The Grand Haven news., 1865-03-29
Two Angels in a House.
BY GEORGE @. MEAD.


tinually guarded by spirits. Sometimes
it is said that good spirit takes possess
ion of us, and then we are all love and
harmony. The river of life flows smooth
ly on with scarcely ripple on its surface.
The winds are hushed as if in sleep; the
sky is cloudless; the world has joys
But the sun does not always shine, nei-
ther is the human heart always gay and
happy. The bad spirit comes and brings
with it darkness. Thorns spring up in
our paths. The heavens are robed in the
blackness Of night. Life is boisterous.--
There is little real happiness as we saun-
ter down the road to Eternity. So much
for our preface, and now for our story.
Agnes Forrest was what the world
called proud and saucy. Her parents
were wealthy, and all The luxuries of
modern wealth and refinement were be-
slowed upon her. But she was cold
-selfsh--wrapped up in her
dreams and localities, she was a world
within herself. The orphans cry and the
widows wall were as Orpheus making
music to the barren rocks. Neither SYM
pathy nor affection controlled her. She
was an isolated woman, neither loved nor
beloved. That is, there was no kindling
ray of sympathy linking her heart, her
destinies with that of another. The mag
ic impulses of love had never softened
her heart, yet she had her loves, but they
were cold aud selfish. Her dreams idol
ICED, gay bonnets and silk dresses. She
was cnraptured at the beauties of art, but
thought nature vulgar and detestable.-
For Agnes to have cheek tinted like
roses, or form developed in the round
richness of nature, was horrible. To be
wasp, not only in shape, but in temper,
was her highest ambition. There was
never any sunshine in the house while Ag-
ncs was there. II seemed as if the cur
tains were always down and the blinds al
ways shut. 1t was winter all the year
round. The kind parents of the naughty
girl-their only daughter-never thought
Of teaching Agnes how much more bright
and beautiful the world looks when ono
has kind and cheerful spirit. Agnes
was a pet, and consequently was never
corrected. The weeds grew up in her
mind aud the gardeners forgot their duty.
God, unlike poor, weak men and wo-
men, does not forget his duty. Agnes
Forrest was taken very i'll, and like the
lighinipg's fash it seemed rs if death
the cruel monster stood at the fond pa
rents door to steal their only child--their
beloved darling away. Sickness made
them grow fonder and more doting. They
looked upon the angel of their household
as the only gem on earth worth posses
ing. Unpolished as that gem was with
out politeuess, selfish as was that gem
without the first impulse Of charity, yet
to them it was treasure. Those whom
we love dearly have no faults. We i'm
agine them perfect. So did the parents
of Agues. They looked upon her as saint
" perfection-as spotless as angels in
heaven.
While the dreary days and nights Of
feverish sickness were passing, Agnes For
rest was being purified and FURNISHED
brightly. Her Heavenly Father had put
her in the furnace and the dross was melt
ing away. The cbaf was blowing of
while the golden grain remained. The
selfshness and the false love that had pre-
viously controlled her were now Of no
avail. She began TO look for love, for
sympathy, for something to buoy her up
IN her aflliction. She was a changed girl
life was not then to her as summer to
butterfly. That day had passed. AS
she lay for weeks prostrated with burn
ing fever, she found what it was TO have
kindly hand placed upon her brow, and
to have words Of cheer and sympathy