The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-09-10

So take the rest yourself, darling. Inev-
er expected to see you reduced to this
but it Is all right, no doubt And al
ways remembei Allie, than any amount
of suffering is better than the least degree
of SHINING. Although all seems so dark
now, | feel strangely hopeful for you. |
shall soon be safe in the arms Of Jesus,
but o, how | wish might take you with
me. if it were Gods will but | know he
will take care of you. | prayed to him
nearly all day, Allie trust in Him, and
He will SURELY raise you up friend.
cannot talk much with you, now but
another time [ will tell you what | wish
you to do when | am gone. Come and
lie down with me, precious darling lille
sister, and don't sob SO wildly, dear one
There go TO sleep, love-" and she gather
ed the sobbing child to her bosom, and
soothed her as a mother would her
frightened suffering babe.
1t was broad daylight when Allie
awoke. She was very stiff and cold, and
looked about for Jenny. She seemed TO
be kneelng by the bedside, but when
Alice spoke, there was no answer. The
face was colorless as marble, and sweet
smile wreathed the dim, white lips. She
seemed to have risen at night for the lie.
lie cup of water, and TO have died, as she
knelt 10 breathe prayer to the kind Fa
ther, who, in love, gathered her into His
glorious fold where cold and hunger,
pain and sorrow. are forever strangers
a pine coffin, and a quick raltling Of
the cart over the stones 10 the pauper's
burial place. No one needed il except
one breaking heart which flung is.lfup.
on the rough box, and shriekcd rs they
tore her from it.
1t WAS all over, ana htlle Alice found
herself Homeless and friendless in the
great busting city. She was almost
supplied with grief, and almost uncon-
sciously, she wandered TO the market
near the river, and stopped 10 warm her
fingers at a lille charcoal furnace. A
stout Jersey farmer WAS standing near,
dressed IN q shaggy great coat, with
4 woolen comforter about his neck. He
made room for her beside the fire, aud
looked compassiona!eIy on her hin, old
dress and sLivering frame.
His BIG brown hand brought out ro-
sy checked apple from his orcrcoat peck
ct, which he gave to Alice. Tie tears
came into the eyes Of tie poor furnished
child, as she eagerly took it, exclalming,
=" o, thank YOU, thank you, sir"
II was eaten quickly, and the farmer
who had watched the process, said:
i wish had another for you, little
girl you seem to like apples so we'll.
Your folks should moi let you come ou,
such cold day with them thin clothes
on, and 10 shawl neither"
Just then coarse market woman. ev-
idently in bad bumor. came along, and
giving Alice rude push, babe her !" be
off with her rags, and not take up the
room of her beuers. Watching chance
to steal something from the stands,
don't doubt" she added.
The child moved slowly and tearfullv
away, for the kind word and act of the
moment before, had drawn her whole
heart towards the farmer. Poor little
one with her loving heart torn loose
from every earthly stay, how eagerly il
caught At every straw for support.
But the big, rough hand was stretched
out to prevent her going. and the man
drew her TO his side. saying
" Stay here, little gir. the old woman
shall not hurt YOU. She is only bit
iretty this morning, and means well
enough. There, Margery, are two Gus,
toners for you, be quick, or you \ loose
them : and the woman stepped briskly
10 her place.
The farmer looked at the child intent.
ly, and by his kind words aud seeming
interest, soon drew from her the simple
history of her sorrows-related with all
a child's irankness. The shaggy sleeve
was drawn across his eye. more than
once rs he listened. and hs had too hon.
est heart 10 be ashamed OF il.
When she had finished. he said -
" Then you have not any relations in lie
city, Alice Nobody 10 look for YOU
home .oisht?"
Q, sir" she answered, have no
home now. None but the station house"
and she shuddered at the thought of
slceplng there associated rs it is in the
mind Of every poor child in the city,
with the iIea of drunkcp bra,,l. ,h,f,