The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-05-13

them lying here at home, while they pla,
out among the grass and flowers where h,
can never be-
"What else, Jamie?" and the listener
face grew softer as the cheerful voice wen
on.
81 have my bird, sir, and my roses,
have bucks, and best Of all, l have tn,
cross on the old church tower. I can Sc,
it from my pillow and it shines there al
day long, SO bright and beautiful, Will,
the white doves coo upon the roof below
love it dearly"
The young man looked out through tht
narrow window and saw, rising high abov,
the house-tops, like finger pointing
heavcnward, the old gray tower aud The
cleaning cross. The city's din was fal
below, and through the summer air the
faint coo of the doves and the hutter O.
their wings came down, like peaceful coun
try sounds.
"Why doyoulovc it, Jamie?" he asked
looking at the thoughtful face that lit ur
eagerly as the boy replied
"Because it does me so much good, sir
Bess told me long ago about the blessed Je
sus who bore so much forus, and | longedtc
be as like him as little child could grow
30 when my pain was very SHARP, look.
cd up there, aud thinking of the things he
suffered, tried so hard to bear it that often
could !; but sometimes when it was too bad
instead of fretting Bess, I'd cry softly
looking up there all the time ond asking
Him to help me be patieut child. ]
think he did; and now it seems so like O
friend to me love it better every day.
watch the sun climb up along the roofs in
the morning, creeping higher and higher
till it shines upon the cross and turns il
into gold. Then through the day l watch
the sunshine fade away till all the red goes
from the sky, and for little while I can
not see it through the dark /; but the moon
comes, and I love it better then; for ly
Ing awake through the long nights, sec
the cross so high and bright with stars al
shining round it, feel still and happy in
my heart as when Bess sings to mo in the
twilight"
"But when there is no moon, or clouds
hide it from you, what then, Jamie ?"-
asked the young man, wondering if there
were no cloud to darken the cheerful
child's content.
81 wait till it is clear again, and feel
that it is there, although l cannot see it,
sir. Hope it never will be taken down,
for the light upon the cross seems like that
l see in dear Bcssie's eyes when she holds
me il her arms and calls me her patient
Jamie. She never knows try to bear
my troubles for her sake, as she bears
hunger and. cold for niue. So you see,
sir, how many things have to make me a
happy child"
81 would gladly lie down on your pillow
to be half as light of heart as you are, lit
tie Jamie, for l have lost my faith in eve
rything and with it all my happiness )"
and the heavy shadow which had lifted
for while fell back darker than before
upon the anxious face beside the bed.
"If l were well and strong like you, sir,
I think l should be so thankful nothing
could trouble me )" and with sigh the
boy glanced at the vigorous frame and en-
ergetic counteuance of his new friend,
wondering at the respondent look he
wore.
off you we're poor, so poor you had no
meas wherewith to get a crust of bread,
nor shelter for the night; if you were
worn out with suffering and labor, soured
by disappointment and haunted by am
bilious hopes never to be realized, what
would you do, Jamie ?" suddenly asked
the young man, prompted by the desire
THAT every human heart has felt for sym
pathy and counsel, even from the little
creature before him, ignorant and inexpe-
rienced as he was.
But the child, wiser in his innocence
than many au older counsellor, pointed
upward, saying with q look of perfect
trust,-
Il should look up to the cross upon the
tower and think of what Dess told me
about God, who feeds the birds aud
clothes the flowers, and l should wait pa
t;ently, feeling sure He would remember
me-"
With an altered feeling in his heart,
and brave smile on his lips, the young
man went away, leaving the child with
another happy memory, to watch the cross
upon the old church tower--From a sto
'y By .Kiss L. III. AIcoh.
~