Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1863-04-23
Hligrtlla
[From the New York Weekly.l
HELEN, THE CRIPPLE.
BY ANNA RAYMOND.

My poor, darling dove. :" and clasp
ing her babe to her wildly throbbing
heart, the mothers tears fell upon the
cherub face as she murmured, Can it
be true? No, no, it cannot, must not
be-" .... ... .....
."Nol alb ~ the fathers voice, though
firm. was full of tenderness and sympa-
thy. ''Norah, don't. gricvc so; think
how much harder it would be to bear
were the form perfect and reason dim
med. we're our child an idiot ~ .. Nil.
in the intensity of her love and sor
row she had not thought greater atfiic-
ton might have been her lot, and an
expression of thankfulncss swept over
her face as her eyes, shining with tears,
met the fond, anxious gaze of her hus-
band.
And the child Of year, W conscious
of her fate, looked wonderingly up to
the mothers sad face, then to tbs more
cheerful one of the father, stretching
out the tiny hands, and as he tossed her
to seat upon his shoulder, one fairy
hand nestled among the dark hair sha-
ding his brow, and a Joyous. infantilc
shout echoed through the room The
mothers couptcnaucc Frightened as she
looked upon the bcaming face ot her
child, and she felt that the dark cloud
oyershadOwing them had a'.ilver lining.
The little Helen was their only child.
another. buoyant aud healthy, had glad
dened their home for three years, whose
playful tones and winning ways yet lin
gored in pleasant memories but sudden
ly, with only a lew hours warning, his
weary eyelids closed dreamessly. and
guardian angels bore him to another
home and now, looking revcrcntly up
Oh his vacant place, their hearts some
times asked why he was taken? why the
blighting frosts of death had destroyed a
bud Of such rare promise But it was
only for moment thai such thoughts
found lodgment i'll their hearts, they
remembered he was an angel now, and
though the eye grew moist at mention of
his name. yet the heart no longer mug-
INJURED. ..,g, -.s I...,s. e.f .-..., la.
Helen was a cripple. She could new
er walk without clutches; so said the
eminent physician, whom they had comc
to the city to consult, looking pityingly
into her beautiful eyes, and saying, in
CHEEKY tones to the mother, r..:. o..
"Never mind, she is promising child,
and the day may come when you for
get she is lame when you will be proud
of her, and she may be all the world to
YOU" - e.f g.e l,sr, l ..a .G.,
But when the mother was alone she
wept bitterly, not on her own account,
but for her child, who was to be deprived
Of the pleasant sports incident to child
hood, and it was with o heavy heart she
returned to her home in one of our
inland towns. The little He-
len grew in beauty, and as the mother
watched the gradual unfolding of her
in tellect, her heart became more cheer
full, and she thanked Him. without whose
not sparrow falls to the
ground. that it was SO well with her
child. IN .ae.r1r gnffr lt .i9.i.i 5it .
Sometimes tears would shine in the
fair .eAild's eyes as, she saw younger
brothers and sisters running among; the
flowers, or playing upon the green lawn,
now twiuing flowers among her curls,
and anon chasing butterfly along the
rivers bank. But the pure, gentle
of her excellent mother were
not lost upon Helen, and she not only |
learned to be content, but was happy in
the enjoyment of others. d"
One by one the years went by, until
twenty simmer suns had shone upon
Helen's ife9 and she, beautiful and
good, was the one bright star of her
centre of 'attraction-the one
to whom brothers and sisters came, for,
counsel and sympathy She was all h4rl
fond parents could desire She needed
not their pityAshc was the happiest Of
all that household band, and few saw
her but TO admire her for The purity Of
her principles, her superior intellectual |
and the innate gentleness |
IF her heart. She could, With the aid |
If crutches, walk about the house and
and though she was ever wei
,ome in society, yet she seldom mingled
With the gay throng in festal scenes.
the ,companiepship. of those
who sought her within the home circle.
Among those who visited at her faith
IRIS frequently lEas Malcolm Irving.i J