Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1859-05-12
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 4drocate:
1t long seemed strange to us that the
word OF the Lord described the return Of
the sinner as occasioning such thrilling
rapture in heaven and that it contracted,
rs it did, that Joy with the emotions to-
wards those who remained in the fathers
house, those who had not wandered and
needed no repentance" 1t surely could
not be that Heaven of purity loved one
sinner more than ninety and nine to,lng,
struggling, faithful Christians. That was
impossible. The children Of God are pre-
cous in his signt. He soiu To ,n"S "s.
righteous is more excellent than his neigh.
bor.' But it is possible that the ALI
merciful who pleads with sinners "to be
reconciled." that the kind shepherd who
goes afar over desert and mountain after
the one wandering sheep, shall feel for
the imperied solcitude not felt for those
in afety, and that its deliverance from
eminent peril shall cause thrill of JOY such
: rs is not occasioned by 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
a 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 sheen from home" and yet how lore
for the latter may be none the less tender
and enduring.
Monday evening of last week, after
hard days work, we left the Office and star
ted homeward. In the room below we
found Mrs. Z. in waiting, and together
started up State street. About half way,
we met our oldest son, and saw that he
had some tidings of evil. He could only
say, little RAINY is lost, and we cannot
find him anywhere The little one is the
lamb Of our fold, bright-eyed boy be-
tween two and three years of age, with
fair hair hanging in sunny ringlets. Dear
child-his little feet always patter in the
hall when we ring the bell at noon, his
arms have always "a hug" and his rosy
lips a kiss for papa.
We FASTENED home and found that he
had been gone nearly an hour. The inn
mediate neighborhood had been searched
in vain. We started instantly-the streets
alleys, etc., within reach were traversed,
but no tidings. Night was at hand and
evidently our child was beyond our neigh
borhood, and that cold night was lost in
the midst Of this great Babel.
Notice was sent to the police station,
and to some Of the churches having ser
vice that evening. A friend procured the
crier. We had often heard that bell, and
the cry OF lost child, out never fell the
tones SO sadly as we heard them that night
as he cried "Lost child-a little boy not
three years DID, lost from | II Edna Place
bareheaded, light curly hair, had on red
dress, stockings and little slippers" .,
those cries We have heard them ever
since. Kind friends came to our aid, stran
gers came with fearful sympathy; parties
were formed. who patrolled tho streets and
alleys, in all directions, but came back
with the sad word, "No tidngs.'
The hours wore on, and near midnigh,
the search was given up for the night
Dear reader, may you never pass nigh
Of such su, pcnso! We sat by the fire, ant
how our hearts would bound as footsteps
neared our gate. Perhaps it is some on
from TIE police station with our child
No, the steps sound on. Our door is pas
sed. We did pray, We did commit our chill
10 the AIl-wise Father, and that alon'
sustained US. But we could not shut ou
the vision which crowded upon US uabid
den. Now we heard his wall above tn
moaning Of the tempest and signing 0! th
wsvcs uow We saw him lying upon th'