The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-08-20
VOL. 8, NO. 1S.-WHOLE NO. SS2

.ith feeble step and trembling hard, nightly. the
dear woman trimmed the litsle lamp and placed
Il IN the window. Still when the beaded form
could no longer totter about the cottage, when
she lay helpless upon the bed, and the nsighbors
came in TO care for her. she would cav, "Pus
The little lamp in the window ; my Henry viii be
thinking OF IT,"
Night after night and ever until her eyes grew
dim, she would watch the radiance of the dick.
erng light, only saying sometimes, "Shall I've
10 hear his footsteps. Will that feeble fame
still burn when nv hfe's light has gore eut,"
81 have loneed to zee him." she said IL
have prayed earnestly, but have given il all up
nov. l shall not meet him in this world"
Have you put the light in the window :" abe
asked suddenly, few moments after. 1T is
growing dark"
Alas! n vas not the light that was growing
dark
Her hands grew cold. Over her counteuance
came that mysterious shadow that tal.s but once
on sny mortal face.
"Oh! my boy nv boy :" she whispered; :;
tell him, they bent lover TO catch her fail
ing words tell him | will put q light in the
window OF heaven to guide his footsteps there"
The thrilling sentence Vas hardly spoken,
when the shadow dropped from the safferer's
face, and it smiled i'll the calm majesty oi
death.
A funeral followed; humble hearts attended
the body Vi one ~ho vas loved tor her sincere
goodness all through the hamlet !; and on the
hillside, in little grave yard, she vas buried.
Not many days after q great ship came into
the port OF busy city. Among oil those Who
stepped from the decks. none were more hope.
ful, more joyous than young Henr, Locke He
bad passed through the ordeal of lie at sea, 90
far unscathed No blight OF imuoralty had fal.
len upon him. He had kept himself a. spotess
| a. il st every nighuAn hrs feet had been turned
towards the door of bis mothers cottage How
his heart bounded as be thought of her! Strange
~ enough he never dreamed she might be dead.
Ii did pOt occur to him that perhaps her silve,
locks were lying under the lid OF the coffin. Oh,
no; be only thought of the pleasant light in the
window, that her hands had trimmed for him
So he journeyed to his native town.
Yonder comes one who trudges on laggingiy
"a farmer in heavy boots and frock, his whiE
in his hand. He cheers the lazy oxen, but sud
denly stops. amazed.
| ~ See you know me-" said the Young sal
lor, smiling. We'll Farmer Brown, how i,
Know you? Why how tall you are! So
bis eye drops, his mouth trembles-"s SO you've
got home"
"Yes, and glad enough to get back again
how is mother!
"Your-mother," he says in q low hestatinl
way, that telegraphs i'll tidings before they ar,
told in words.
"Yss--is she well. Is she expecting me
Of course she Isl we're late by month. full
Your mother, Henry? We-the old lady !,
He plays with his whip, or rather strikes j
hNr h... .},rctp h. H.
that happy heart!
"There. YOU need not speak," cried tb,
young man, in u voice OF sudden anguish ALI.
he recoiled, almost staggering. from the iarmsr'
eide and buried his iAce in bis hands
Henry. nay poer lad, your mother ia"
Don't, don't," cried the other, showing nov
q face from which all color had ned "Oh m
mother my mother !-she IL gone, gone-and
am coming home 80 happy"
For some moments be sobbed ia agony. Ho,
dreary the world bad grown! The flowers ha
lost their fragrance, the eun its warmth hi
heart seemed dead
Henry. she left message for you," said tn
old farmer, wipng his eyes with the sleeve q
his frock.
"A message for ne!" it seemed ~ il III
white lips could hardly speak.
} Yes; says she-so my dame told me, and .
| tue uIiniSScr e2to- 1cu ueufy ! Will put q HgT
! in the window of heaven to guide his footsteF
there" -.r.
"Did che, oh! did she say that! God bles
you for telling me. All nv long voyage l hav
. thought Of the light 10 her little window. hav
seemed to see it st, canning along, along dow
to the foot of the bill, til il grew brighter an
brighter as drew nearer A light in the vii
; dow Of heaven? Yes, mother, l will think yo
! are still waiting for nle. could not see you
. these long years; bu. knew the light was bur,
! ing. cannot sse YOU now, but know that tn
light is burning"
Slowly and reverently be went to the hill sid
} graveyard, and there he kDelt and wept upu
her lOwly grave. But not there he thought be
A sweet vision was vOuchs fled him All robe
= in heavenly garments, he saw the beautiful Sol
r he bad called mother, and streaming from tt
: brightness Of her glorious home, . slender bea
D seemed TO coa,e, trembling to his very fee
E Then he knew that the light was placed in Il
e window Of heaven.
s Once more he knelt ia the little room whel
he had left her. Nothing was moved, but Oh
how much vas wanting! There on the wind0'
3 sill stood the little lanp-that brought the tea
{ afresh. But he took his mothers veil worn B
bic. and kneeiing by her bedside, as if she cou
e hear him, he consecrated himself to life ar
work Of righteousness. From that cottage
! went out into the world, carrying his gri,f a.
sacred memorial. but seeing always, wherev
d his work led him, his waiting mother, and Il
e lamp in the window of heaven.