Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-02-09
.Eaoles' department.
Mrs. N. E. M Editress.
The Empty Cradle.

The Empty Cradle.
A stray waif has been floating about in the
papers for some wesks with the above caption,
without name or date. And tho | have read
1t several times and admired its touching
beauty Of expression, yet I never read it be-
Tore, as | read 1t now-when we too have an
Empty Cradle in our house. | am sure
the writer was n Christian Mother, who had
lost n darling little one ; for no one else could
SO faithfully tell the feelings Of a Mothers
heart, and whisper words of comfort to her in
the hour Of bereavement on account of the
loss n dear little one.
The death of a little child, says the writer,
is to the mothers heart like the dew on a
plant from which a bud has just perished.-
The plant lifts up its head in freshened greeu-
ness to the morning light; so the mothers
soul gathers, from the dark sorrow which
she has passed, a fresh Frightening of her
Heavenly hopes.
AS she bends over the empty cradle, and
fancy brings her sweet infant before her, a
ray Of divine light is on the cherub face. 1t
is her son, still, but with the seal of immor-
tality on his brow. She feels that Heaven is
the only atmosphere where her precious flow
or could unfold without spot or blemish, and
she would not recall the lost. But the ami
versary Of his departure seems to bring his
spiritual presence near. She INDUCES in that
tender grief which soothcs, like an opiate in
pain, all hard passages and cares in life.
The world to her is no longer filled with
human love and hope in the future, so glori-
Gus with Heavenly love and joy; she has
treasures OF happiness which the worldly,
unchastcncd heart never conceived. The
bright, fresh flowers with which she has de.
corated her room, the apartment where her
infant died, are memontos of the far brighter
hopes now dawniag on her dreams.
She thinks Of the glory and beauty If the
new Jerusalem, where the little foot will new
or find a thorn among the flowers, to render
a shoe necessary. Nor will a pillow be wan
ted for tho dear head r~cposing on the breast
Of the Saviour. And she knows her infant
is there in that world of eternal bliss.
She has marked one passage in that book, to
her cmphatically the Word of Life, now lying
closed on the toilet table, which she daily
reads: Suffer little children to come unto
mo, for Of such is the kingdom of Heaven"
We feel grateful for the many expressions
OF sympathy and coincidence received from
Kind friends; and can only pray they may not
have to experience the pangs Of grief which
so touching n bereavement must occasion.-
An esteemed friend has sent us the following
verses touching the loss of our dear little boy:
Lines on tie DEATH Of Howard LrrrLEroN,
Igftat Sen ofA, M. and M. T.. GoRMAN.
Ie's gone from those who love him
From hearts he swcctly blc.t.
Hes gone but still we see him.
As erst wnen with Us here
We hold his cherub image
In n'eulory most dear.
Hos gone and yet we love him
80 sweet n smiie he wore
90 innocent and lIeciohs
Fe'h love him everm 70.
He's gone-but faith, ascending,
Beholds him vhcre he is
Gnrobed in light Celestial
While Hcarca all is his.
A little crown is decking
Ills infant spirit brow
hlS tiny tongue is singing
lhe song oi Angels now.
Then let us cease this sorrow,
And Dry these fearful eyes
Al ptous, we, and faithful,
Wen Gpd him in the skies.