The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-30

manger on this night, for strength and
succOr."
"And John Lowly and his gentle wife
knelt down and prayed.
Judge Percival starts from his sleep.
What horrid dream is this he has had.
His night light burns on the table, he
snatches it up and rushes to the cot
wherein bis child sleeps. Yes, sleeps the
sleep that knows no waking, for Judge
Percival is gazing on his dead son. Not
long does he gaze, for with heavy groan
he falls to the ground. His fall awakens
the servant, who sleeps in an adjoining
room. The doctors are sent for. What
is it,-paralasis, -conjestion of the brain,
from the shock of finding his child dead.
No matter, it is fatal; nor will Judge
Percival ever be able to explain any of the
circumstances of this tragedy, for the doc
tors say that his mind is effected, and he
continually mutters, while life remains.
"Ah, refused-refused admittance to
an angel.
John Lowly, dreams this night too.
Suddenly he awakes. A bright soft light
fills the room.
"Mary," he says to bis wife, 81 have
had a strange, beautiful dream"
"And l too, John. Oh John dear,
what means this light ?''
John Lowly arose, and with trembling
limbs approached the poor bed where his
son and the pauper child slept. Suddenly
he fell upon his knees. In the arms of
his child nestled a bird, whose plumage
belonged not to earth. John LowlylstoOp-
ed his head and his lips moved in prayer
As he did so, the bird flew from the arms
of the sleeing child, fluttered for mo-
ment over the head of the kneeling man,
and then vanished. Gradually the light
died away, ana John Lowly knew that he
had entertained an Angel.
x
Next morning an impatient knocking
was heard at the door of Johns room, and
a voice exclaimed
"HillO; will you open your door.
have nearly broken my legs coming up
these ricketty stairs, and lost half an hour
in trying to find you OUT
John opened the door.
Here is letter for you, if your name
is Lowly," said postlnan.
1t was from a country attorney, announc-
inc that an uncle of Mary's had died, and
left, by will to her and her husband his
farm, stock and ready money; quite a
snug property. And John and his wife
and the children soon left the noisy city
behind them, and went far down into the
country to live among the green fields of
their youth.
Before leaving London, they paid fare
we'll visits to all their poor friends. It was
very pleasant to witness the mysterious
way they did little parting acts of kind
ness. At one time John would remember
"that he had commission to give to his
friend that he did not wish Mary or his
friends wife to know anything about-and
John looked frightfully knowing-so he
and his friend should walk out for little
while, together"
Mary, too, all of sudden, would have
her mind set on exploring some unknown
corner of her friends house, and her friend
must show it to her, leaving John mean
while to mind the baby. Presently the
women would return with flushed faces and
wet cheeks. Brother Stiggins would have
said that they had been drinking. So
they had; drinking from the fountain of
the heart, its purest nectar, and the prodi-
gal spring had overhowed and sprinkled
thus their faces.
After one of those visits, as John and
his wife were returning through Hyde
Park, they stopped for time on one of
the sidewalks in Rotten Row." looking
at the different carriages and their occu-
pants as they passed by.
"Well, Mary" said John, do not see
so happy face as your own amongst
them
Mary smiled sweetly as she replied, in
soft, subdued voice,
"Ah, John, which Of them has had an
angel to visit them ?''
''You are right, Mary" said John, "you
are always right
But Mary was not right this time. We
all have angels visits. The promptings
we feel to succor the poor-to do good
and noble actions-to forgive ofences-to
speak gentle words to the erring and un-
fortunate all the good and kindly
thoughts which come to us, are angels
visits
May We not reject them, as Judge Per-
cival, but hold them to our hearts, like
oOOd John OWly