The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-02-20

herself, and softly left the room and the
house to go-whilher her thoughts wander.
ed by day and by night-to the grave that
hid her child. She passed quietly through
garden, out to the fields, beyond which the
road led outside of the town to the church
yard. No one saw her, and she saw no
one
II was fine night the stars were shin.
ing brightly, and the air was mild, although
il was the first of September. She entered
the churchyard, and went to the little grave;
il looked like one great boquet Of sweet
scented flowers. She threw herself down,
and bowed her head over the grave, as if
she could through the solid earth behold
her little boy, whose smiles she remember.
ed so wildly. The affectionate expression
of his eyes, even upon his sick bed, was
never, never to be forgotten. How speak
ing had not his glance been when she had
bent over him, and had taken the little
hand he was himself too weak to raise
As she had sat by his couch, 50 now she
sat by his grave but here her tears might
''Wouds, thou descend 10 thy child 2"
said voice close by.
II sounded so clear, so deep, its tones
wen, to her heart. She looked up and near
her stood q man wrapped in large mourn
ing cloak, with hood dra wn over his head;
but she could not see the countenance un-
der this II was severe and yet encourag-
ing his eyes were bright as those of youth
descend TO my child !" she repeated
and there was the agony OF despair in her
voice.
"Darest thou follow me 7" asked the fig
ure. 81 am Deathn"
She bowed her assent. Then it seemed
all at once as if every star in the heavens
above shoEe with the light of the moon
She saw the many colored flowers on the
surface of the grave move like a fuuering
garment. She sank. and the fignre threw
his dark cloak round her. II became night
the night of death. She sank deeper
than the spade could reach. The church
yard lay like roof above his head.
The cloak that had enveoped her gided
10 one side. She stood in an immense hall,
whose exremties were lost in the distance.
Il was dusk around her but before her
Stood and in one moment was clasped to
her heart, her cEild, who smiled on her in
beauty far surprising what he had possess
ed before. She uttered a cry, though il
was scarcely audible. for, close by, and
then far away, and afierward near again,
came delightful music. Never before had
such glorions, such blessed sounds, reach
ed her ears. They rang from the other
side of the thick curlain-black as night
that separated The hall from the boundless
space OF eternity.
MY sweet motherm my own mother %
she heard her child exclaim. 1t was his
well-known, most beloved voice and kiss
followed kiss in rapiurous Joy. AT length
The child pointed to the sable curtain.
"There Is nothing so charming up yoncer
on earth, mother. Look, mother! look a,
them all That is felicity r'
The mother saw no,hins-nothing in the
direction to which the child pointed exec pt
darkness like that of night. She saw with
ca rthly eyes. She did not see as did the
child whom God had called 20 himself
She heard, indeed, sounds-music but she
did not understand the words that were
conveyed in these exquisite tones.
81 can fly, now, mother" said the child.
''I can fly with other happy children, away,
even into the presence of God. wish 40
much to go but j: you cry on as you are
crying now, cannot leave you. and yet
should be so glad to go. May not 2 You
will come back soon, will you not, dear
mother 2"
'Oh, stay oh, stay p' she cried, "only
one moment more. Let me gaze or you
one moment longer let me kiss you, and
hold you moment longer in my arms"
And she kissed him, and held him fast
Then her name was called from above
the tones were those of piercing grief -
What could they be9
"Hark ~ said the child eft is my father
calling on you"
And again, 10 few seconds, deep sobs
were heard, as of children weeping.
sThose are my sisters voices" said the
child. "Mother, you have surely not for
gotten them W
Then she remembered those who were left
behind. A deep feeling of anxiety perva-
ded her mind !; she eazed iniently before
her, and spsc:sss seemed 10 hover round her;
she fancied that she knew some of them
they Aoated through the Hall of Death, on
toward the dark cunain, and there they van
ished. Would her husband, her daughters,
appear therel No, their lamentations were
still TO be heard from above. She had
nearly forgotten them for the dead.
"Mother, the bells of heaven are ring.
;nn u said the child tsNoz the snn IL