Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-03-18
The Cross on the Church Tower
BY MISS l.. NJ. ALCOTT.

Up the dark stairs that led to his poor
home strobe gloomy faced young man,
with dispair in his heart and these words
on his lips:
Il will struggle and suffer no longer ;
my last hope has failed, and life, became
burden, will rid myself Of at once
As be muttered his stern purpose, he
flung wide the door and was about to en-
ter, but paused upon the threshold for
q glance told him that he had uncon-
sciousIy passed his own apartment and
come up higher, till he found himself in
a room poorer but more cheerful than
his own.
Sunshine streamed in through the one
small window, where Gagged bird was
blithely singing, and few flowers bios
somed in the light. But blither than
the birds song, sweeter than the flowers,
was the little voice and wan face of
child, who lay upon bed where the
warmest sunbeams fell.
The face turned smiling on the pillow,
and the voice said pleasantly
Come in, sir, Bess will soon be back
if you will wait
Il want nothing Of Bess. Who is she
and who are you?' asked the intruder,
pausing as he was about to go.
She is my sister, sir, and I'm poor
Jamie, as they call me. But indeed, l
am not to be pitied, for am happy
child, though it may not seem so.'
why do you lie there? are you sick ?
No, am not sick, though ! shall new
er leave my bed again. See, this is
Why's; and, folding back the covering the
child showed his little withered limbs.
'How long have you lain here, my
poor boy !" asked the stranger, touched
and interested in spite of himself.
Three years, SIR
And yet you are happy! What in
Heavens name have you to render yon
contented, child?'
Come sit beside me, and Ill tell you,
sir that is, if you please should like
to talk with you, for it's lonely here when
Bess is gone
Something in the child's winning voice,
and the influence Of the cheerful room,
calmed the young mars troubled spirit
and seemed to tighten his despair. He
sat down at the bedside, looking gloomily |
at the child, who lay smiling placidIy as
with skillful hands he carved small fig
ures from the bits of wood scattered
round him on the coverld.
What have you to make you happy,
Jamie Tell me your secret, for ! need
the knowledge very much said his new
friend earnestly.
First of all have dear Bess,' and the
child's voice fingered lovingly upon the
name she is so good, so very good to
me, no one can tell how much we love |
each other. All day, she sits beside my
bed singing to ease my pain, or reading
while l work she gives me flowers and
birds, and all the sunshine that comes in
to US, and sits there in the shadow that
may be warm and glad. She waits on
me all day but when wake at night,
always see her sewing busily, and know
it is for me-my good kind Bess p
Then l have my work, sir, TO amuse
me; and it helps little too, for kind
children always buy my toys, when Bess
tells them of the little boy who carved
them lying here at home while they play
out among the grass and flowers where
he can never be-
What else, Jamie p and the listeners
face grew softer as the cheerful voice
went on.
Il have my bird, sir, and my roses,
have books. and best Of all, have the
cross on the old church tower. can see
it from my pillow and it shines there all
day long, so bright and beautiful, while
the white doves COO upon the roof below.
/ love it dearly
The young man looked out through the
narrow window and saw, rising high
above the house tops, like finger point
ing heavenward, the old gray tower and
the cleaning cross. The city's din was
far below, and through the summer air ,
the faint coo of the doves and the futter
of their wings came down, like peaceful {
country sounds.
why do you love it, Jamie 2 be ask
ed, looking at the thoughtful face that lit
up eagerly as the boy replied
Because it does me so much good, sir.
Bess told me long ago about the blessed !
Jesus who bore SO much for us, aud l {
longed to be as like him as little child {
could grow. So when my pain was very ,
sharp, looked up there, and, thinking of /
the things he suffered, tried so hard to 9
bear it that often could but sometimes ]