The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-08-27
A MOTHERS TRIAL.
BY MRS. HARRIET K FRANCIS.

He has sinking turn! Oh, dear,
won't the doctor never comet" exclaimed
the nurse, with white lips, as she tried to
force little brandy through the closed
mouth, and unfastened the light night
dress to feel for a faint pulsing of his
heart.
could not then see him die, my pret-
ty, pretty baby! And so l turned away,
and sought for darkness and God.
"If it is Thy will, spare my child, my
precious child! But Thy will, not mine,
be donep 1 cried, again and again,
amid choking sobs and tears.
"If you will take upon yourself tie
guardianship and responsibility of all the
future life of your babe, Independent Of
Gods fore-knowedge, he will be spared" f"
was the temptation.
"Thy will, not mine, be done, Heaven
ly Father, for Thou seest all the future p
l 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 lisping voice, just learning to
say papa 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 will, not mine, be done," came
moaning quickly back, as if human love
was overpowering faith, aud soon there
would be no strength to say it.
The kind physician looked up sadly as
l entered the room. / knew it all; there
was no hope, and sat down by the nurse
and reached my arms for my baby. She
laid him upon them, and I smoothed
back the bright golden ringlets that had
won for him the pet name of Sunshine"
and laid his little hand once more upon
my neck. His eyes were closed, and the
long eyelsshes rested upon his cheek like
delicate pencillings, and my tears fell fast
upon them as l leaned over him. The
drops aroused him, and he looked up
and said, Mamma" "Mamma." A
faint, wan smile crept around his lips, a
glance of love welled into his clear, bright
eyes, and then a spasm Of pain, sink
ing of the pulse, and it was all over, and
had baby no more 10 die, in heaven
The branches of the maple creaked and
moaned against the house, and the wind
ratified the easement and sung dirges up
the broad staircase, and l buried my head
in the pillows all the long dreary night,
and sobbed-"Thy will, o Father! help
me say Thy will be donep l wanted my
baby in my arms, TO bend down caress-
ingly and whisper, "Darling," Darling
and kiss his cheek, and feel his soft fin.
gers clasping mine, and his warm breath
ing 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 paror, and the hands and feet, lily
white, iced stiff by the River of Death
Morning came at last, and the sun
beams peeped into the window, and the
canary sung his blithest song, and the lit
tie children in the lane beyond the bridge
shouted and played as merry as if there
was no dying in the world, and it all
came mockingly to my aching heart
1 wanted to get away, and l opened the
darkened parlor aud 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 seemed Ia
flow as gently as ever under the clear
skin, and pleasant surprised smile dim