Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-04-18

Back to his stady--back 10 fearful, yea, aw-
full temptation-back to wrestling with more
than one demon-and Through the help OF a
siuless child) back to conquer.
Il was growing near dusk. Ange had long
ago put her work by; she had been taking with
her little child, and once in while looking over
to Aunt Becky, as iftO read what Impression the
petty, artless sayings of the sweet creature
made upon her dark mood. Aunt Becky sat
rocking to and fro, like a piece of cast iron
machinery, Presently she called the child to
her, put her grim spectacles high on the grim
forehead and darted her sharp eye glanceS into
the blue eyes of the child. .Ja
DO you know you've got to die 7
'Now = asked the little one, startled at her
manner.
'Well-ahem! p'raps-we can't none Of US
tell. The old must die, the young may de
Where do you think you'd go to, if you should
diet
GO to see Jesus answered the child, Won
drOus look Of love entering 10, and shining
through her beautiful face.
'Ahem! hum! yes; well, you've had good
teaching, child; but teaching is nothing, child.
hope you re chosen vessel. l hope and trust
your mother won't think you are too good to
grow any better
The little child sprang away. Come, nam.
ma, she cried, now play for me, and let me
dance
The mother went cheerfully towards the
piano. Aunt Becky drew sigh longer than
any that had preceded it. as the little fairy, with
untaught grace, ran, jumped and caPered, glee.
fully singing all the while
Meantime, the husband and father sat in his
study, tortured, almost maddened with the
thoughts that pursued him. Black failure leer-
ed over his shoulder, and with revolving finger
traced the characters of his commercial ruin.
Only by one method might he escape. The
veins stood out on his brow, and he wrung his
hands and writhed in his chair. There before
him lay paper, which, by his signing, would
enable him to clear himself for a time. But it
was dishonesty alone that pointed out the short,
broad road to escape; road that had no turn
ing, whose termination offered only wall of
iron against which he might dash himself How
would it endl The pen was in his trembling
fingers. Ashy white grew the edges of his
lips, flame hot his brain. Evil grinned tri-
umphant from his shadowy niche. Already the
nib vas wet-there was no nerve wanting;
but -
'Father!'
The little soft, singing voice close to his side;
clinging TO him white, dimpled fingers; curl
ing, soft, shining flaments of gold-trenched
hair; eyes, Heaven-pure, uPlifted; ruby lips,
full of kisses, quivering to touch the cheek that
to her seemed sacred.
Oh, the cry that leaped from the inner tenn
pie of that soul, as he dashed down the pen
dashed aside the accursed resolve-shOuted,
betwixt Joy and agony, You have saved me!
angel! angel! you have saved your poor fa~
ther!'
And sob after sob shook him, as he held the
innocent heaven gift to his heart, as if he would
ward off Satan-Warl off temptation with this
beautiful shield.
Meanwhile, what thought the wife and moth.
or, who knelt crouching by the doorl She had
brought the child up in her snow white bed
dress, for a suTpIise-a sweet one she thought
it would be. Now her hands WtIe clenched,
aud it seemed as if her very heart would leap
out, it beat and throbbed so.
Mamma is there, said the child.
ooh, my Go 'groaned the young man. 'Con e
iD. Anqs-couaA iD-Aad- hear nv annfassioa-
Oh, am saved l will not dIshOnor you; you
shall not blush for me-
He told her all. Did not the child, if she
had seemed pure before, seem now seraphicl
Yes, they could calmly listen to good but mis-
taken. Aunt Becky-their hearts smiling as she
talked-holding communion with the Father
who had given so sweet a gift They could
do more than this; even to going into the vale
of poverty, hand in hand together, guarded by
an angel
1t was not always dark for them. No;
slowly they prospered, and the child did not
lose the lustre of her innocence, but grew up
still angelic, blessed all things, being blessed
by ALL II