The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-09-16
By MRS. HARRIET Z. FRANCIS.

ed the nurse, with white lips, as she
tried to force liltle brandy through the
closed mouth, and unfastened the little
night dress TO feel for faint pulsng OF
his heart.
l could not then see him die, my pref
ty, pretty baby And SO turned away,
and sought for darkness and God
"Ifit is Thy viii, spare my child,
my precious child But thy will, not
mine. be done" | cried again and
again amid choking sobs and tears.
"If you will take upon yourself the
guardianship and responsibility of all the
future life of your babe, Independent of
Gods ioreknonledye, he will be spared"
was The temptation.
Thy will, not mine, be done, Heav
enly Father, for thou seest all the tu-
ture y answered.
"Let your darling one die ; bury the
little fingers that lie on your bosom each
night, the soft lips that kiss your cheek.
Never hear his cooling voice, sweeter
than the ring-dove's, and the merry
shout Of glee as YOU come in from your
morning walk the lispinS voice, just
learning to say papa" and the steps so
soft you almost hold your breath to catch
their sound; bury the eyes that glance
back Your unfathomable love"
Thy viii, not mine, be DONE" came
moaning quickly back, as if human love
was overpowering faith, and soon there
would be no strength to say it.
The kind physician looked up sadly as
| entered the room. knew it all there
was no hope, and I sat down by the
nurse and reached my arms for my baby.
She laid him upon them, and | smooth
ed back the bright golden ringlets that
had won for him the pet name of " Sun,
shine" and laid his little hand once
more upon my neck. His eyes were
closed, and the long eyelashes rested up
on his cheek like delicate pencilings,
and my tears fell fast upon them as
leaned over him. The drops aroused
him, and he looked up and said, !" Nam
ma. mamma" A faint wan smile crept
around his lips, glance OF love welled
into his clear, bright eyes, and then a
spasm Of pain, sinking Of the pulse,
and it was all over, and | had a baby,
no more to die. in Heaven
The branches Of the maple creaked
and moaned against the house, and the
wind ratified the easement and sung dir
ges up tie broad staircase, and | buried
my head into the pillows, all the long,
dreary night, and sobbed-" Thy will,
o Father help me say Thy will be
done !" wanted my baby i'll my arms
to bend down carcssingly and whisper,
Darling, darling" and kiss his cheek,
and feel. bis soft fingers clasping mine,
and lis warm breath on my bosom and |
could not shut out the sight Of the little
white .robed form lying cold and still, all
alone in The chill parlor, and the hands
and feet lily white, iced stiff by the R;v-
er of Death.
Morning came at last, and the sun
beams peeped mo the window, and the
canary sung his blilhest song. and the
little children in the lane beyond the
bridge shouted and played as merry as il
there was no dying in the world, and il
all came mockingly TO my aching heart
wanted to get away, and | opened the
darkened pallor and laid my cheek
against the cold cheek of my baby. The
curls lay in golden coils all around his
white forehead, and the blue veins seem
ed to flow as gently as ever under the
clear skin, and pleasant surprised smile
dimpled his lips, as if his eyes were just
ready to unrose from pleasant slumbeI
at loving kiss pressed upon his cheek
A sprig of myrtle and spray of white
flowers looped up his little sleeve, and a
bud or two was tucked into his hand, and
nestled amid tie gossamer folds thai
banded his waist He seem'd SO near, still
mine, that | grew calm, and raised the
curtain n TITLE to let in the sunshine.
Ghostliko. stiff and cold, spread GU
before me on the hillside, in the grave
ward, stood the tombstones, and close by
them the sexton digging grave-my
baby's grave The curtain fell from my
neryeless hand, and | sunk down beside
my boy, and with arm thrown close
around him, cried aloud, 81 cannot give
him up =
Kind fri, nls led me from the room,
and God mercifully parted the clouds Of
darkness and let in ray Of heavenly
light into my soul so dimmed BY sorrow
I lipc