Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-10-30

her from the very grasp of death.
But it was all in vain. Little Mary
had indeed heard her Savior's call. Up
in heaven there was a seat ready for her
coming, and harp and crown which
His dear blood had bought, and at the
gate of the city troops of angels waited
to welcome her home.
1t was a sad scene; the father bending
despairingly oyer the dying child; weep
ing johnny clinging still to her hand !;
the mother resting her hand on the hot
forehead; Mrs. Grant standing at the
bed-ioot.
A few minutes passed, then, looking
about Oh the little group, Mary whisper
ed, Kiss me again, mamma, and you,
too, pa .a-good-by, Johnny, and in an
other moment her head fell back, her
hands dropped at her side, and Mary
Wilson was dead.
Shall | tell you how that night her fa-
ther sat by the corpse, dressed by Mrs.
Grant in pure white how Johnny stole
in now and then to kiss the cold lips
how the mother, kneeling, the next NOR
ming, with both father and son, prayed
that their present loss might prove an
everlasting gain? Two days after they
laid her in grave in the village church !
yard, and for the first time in many
months, Tom Wilson walked to and fro
along the streets a sober man. The touch |
of little Johnny's hand as he led him
home from the tavern had proved stron>
ger than old temptations the last look Of
little Mary's eyes was dearer than any
gleam of the cup that intoxicates.'
A week after the villagers passing
John Wilson's house saw him busily at
work within; the tavern loungers no
longer found him in their midst. God
had called him through Mary's death to
4 better life and he was trying to walk |
irmly in the right way, fighting tempta-
ion with bitter energy, but always, by
Gods help coming off victorious.
Ten years have passed away; and
passing that way l have seen once more
John Wilson's home. 1t is a pleasant
and happy home now, as it was in the
beginning, back in the golden years when
irst be came into it. A garden has been
aid out behind it, and it is crowded full
If flowers but there is one rosebush
With white railing round it, which
seems to be more terderly cared for than
my other. As we look at 1t, we see it
flushing all over with crimson hues. 1t
$ MARY's R0sEBUsH, and Tom Wilson
himself waters and guards it-'for,' he
avs, i want to be able TO tell Mary, when
go to meet her up yonder, that her
owers are all blooming again, making
and beautiful the place where
er own little hands once nursed their ]
title stalks, and the home whence God
ook her to HIMSELF
Under the windows of Thomas Will
on's home we see a manly little fellow
f ten years or more, trimming tender -.
inc.
Can you tell me- we ask, where we +
an find John Wilson,? =
He is at - College, sir the boy r
nswers Il am his brother Robert
Father has gone to court, for be is a =
ldge now, sir; mother is at Mrs. \
Irants; but if you are friend of Johns =
would like you to come in. We are :,
cry proud of John, sir, and love to have
is friends call and see US =
We stop awhile and talk with the lad, !
Ie tells US how his father is respected :,
nd trusted, how John by industry and
ppication fitted himself for college, how
e has already won high honOrs, how be
xpects one Of these days to practice law ,
/ the same town where Harry Grant ?
as been called to preach, how-well, it
ould take more time than ! can spare to 9
arrate Robby's story in full, or even one :;
alf Of all he said. !,
We pass on to the graveyard; here, :.
ith a rosebush standing over it, is lit :
e grave, with this inscription on the !,
sadstone: MARY Wilson; from a sad =;
lildhood God took her to a joyous eter- ;,
ty.' -
There, with the sun shining through
e trees on her grave, we will leave
larry Wilson. Life to her was not what %
may be dear children, to many of you of
1t short and sad as it was, it planted an fl
1uence which bore richest fruit in other ed
res. Happy will you be, if when ny
hrist comes and stands at the door of e.
,ur heart, you do not hesitate to let him m
Happy, too, if when death comes,
u can say confidently to those around,