Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1863-04-09
sYeS mamma

good girl, and, Jenny, pray, often for
your father. .s ... ....,aa
DO you think God cares anything
about me, mammal
YES, my child, for did not Christ say,
Suffer little children, and forbid tLem
not, to come unto me, for Of such is the
kingdom of Heaven?
.Oh, am go glad; and I'm going to
ask him to take me away with you
@ that he would, my child; then |
could die happy, for in this life | see no.
thing awaiting you but misery, te:npta-
tion, and shame
And it would be SO nice to meet faith
er up there too .- 1.-
The chill blast came in through the
| chinks in the wall, and the child began
to shiver.
Il feel 20 cold, mamma; why don't
father come with the wood?' ..,
Creep closer to me. my child. Clasp
your arms around my neck and pillow
your head on my bosom. Now one long
last kiss! Farewell, and mag God watch
DER and protect you, my loved one
TIE candle flickered DINNER and dim
mer, and gauut shadows crept up pear
er and nearer. At intervals the red
town clock solemn knell tolled the hour
The chill blast swept around the house
whirling the snow in eddys, and came
through the chinks in the walls with a
plaintive lament, as if for some lost spi-
rt The sncw drifted through the chinks
and fell in little heaps upon the floor and
bed. Wilder, wilder blew the storm;
colder, colder grew the room, but it dis
turbed not mother or child. They were
at rest, and needed not the dreary moan
of the wintry blast.
The light of morning slowly broke,
the whistliDg wind died away. and
even the sun ventured to peep forth for
Il moment to throw cherry ray through
the little attic window upon the sleepcrs
Footsteps slowly laborcd up the stairs;
the door was thrown open and several
men carrying u litter staggered into the
room. Upon the litter lay the husband
aud father. He had been stabbed during
the night in drunken affray, and in a
few short moments he would be sum.
moncd into the presence of his king
and master.
The slcepcrs had not yet awakened,
and the men were about to arouse them,
but they fingered moment to look up-
on the picture they presented. The
child's head was pilowed upon the breast
of the mother, and the soft golden hair
flowed in waving ringlcts over the snowy
neck. One little arm was caressingly
thrown over the mothers neck, while
the roscy lips were parted, and the ga
zcrs almost imagined they heard her lisp
that dear name, mother. The face of
mother and child were illumined with a
bright smile One of the men stepped
forward and laid his hand upon them.
but he Immediately uttered cry of
alarm as he touched their icy FORMS :
They were dead God had heard their
prayer. and in his infinite mercy, had
taken them away to his home, where
drunkards are not found, and sorrow is
not known
o that we had an inspired pen to pic
turc forth the agony, the rcmorsc of the
now repentant husband and father o
that We had pen of fire to trace his
thoughts, lis feelings, into the heart of
every one who puts the poisoned chalice
to his lips.
The dying man fingered long enough
to murmur prayer to his maker, a nd
earnestly bcseeched his companions to
abandon the bar-room, and spurn the in
toxicating cup, and then his spirit wing
ed it's way from earth to meet his loved
ones at the bar of God, and there ans
wer for the deeds done in the ody.