The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-02-07
little Mamie VIM

/ Some ten years ago We were sitting by
| brisk pine FIRE in our humble sanctum, of
! Sundays eve, when servant entered, lead
| ing beautiful child Of some six or sevel
| summers. quite neatly and jauntily dressed
| as ia most appropriate for these buds Q
| creation. Our attention was immediatel
attracted to thelovely creature. holding il
her hand magnificent boquet, which, a
| that late period Of the season, seemed to u
| curiosity indeed, Never had we seen
| more perfect gem from Natures mine thar
| this emanation ola deep. mysterious hand
| craft. The flowers n her tiny hand wer'
reflected upon her fair. round cheek AM
fnery- formed forehead. her eye was Of tina
dazzling brillancy that belongs to healthy
childhood, and her movements soft ant
elastic as fawns in the spring-time of
Southern cline.
Blushing. but with the confidence Of in
nocence and truth, the little creature ad
vanced and presented US with her rich gift
uttering few Mandatory words that found
their way with the quickness ofthe electric
fluid to the chamber Of the heart. She
thanked us for some lines dedicated to the
memory of her father, hastily thrown off in
| the hurry Of the moment at the solicitation
of worthy friend of the honored deceased
and left us to most pleasurable emotions
| and reflections tinged with the rainbow
| hues Of imagination.
1t is q principle of our nature land re.
deeming principle, we may say-to love
children for, considered in any light, they
present the only evidence we have Of that
perfectability which we are told is reserved
for human destiny. They are flowers with
| a shade too circumscribed for the coil OF
the Serpent Of Evil; they are the diamonds
Of truth that blazon the dark pathways OF
Sin and Sorrow as TIE stars relieve an inky
sky; and W. confess to feeling for them.
up to certain age, which is intense, afford
ing US the most valued pleasure we can OBJ
tain in weary pilgrimage We would,
indeed, at any time, give up any society
for the qualification Of converse with a
child whose mind was just developing the
occult designs Of Gods decree so pure,
fresh, suggestive and pleasing-that we
wonder not at the beautiful admonition Of
the Savior of man" suffer little children
to come unto me, for of such is the king
dom of heaven We know not whether
the quotation be correct, for, we say it in
sorrow, our knowledge Of sacred writings is
most limited, indeed. ,,flt
Years passed away, and we saw our lit
tie protege frequently. She had mind
ofrare power, quick perceptions, and that
versatility of intellect which we do not re
gard as fortunate in its possessor, although
it is attractive and nightly priced. She was
a healthy. beauteous, plant. full of promise.
In the whirl of a thousand cares and troub
les we partially lost sight Other for con-
siderable time, and when our attention was
again called to our pet Little Mamie we
had the modification oflearning and d 8,
covering that the t,rieht intellect of child
hood had paled its fires at the command of
Disease The insidious worm had entered
the ripening fruit upon the tree and worked
its way to the rich core. Her mind. once
80 vivacious and winning, was in the dark
gloom of insanity. We turned away from
the wreck as the mariner does from his
ocean bride, favorite barque, going down
to the coral caverns of the deep. and offered
up a prayer in our heart that if it were i'm
possible to reinstate her health--tO restore
the brightness of the jewel might soon
be called by the Almighty to join the i'm,
maculate creatures who pace the realms by
seraphs trod and constitute the ornaments
Of Paradise. a4
A few days ago, in q far distant portion
of the Parish, and in the turmoil of politi
cal strife, we learned that the stricken SUI.
ferer was summoned home. Our fayorite
Little Mamie" had breathed her last
fhe tidings We're qaite acceptable, although
they disturbed for moment the almost
CONCEALED and sealed waters of the soul.
and filed the eyes Of oae albeit unused
to the melting mood Wewere thankful
that Omnipotence had INTERVIEWED. and that
dethroned Reason had closed her last &C
count. The blighted flower was placed be-.
side its parents to know that blossoming
that passeth not away when the earth and
all things thereon shall be covered with the
pail Of et,rlal gloom.
Goodbye, little friend-meek, gentle,
suffering Mamie. There was poison in the
cup of life for thse-ao flowers. but tforns
upon thy miniature path-aternal thorns.
The oracles Of Fate proclaimed that Earth
should be thy best mother, and she has
thee now in her cold embrace. The seal of
Eternity issupon the past, but the future is
before thee, poor peterel upon an unkn ,wn
sea. and We know if Divine Revelation be
true, twill be to thee bright and beautiful
The last rose of summer has scattered its
leaves to an autumnal tomb, and the
branches of the forest. once robed in green,
wear now a livery of gold: but the reiuven-
atiny spring-time will return, and the lilies
will stand sentinel upon thy small, modest
tenement. Then we may pass by and
pause for moment on that holy hilton
Gods Acre as the old Saxon writer's forci-
bly, refer to the Republic Of the Dead--but
if we fail in this, we will command a fayo-
rite bird meath our window which appears
tobe commissioned for good, to go where the
clods of the mountain rest upon thee, and
chirp requiem soft and enchanting as the
music heard by shepherds who were watch
ing the advent of the Prince Of Peace.
Good-by, Mamie! a,ij
ma A rrmr ; nravnils that a VOL. Lnauy