Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-06-13

c you, dear?
S Aunt Becky saw the pallor that sprea
t over his face, which he bent to hide, an
! whispered
i believe he's under concern Of mind.
And so he was-GOd help those wh
suffer from like, concernl yes, God hel
them!
Back to his study-back to fearful
yea, awful temptation-back to wrestlin
with more than one demon-and (throug
the help of a sinless child) back to con
quer.
1t was growing near dusk. Ange ha,
long ago put her work by; she had beel
talking with her little child, and once in
while looking over to Aunt Becky, as if t,
read what impression the pretty, artles
sayings of the sweet creature made upOr
her dark mood. Aunt Becky sat rocking
to and fro. like piece ofcast iron machin
cry. 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.
DO you know you We got to die?'
'Now?' asked the little one, startled at
her manner.
'Well-ahem p'rops-we can't none Of
US tell. The old must die, the young may
die. Where do you think you'd go to, il
you should die?'
60 to see Jesus answered the child, a
wOndrOus look of love entering in, and
shining through her beautiful face.
'Ahem! hum! yes; well, you've had good
teaching, child; but teaching is nothing,
child, l hope you're chosen vessel; 1 hope
and trust your mother won't think you're
too good to grow any better.
The little child sprang away. Come
mama she cried, now play for me, and
let me dance
The mother went cheerfully towards the
piano. Aunt Becky drew a sigh longer
than any that had preceded it, as the little
fairy, with untaught grace, ran, jumped and
capered, glecfully singing all the while.
Meantime, the husband and father sat
in his study, tortured, almost maddened
with the thoughts that pursued him. Black
failure leered over his Shoulder, and with
finger traced the chara cters ofhis
commercial ruin. Only by one method
might he escape. The veins stood out on
MS brow, and he wrung his hands and
Trith9d in his chair. There before him
ay paper. which, by his signing, would
,nable him to clear himself for a time.-
But it was dishonesty alone that pointed
'ut the short, broad road of escape; road
hat had no turning. and whose termination
fered only wall of iron against which
le might dash himself How would it end?
he pen was in his trembling fingers
Ashy white grew the edges of his lips,
anne hot his brain. Evil grinned triumph
mt rom his shadowy niche. Already the
ib was wct-there was no nerve wanting
ut
Father!
The little soft, singing voice close to his
ide; clinging to him white, dimpled fin
erS; clinging, soft, shining filament of
Old-trenched hair; eyes, Heaven pure, up
fled; ruby lips, full of kisses, quivering to
'ueh the cheek that to her seemed sacred /,
Oh, the cry that leapcd from the inner
.pple of that soul as he dashed down the :
aside the accursed resolve
nOuted betwixt joy and agony, You have
wed me! angel angel! you have saved your
Dor father!'
And sob after sob shook him, as he held :,
le innocent heaven gift to his heart as if
: would ward off Satan-ward off tempt
ion with this beautiful shield. :
Meanwhile, what thought the wife and :
other who kuelt crouching by the door? i
nc had brought the child up in her snow s
bite bed dress for surprise-a sweet q
le she thought it would be- Now her o
Inds were elenehed, and it seemed as if P
r very heart would leap out it beat and n
robbed so. p
Mamma is there said the child. a
Oh, my GOdl, groaned the young man
ONE in, Ange-come in and hear my CT
Oh, / am savedl / will not Il
shOnor you; you shall not blush for me- rt
He told her all Did not the child, if IL
e had seemed pure before, seem now SER Of
hic? Yessthey could calmly listen to Sc
cd but mistaken Aunt Becky-their hearts W
liling as she talksd-holding communion OF
tn the Father who had given so sweet hi
t II ey could do more than this even M
going into the vale of poverty, hand and VI
nd together, guarded by an angel. d'
1t was not always dark for them. No; "
WY they prOspered. and the child did :
t lose the lustre of her innocence, but IL
ew up still angelic, blessing all things, ~ !,
ing blessed by all. :"
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