Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1860-01-21
ALWAYS IN THE way.
Il story for Careful perusalby MOthers.

"Rain, rain, rain; will it never stop ~
hought little Amy Howard as she pres
;ed her small face close to The window
pane, in vain attempt to see further round
.he corner, whence sister Anna must
come from school. 1t was no, one of
those rainy days which every ore loves,
W hen the drops falls steadily and cheetily,
and one feels sure that they are compile
ting their mission as rapidly as possible,in
order 20 treat us TO rainbow. 1t was a
cherries. mizzly, drizzly rain, that seem
ed unwilling 10 leave cloudland, bent up
on making every body sympathize with
his i'll humor.
Poor lille Amy looked the embodiment
of forlornity as she watched the long pen
duIous branches Of the elms sway hlther
and ,hiiher in an uncomfortable manner.
She wondered what made the rain fall, and
if the poor htlle doves felt it through their
glossy feathers; but she knew il was quite
useless to ask her mother, for she would
only tell her not TO ask so many questions
and keep out OF her way.
Mrs. Howard loved her child, but she
was a buslling energetic woman, whose
chief care was TO keep a well ordered and
tidy house, and she did not understand the
delicate nature of the little Amy who had
been from infancy feeble child, ,and stood
sadly in need of loving and tender symPa.
thy. She was not beautiful; but for those
who loved her there was depth of love in
her little heart, which only needed answer
ing sunbeams TO make it bear sweeter bios.
SONS, and lighI up her wan face with the
beauty of contentmen,.
This had been such sad day. In the
morning she had climbed into chair 10
watch her mothers proceedings a, the
pastry table when an unlucky motion ol
her hand had sent dish of flour TO viii
ten The floor, calling forth an impatient re-
primand from her mother. Choaking back
a rising sob, she left the table and essay ed
TO play with her block, building with them
wall to confine White Lily, her kitten.
Blu, impatient at such imprisonment, she
made vigorous efforts 10 free herself, and,
as she succeeded scattered the blocks in
all directions.
"What looking room ~ exclaimed
Mrs. II. 81 declare it's no use 10 clean
up, you get things in the way so.'
No more house.building for Amv after
that, so she walked up and down the
room. singing soi,Iy TO the kitten in her
arms, till it was tine TO look for Anna s
return from school-Anna, the dear sister
" no loved the liille one, and never told
her to keep ont Of The way.
At last her patient waiting was reward
ed by glimpse of Annals bonnet, and
with cry oljoy Amy bounded TO open
the hall door 10 greet her sister with out
stretched hands and the words,"I thought
you would never come y
"What ails my pet !' said Anna,as she
took the child in her lap, and parting the
hair from her pale face, remarked the look
OF WEAKNESS in her eyes.
Nothing" answered Amy, "only my
head aches so, and | can't play without
troubling mother
Anna sighed, for she knew the little
heart had sore trials so far into the dusky
eve she sa, with Amy's head upon her
shoulder telling of the olden time when
the fairies danced by moonlight upon the
green sward, when every river and tiny
stresmet, was haunted by unearthly be-
ings. Then she told Of heaven, made glo-
rious by God and the angels, and as Amy
listened her eyes beamed with delight,
anu she exclaimed, raising her hand with
animation :
"Sister Anna. I must GO there, ! must;
is il such long way ?" Suddenly shad-
ow darkened her face as she said sadly,
"Perhsps though. should get in the way
of angels, am so careless"
"Never. darling" sald the sister, clasp
ing more closely The liule form, which an
almost prophetic sense told was too surely
fading away.
At midnight there were hurried steps
and anxious questions, as the household
was awakened by Annals cry that Amy
was very ill., After days of watching
weeping group surrounded the bed OF the
dying child.
"Motber said Amy's feeble voice, 81
didn't mean 10 be naughty, and get in
your way so much. | hope shant trou-
bic the angels. Goodbye mother. lam
gong to sleep" And little Amy was
dead.
Long years the grass has grown on
Amy's grave, and harebells have rung
their fairy chimes above it, while the
birds sung requiems in the shadowing
trees; bu, nightly as she lays her head up
on the pillow. Mrs. Howard sees the pale
face Of her child-snd sweet voice says
"Moiher did nof mean TO get in the
wsy." Nor all in vain was that lesson
.aue ht by those dying lips. Seeds OF