Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1862-01-16
CARRYlNo Pa HIS DINsER.--As we plod

CARRYING PA HIS DINsER.--As we plod
YEARLY along through this busy world, with
these tender bodies ard feeling hearts of ours,
exposed on either hand to disease and eccidgnts
which lay waste the one aud sorrows which crush
the other we, every now and then, meet with
incidents which touch the hardest heart and
leave lifelong impressions.
One such comes TO our recollection at this
writing. which is worthy of mention. A sweet,
active little girl, Of some seven or eight years,
was accustomed to carry to her father, who was
laborcr at one Of our depots some part OF his
daily meals. One evening as she was returning
Just at dusk, she dropped her pail by the way
side 10 amuse herself with some matter which
had attracted her childish attention. Thought.
less Of danger, and busy with her play, she bad
halted on one ofthe many railroad tracks which
crossed her path, and, in the dusk. was not dis.
covered by the engineer, who Just then passed
with his engine, until he had run over and mang-
led her in most shocking manner.
On the following day, we were by her bed
side with her physician. She was feeble, but
conscious and vigilant, and in her debility suf
rerred but little pain. Her left arm was SO
manglcd at the shoulder the physician took il
away and passed it from the bed under the cloth.
log in such manucr that she did not know that
she had lost an arm. Efforts were then made
to remove the clothing from the right arm, which
was crushed aud distorted st as not TO have any
sembance Of an arm. Feelinga twinge of pain
she raised her head and for the first time dis
covered that she was armess. Looking an in.
slant at her armless shouldcr-the arm gone
sha turned her head and saw the shapeess right
arm, and supposing that too must soon be taken
from her, she looked up anXous'y and with al
expression Of great regret and in a most piteous
voice exclaimed "Oh, ma how cSn ! carry
pa his dinner n01O ?"
We are now achrymose, in the main, we have
little follow feeling for those who are ever pump.
ing for cur tears, nor do we syGpahize deeply
with those whose fountains of grief are so shall
low that their tears ripple over the lid witt
every gush Of sorrow ; but we envy not the
sroca soul that could Withstand such proyoca
ton uGmoved.
1t has been our lot many times to witness
| these scenes Of innocent suffering, and they al
ways awaken thoughts and inquiries which VT
can scarcely answer ; but we remember none
more affecting than the one Just related The
ihii IN 4iEuiG Vi lHC I'liIt IuUOCtUt SNECEcI
her calmnesS and patience thehought that il
had been her chief delight from dny to day, Il
have the hour arrive when she could ''carry p,
his dinner" her regret, expressed in both TOOL
and word, she could never 90 on that pleasant
errand again; these, coupled with the though
that she had not long to live, made up case
which was peculiarly affecting.
Sho never carried pa his dinner more Sht
fingered little, still filled with this, to her, all
absorbing r,grst AID passed away--went 20 tia
,aad where tic weary rest. nor 10 thcy hunGc
more: where children have hem invited to 4
and where they play by the way-side uumovS'
cd aud it may be 'ancy, hut We sill love t
believe ibat her delight is still TO aring food t.
her parents from that cmbrosial bad % whcl
she has gone, food which is better aud NOR
needed than the pvrishing meats which She 81
delighted 70 carry here. - Saa3usiy Register