Of children's happy voices. There were a few
quiet days after their return, when the darling ba'
by could play about her, and climb up to kiss her;
but one Sabbath morning, long before daybreak,
the mother was awakend by q little weak voice,
calling, Mamma, mamma" She found her dar'
ling standing by her bed, with her tender hands
and feet Of an 10y GOODNESS. There was no more
eleep in the house for that night. Troubled
hearts and fearful eyes watched over her and
e~leepless nights and anxious days vent YEARLY
by. 1t was heart-breaking to watch by the little
sufferer. Never had she seemed half so lovely in
her life and health as now, when they saw her
gently and quietly putting aside, one by one, the
toys her sister tried to tempt her with, and the
food her mother offered her. She only wished to
lie still.
At last, after some weeks, they thought she was
little better. She tnrned over the leaves OF a
little picture book one day while she lay in hel
mammals arms, and held her china mug In hei
weak hands while she traced the shapes of tht
painted flowers on it with her delicate finger. Sh'
watched Alice about her play, too, with some in
terest.l But the resting time was OF short dura
,ion. That night neither she nor her mother slept
The child 10y all night with her face on her moth
er's bosom.
Once she called Papa! papa !" but the swee
voice was so changed and full Of pain, it was ago
ny to hear II, and her mother gently hushed her.
The next dag, the mother, who could not bea
to believe her darling was so much worse, put
little ivory rattle into her weak, tiny bsnd, whic
dropped under the weight of the toy to her lar
"Ah /" said she sadly, my poor baby carnc
even lift it," The darling looked up a momen
into the s~orrowful eyes bent upon her, and ther
with apparent effort. she raised it and shook
once, and then it dropped from her feeble grasp
forever She had done with toys and with life.
That evening the father came home to q 50
and fearful house. All through that night Of al
ony the parents watched together. alternately ca
rying the dying lamb in their bosoms, without b.
ing able to soothc or relieve her distress sn
when midnight had passed they put her in gran'
mothers arms, and sat down to wait.
The mother, on her knees beside the dying b
by, pressed her own cheek against the little tend'
one, that had rested for a joyful year and q ha
upon her bosom. and gave her back, MS we'll as sf
was able, to God while the little weak finger
grasped one Of her own close and lovingly. Ther
vas a little time Of quiet broken only by the j
ho-oA h....l:u.. .nd than che laid her head n