The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1864-12-24
fer the gaas folks.
HOW A LITTLE GIRL DIED.

airy entered a dingy looking house in
a courtin his district, CROPPED his way
up dark staircase, and knocked at
the door of the front room. 1t was
opened by woman who seemed to
be under the influence ofstrong drink
When q tract was offered to her,
she uttered an oath, and said:
81 want bread, no. tracts"
The missionary told her about the
true Bread that came down from
heaven. While he was speaking,
the woman opened tho door. a little
wider, which served to show him that
The room was the abode of filth and
poverty. The floor and windows
looked as though they had never been
cleaned. There was scarcely any.
fire in the crate, but a heap Of ashes
underneath. Tho furniture consist
ed of three old chairs, a table and
bed and he met the earnest gaze Of
a little girl, whose flushed check and
glistening eyes plainly showed that
disease had marked her as a prey.
"Is your child i'll r he asked.
"Yes,' said the mother; she is on.
" twelve years old, and they say
she has the consumption. She is 60
ing fast. You may talk to her if you
like. l must 60 out"
The missionary went up to the bed,
took hold Of the. hand Of the little
girl, and said:
"You seem to be very i'll. Are
you in pain p
81 am sometimes, SIR she replied,
"but when pray to Jesus, | do not
feel it,"
"Who taught you 10 pray!' asked
the missionary, surprised TO find one
of the Savior's lambs in such place.
my Sabbath School teacher she
q, replied and then in her own simple
way, told the visitor that another
little girl had taken her about two
years before with her to the Sabbst tn
school; that there she learned to read
tho Bible and pray to Jesus. "But,
oh, SIR she added, as the tears start
ed from her eyes, "my father and
mother are so wicked They get
drunk and swear. and make me SO
unhappy. Do pray for them, sir.''
"Yes, we will both pray for them.
for God hears prayers. and He can
break the rocky heart"
He then knelt beside her bed, and
breathed the earnest desire OF their
hearts to God. When prayer was
ended, she took from under The bun
die of rags which formed her pillow,
a small hymn book, and read sever.
al of the pleasing verses, that were
cheering the dark pathway through
which she was passing 10 glory.
Two days after, the missionary a.
gain went up the staircase. His heart
was happy, for he felt that one Of
his Masters little ones was there
The door was opened by the mother
in whose face he saw the sad lool
of grief; the window was darkened
but sufficient light remained 10 show
a small elm coffin, which was placed
in one corner of the room, partly
covered by sheet.
"What, and is she dead :" ihquir
ed the missionary with surprise.
"Yes,' said the mother, she dice
in the night after you were here.
wassitting by the fire, when she ask
ed me to listen TO hymn she wa
often reading:
Come. Vt - Join our cheerful song
VIII angels round the THRONE
Her cough prevented her from fin
ishing the hymn. She laid down up
on her bed, and about an hour after
she died like a lamb"
While the mother was speaking
the father came in. The missionar,
told them about their child's conce:,
for their salvation, and asked then
if they intended to follow her Il
heaven. The appeal made them sol
bitterly, and they knelt while praye
was offered up in their behalf.
The following Sabbath her bod.
was laid in the grave. Her teache
and twenty scholars from the Sab
bath school followed with tho mourn
ers; and when the clergyman ha'
finished the burial service. they sum
the HYMN which ushered her spiri
into the presence Of her Savior:
"Cems, let us Join our cheerful song
WIN angels round the throne"
NV dear young readers, perhaP
YOU have more blessings than hi
little girl had. You have kind pa
rents, who want TO lead you to Je
sus, and 10 see you happy in him :
Your heavenly Father has given yo
comfortable h ,me, and great ma
nv things to make you happy. Blu
do you love Jesus! Do You, like thi
little girl, delight in praying TO him
Will you seek TO meet her in heav