The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-02-24
He loucbed and frolicked with every.

face of Uncle Abel, you almost fancied that
you saw spring caressing winter. Uncle
Abels metaphysics were sorely puzzled how
to bring this sparkling, dancing compound
of spirit and matter into any reasonable
shape, for 10 did mischief with an ENERGY
and perseverance that were truly astonishing.
Once he secured the floor with Aunt Betsy's
snuff, and once he spent half an hour in
trying to make Rose wear her spectacles.
In short, there was no use but the right one
to which he did not put everything that
came in his way. But Uncle Abel was most
OF all puzzled to know what to do with him
on the Sabbath, for on that day Master Ed
ward seemed to exert himself particularly to
be entertaining. edward must not play
on Sunday" his father would say, and then
Edward would shake his curls over his eyes
and walk out of the room as grave as the
catechism, but the next moment you might
see pussy scampering in dismay through the
"bcst room" with Edward at her heels, to
the manifest discomfort of Aunt Betsy and
all Others in authority.
AT last my uncle came to conclusion that
lit wasn't in natur to teach him better, and
that he would no more keep Sunday than
the brook down in the lot" My poor uncle!
he did not know what was the matter with
his heart; but certain it was he had lost
all faculty of scolding when little Edward
was in the case, though he would stand
rubbing his spectaclcs n quarter of an hour
longer than common, when Aunt Betsy was
detailing his witticisms and clever doings.
But in progress of time our hero compasscd
his third year and arrived Mt tho dignity of
going to school. He went illustriously
through the spellingbook, attacked the cate
chism, went from "mans chief end" to the
commandment" in u fortnight, and at last
came home inordinarily merry, to tell his
father he had got to "Amen.' After this
he made regular business of saying over
the whole every Sunday evening, standing
with his hands folded in front, and his
checked apron smoothcd down, again giving
q glance over his shoulder to see If papa is
attending. Being ofa very benevolent turn
of mind, he made several efforts to to teach
Rose the catechism, in which he succeeded
as well rs could be expected. In short,
without further detail, Master Edward bade
fair to become literary wonder But alas I!
for poor little Edward, his merry dance was
soon over. A day came when he sickcned.
Aunt Betsy tried her whole herbarium, but
in vain he grew rapidly worse and worse
His father sckened in heart, but said moth
ing he staid by h,s bedside day and night,
irving all means to save him with affecting
pertinacity. Cant you think of anything
more, doctor?" said he to the physician,
when everything had been tried in vain.-
"Nothing," answered the physician. A
slight convulsion passed over my uncle's
face. "Thcn the Lords will be done !" said
he. just ut that moment a ray of the set
ting sun pierced the checked curtains and
CLEANED fikc un angels smile across tho face
of the little sufferer. He awoke from dis
turbed sleep. "Oh, dear, oh, am so sick "
he gaspcd fecbly. Ills father raised him in
his arms-hc brcathed easier and looked up
with grateful smile.
just then his old playmate, the cat, cross
ed the floor. "There goes pussy" said he,
"Oh, dear, / shall not playlwith pussy any
more" At that moment d deadly change
passed over his face, he looked up to his faith
er with an imploring expression and put out
his hands. There was one moment Of ago.
nv, and the sweet features settled with q
smile of peace. and mortality was swallowed
up in life. My uncle laid him down and
looked one moment at his beautiful facet
was too much for his pride, and he lifted up
his voice and wept
The next morning was the Sabbath, the
funeral day, and it rose with breath all in
cense and check all bloom. Uncle Abel was
III tnl hnt in, fna IN
there was sOrrow-stricken expression that
could not be mistaken. remember him ut
family prayers, bending over the great Bible
and beginning the psalm, i" Lord thou hast
been our dwelling place in all generations. F"
Apparently he was touchedby the melancholy
and splcndor of the poetry, for after reading
few verses he stopped. There was a dead
silence interrupted only by the tick ofthe
clock. lie cleared his voice repeatedly, and
tried to 90 on, but in vain. He closed the
book and knelt in prayer. The energy of
sorrow broke through his formal reverence,
and his language flowed forth with deep
and sorrowful pathos which never have for
gotten. The God 30 much rcverenced, SO
much feared, seemed TO draw near to him as
friend and comforter, to be his refuge and
strength, "a very present help in time of
trouble" My uncle arose. saw him walk
towards the room of the departed one-I fol-
lowed and stood with him over the dead. lie
uncovered his face. 1t was set with the seal
of death, hut oh, how surprisingly lovely was
the impression The brilliancy oflife was
gone; but the face was touched with mystic
rious, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES which seems like
the dawning of heaven. My uncle looked
long and steadily. He felt the beauty of
what he gazed on his heart was softencd,
but he had no words for his feelings. lie
left the room unconsciously, and steod ut the
front door. The bcllswere ringing for church;
the morning was bright and birds were sing
ing merrily, and the little pet squirrel of lit
tie Edward was frolicking about the door.
Ny uncle watched him as he ran, first up
one tree, then another, then over the fence,
whskng his brush and chattering as if moth
ing was the matter. With deep sigh Un-
Gle Abel broke forth, "How happy that crea-
ture is Well, the Lords will be done. -
That day the dust was committed to the dust
amid the lamentations of all who had known
little Edward. Years have passed since then
and my uncle has long been gathered to his
fathers, but his just and upright spirit has
entered the liberty Of the sons Of God. Yes.
the good man may have opinions which the
philosophical scorn, weakness ut which the
thoughtless smile, but death shall change
him into all that is enlightened, wise and re-
fined, " He shall shine as the brightness of
the armament and as the stars forever and
ever"
AYrcporE OF EXTRA BILLY SMITu.-Mr.
Giddings lcctured in New York Monday
night. Whilst describing the memorable