The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-12-19
The Child in the Grave.
BY HANS cHRNsTrAN ANDERSEN.

There was sorrow in the house-there
was sorrow in the heart; for the youngest
child, a little BOY Of four years of age, the
only son, his parents present JOY and
future hope, was dead.
Two daughters they had; indeed, oder
than their boy-tlie eldest was almost old
enough to be conGrmed--amiable, sweet
girls they both were; but the lost child is
always the dearest and he was the youn-
gest and a son. 1t was heavy trial. The
sisters screwed as young hearts sorrow, and
were much afflicted by their parents grief
the father was weighed down by the afflic-
tion, but the mother was quite overwhelmed
by the terrible blow. BY night and b. day
had she devoted herself to her sick child,
watched him, lifted him up, carried him
about, done everything for him herself She
had felt as If he were part of herself. She
could not bring hel self to believe that he
was dead-that he should be laid in coffin
and concealed in the grave. God would not
take the child frem her, o no! And when
he was taken, and she could no longer re-
fuse to believe the truth, she exclaimed, in
her wild grief:-'God has not ordained this!
He has heartless agents here on earth. They
do what they list--they halkea not to a
mothers prayers"
She dared, in her woe, to arraign the
Most High; and then came dark thoughts,
the thou hts Of death--everlasting death
that human beings returned as earth to earth
and then all was over Amidst thoughts
morbid and impious as these, there could be
nothing to console her, and she sank into
the depth of despair
In these hours Of deepest distress she
could not weep. She thought not of the
young daughters who were left to her; her
husbands tears fell on her brow, but she did
not look Up at him---her thought with her
dead child; her whole heat and soul were
wrapped up recalling every Renaissance
of the lost one, every syllable of his infantie
prattle.
Tne day ofthe funeral came. She rad
not slept the night before, but, toward morn
ing, she was overcome by fatigue, and sank
for short time into repose. During that
time the coffin was removed into another
apartment. and the cover was screwed down
with as little noise as possible.
When she awoke she arose and wished to
see her child. Then her husband, with tears
in his eyes, told her, ave have closed the
coffin; it had to be done!'
"Whcn the Almighty is so hard on me"
she exclaimed, 'why should human
beings be kinders' and she burst into
tears.
The coffin was carried to the grave. The
inconsolable mother sat with her young
daughters. She looked at them, but she
did not see them; her thoughts had nothing
more to do with home; she gave herself up
to wretchedness ard it tossed her about as
the sea tosses the ship which has lost its
helmsman and its rudlcr Thus passed the
day of the funeral and several days followed
amidst the same uniform. heavy grief
With fearful eyes and melancholy looks her
afflicted family gazed at her. She did not
care for what comforted them. What could
they say to change the current other mourn
fnl thoughts?
1t seemed as If sleep had fled from her for
ever; it alone would be her best friend,
strengthen her frame and recall peace to her
mind. Her family pursuaded her to keep
her bed, and she lay there as still as il
buried in sleep.
One night her husband had listened to her
breathing, and believing from it that she
had at length found repose and relief, he
clasped his hands, prayed for her and them
all, then sank into peaceful slumber. While
sleeping soundly he did not perceive that
she rose, dressed herself. and softly left the
room and the house, to 60 whittier her
thoughts wandered by day and by night
to the grave that hid her child. She passed,
quietly through the garden, out to the fields,
beyond which the road led outside Of the
town to the churchyard No one saw her,
and she saw no one
It vas fine night the stars We're shin
ing brightly, and the air was mlld, although
it was the FIRST Of September She
entered the churchyard, and went to the lit
tie grave; it looked like one great bouquet
Of sweet-scented flowers.
She threw herself down. and bowed her