Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-05-01
5amilp Reaoins.
The Open Window.
Little Charlie is dead"

q 4 ward to the windows, which for fourteen
days had been wholly darkened shutter.
: and curtains were withdrawn at last, and
: the fresh breeze and golden light drifted
freely in. s.s fsfgs eaos >.
knew that on the couch where Charlie
had tossed and moaned, parched with fever
and smitten with grievous pain, there lay
only an altered, stiffened shape, which we
had loved and pitied as "our Charlie !" bu,
The real being, whose gay young life made
beauty all around it, was NOT there. One
wiser and more plying than ourselves had
called the little boy, and in the night he had
arisen. saying, "Thy servant heareth," and
had gone outward to walk with the Lord.
1t was an exquisite morning in the early
autumn. Not cloud veied the intense blue
of the sky. luminous with depths of sun
shine and beneath every tree purple and
scarlet shadows played, while the wind,
swaying their branches, seemed to call up
tender memories, from each warm. sturdy
heart. Deadp echoed the word as,
lingering by the halfopen gate, hesitated
to enter it. In the glad day, overhowing
with brilliancy, what room was there for SO
dark syllable?
Charlie was the child of neighbor a
beautiful and winning little spirit SIS ever So
Journed in human clay. Full of restless.
precious life the light links of existence were
fretted away by the ceaseless strain and Jar
OF the imprisoned soul. We knew that he
must leave us, but forgetful of previous
warning, the death of my favorite came to
me with the sharp pang of an unheralded
woe. Regaining with effort degree of CON-
posure, | entered the house of mourning
The hush which severe sickness imposes, |
the shadow of mystery yet 10 be revealed,
which envelope dwelling so corsecrated.
were EXCHANGED for the dread certainty af
helpless grief. Charlie was dead
How many times during the past fort
night had entered that room, whose re-
pressed sighs and groans were familiar p
With what painful foreboding had linger-
ed IN its gloom, which typified too well the
cherished hope which here perished? As
crossed the threshold, half expected TO
hear the stifed moan of the still weary
child; but he breathed an air which no
Sickness poisons, and the body was at rest
forever. What change had few hours
wrought in this apartment! The soft, rich
air OF the Indian summer stole through the {
windows no longer guarded, and the sun
shine stretched its golden beams upon the
ioor and walls-further it slanted across {
The pure linen that was folded above the I
sleeper, and to the delicate features and c
sunny hair gave somewhat Of the glad vi |
ality of life. Every leaf futtering, every {
'ird-note, every whisper of the wide world Q
Without, spoke of rejoicing. "I shall 20 to c
llm," said my heart responsively; and a
ould almost weep tears of gladness that the j
''ft of immortal youth was SO early granted d
o Charlie. n
A new train of thought passed through Ii
ny mind as, standing by the dead boy, o
'atched the play of light and shade around ST
he small couch so long yelled in darkness. b
While yet there remained the uncertainty p
life poised in the scales of Eternity, the /
lrbid waters of affection were stirred to W
lackest agitation with every dreaded pos th
oility. Through this oppressive atmos- IN
here every shining hope which had GEN. b'
red in Charlie had cleaned forth in sud- th
en-, stinging remembrance - all the joy "
lat had been; the faith ou;looking 10 years W
developed manhood. Now coIdly and ar
rearily rose instead of the visions that we're To
be-the dying agony; the slow, cruel MI
rmality of the funeral rites the desolate ce
'me. "All is of God )" but the struggle OF
'tween natural affection and the obedience Al
bich yields calmly to His decree, is often ful
great severity. VIC
Trembling hope and fear were alike sub sh'
ded now, and in their stead rose the pale the
press blossoms of peace. fo
Yes, the open window. the signal of sorest VIII
IS, was also the avenue of richest gain OF
e healing breath Of heaven, and its bap- emf
NAL light, were they not messengers to yo'
e spirit of the deepened experience at one
med only through tears? We clasp the OF
nd whose grasp is loosening with redoubled er,
rnestness. Our love cries out madly a ing
idols fade, but when, finally, removed IN
vond the reocb of human vearn;no w. no