The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1863-09-19
fer the gitle folk.
THE OPEN WINDOW.
Little Charlie is dead!'

1tttlS GudIue IS OedO!
| repeated the words very sadly,
and though no audible voice from
the tree-top above me had spoken
them. glanced upward TO the win
dows, which for fourteen days had
been wholly darkened; the shutters
and curtains were withdrawn at
last, and the fresh breeze and gol-
den light drifted freely in.
knew that on the couch where
Charlie had tossed and moaned,
parched with fever and smitten with
grievcus pain. there lay only an al
tered, stiffened ape,which we had
loved and pitied as, "our Charlie"
but the real being,whose gay young
life made beauty all around it, was
not there. One wiser and more pity
ing than ourselves had called the lit
tie boy and in the night he had aris-
en-. saying. 1Thy servant heareth."
and gone outward 10 walk with the
Lord.
1t was an exquisite morning in
the early autumn. Not a cloud
vailed the intense blue of the sky ,lu-
minous with depths of sunshine;and
beneath every tree purple and scar
let shadows PLAYED, while the wind.
swaying their branches, seemed to
call up tender memories, from each
warm, sturdy heart. 'Deadp ] ech-
oed the word, as, lingering by the
half open gate,I hesitated to enter it..
In the glad day, overflowing with
brilIiancy, what room was there for
80 dark a syllable!
Charlie was the child of a neigh
bor-as beautiful and winning a lit
tie spirit as ever sojourned in hu-
man 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, for.
getful ofprevious warning,,he death
of my favorite came TO me with the
sharp pang Of an unheralded woe
Regaining with an effort, degree
Of composure,l entered the house Of
mourning. The hush which severe
sickness imposes, the shadowsoi q
mystery yet to be revealed which
envelop dwelling so consecrated
were changed for dread certain.
~ of helpless grief. Charlie was
dead!
How many times during the pas
fortnight had entered that room
whose repressed signs and groan.
were familiar! With what painful
foreboding had fingered in ii.
gloom, which typi6ed too well ths
cherished hopes that here persisted
As ] crossed the threshold,I half ex
pected 10 hear the siiAed moan O
the still, weary child; but he breath
ed an air which no sickness pois
ons and the body was at rest forever
What a change had a few hour
wrought ia this apartment! Tn
soft, rich air OF the Indian summe
stole through the windows no long
er guarded, and sunshine stretche,
its golden beams upon the floor AM
walls-further, it slanted across tn
pure linen that foated above tn
sleeper,and The delicate features an
sunny hair gave somewhat of tn
glad vitality Of life. Every leaf flu
iering, every bird-note, every wills
per Of the wide world without ,spok
Of rejoicing. 81 shall go to him
said my heart responsively, and
could almost weep tears Of gladnes
that the gift of immortal youth wa
50 early granted to Charlie.
A new train OF thought passe
through my mind as, standing b.
the dead boy.l watched the play q
light and shade around the sma
couch SO long vailed in darkness.
While yet there remained the un
certainty Of life poised in the scale
Of Eternity. the turbid waters Of al
lection were stirred to blacklist az
itation with every dreaded possibi
ity. Through this oppressive a,
mosphere, every shining hope whic
centered i'm Charles existence ha
cleaned forth in sudden,stilging re
membrance-all the JOY that ha
been-ihe faith outlooking to year
Of developed manhood. Now coldl
and drearily rose instead the vision
Of scenes that were to be-the dy
ing agony; the slow, cruil formalit
Of the funeral rites; the desolat
home. "All is of Cod" but tn
struggle between natural affection
and the obedience which yield
calmly 10 His decree, is often Q
great severity.
Trembling hope and fear wsr
alike subsidized now, and in ihei
stead rose The pale cypress blossom
Of pence.
Yes, the open window, the sigma
Of sorest loss, was also the avenu