Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-03-20

gone from the house until it was an
nounced to the mother in her sIck-room
"Elie is gonel', That is the way
was told her-not "dead." but "gone.
/ need not say that the mothers hear
was stricken-thst the wound so re
Gently opened was made wider AMI
deeper. None can ever know her SUI
ferings save those who have had lik'
experience, and such do not need TO b
told. / will only say that, as she la,
there upon her bed with her hand
clasped tightly over her bosom, sh'
looked up toward heaven Snd prayed
and that the burden of her prayer was
"Thy will be done!"
And Eliel beautiful Elliel so young
and Joyous and happy, whose very
presence was sunshine itself and glad
ness--Ellie. too, was indeed goDel No
dead, but gone; and never did child il
its mothers arms fall asleep more softly
and more sweetly than did she. After
she knew that it must be so, she had
just time to say, 81 am not afraid to
die" and in few moments she had
done with dying. There was comfort
in this thought, that she had crossed
the river where il was narrow. And
we knew, moreover, that the smile that
fingered about her countenance-besu-
tifIll even in death--was but the refiec-
ton Of her glorifed spirit shining back
upon the poor clay from which it had
Just escaped.
Still there was one sister left--she
now the only daughter, and the youn-
gest of all the family. There are those
who know how much meaning there is
in that word. '"onlv daughter" as for
me, do not. But this l know, that in
this only daughter all the earthly hopes
tof her now broken-hearted mother
were centered. Nor was she unworthy
of such love. A nobler child | have
never known. 1t is easy to write that
Addie was beautiful, but she was more
than beautiful. A mere child in years,
she was nevertheless a woman. A
child in gentleness, in simple earnest
ness and goodness of heart, but in for
titude, in strength of purpose, in force
Of character--a woman and a Chris
tian. And now, in this hour Of trial,
while her own young heart was ready
to burst with grief, she would yet con-
ceal her tears that she ght comfort
her mother! II would seem that such
a one should have been spared; that a
merciful God would interpose and say.
at is enough" The hardest human
heart could scarcely prompt lower de-
gree Of sympathy than that. But am
more and more convinced that it is
wrong and sinful to Judge the Lord by
feeble sense | believe that the Judge
ol all the earth will do right; tina; he
will do right TO every individual Of the
human race; and that he will do right
always and forever. And so. when
Addie, the dear only daughter. was
laid upon bed of sickness, | could go
in the confidence of faith to her moth
er. and say 10 her in all sincerity and
truthfullnrss, "If Addie RECEIVERS, il is
we'll; il she dies. il is well; he doeth all
things we'll"
And she did die. A third time
within a double fortnight the crystal
bars OF Eden were moved to welcome
from the same household on earth a
new born angel A third time there
escaped a faint murmur from the lips
Of the poor, stricken mother-a mur-
mur so low now that it was scarcely
heard save bv him who hears the ra-
vens WHEN they cry unto him. 1t was
still the same humble. confding, help
beseeching prayer-Thy will be donel
Thus passed away the three sisters
Side by side they sleep in the lonely
graveyard; arm in arm they walk to-
gether on the shining shore. 1t must
be so, for it is written. "Blessed are the
dead that die in the Lord" and it was
thus they died. And yet we can but
mourn, for if their gain is great, so j;
our loss. We miss them ir the home
circle, in the Sabbath school, N the
sanctuary. Yes, in the beautiful vii
lage chapel where they loved to wor'
ship God, their pastor, as well as other.
who were nearer to them on earth, vii
miss them. The church-bell will senC
forth It's sweet chimes as in days o
other years, and the Silly air of Sab
bath morning will bear the glad. solemn
music along the meadows and over the
hills. but Martha, Ellie, Addie, though
they sleep near by. will not hear it
and when the gathering throngs NEE
in the house Of God. they will not b,
among them.-N y Independent.