The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-09-27
Birdie in the Home Nest.

The child had risen from her knees,
md lifted her soft brown eyes to her
mothers face.
Have you not forgotten some
one ?"
A shade of thought fell over the
chlld's countenance, as her mother, al
most a child herself, gravely repeated
the question
"Who, mamma ?" she asked; then,
before her mother could reply, she
said, ooh, yes, did forget, and drop
ping on her knees, casped her diinpled
hands, and with shut eyes and face
upturned, spoke these words to our
Father in heaven;
BLESS dear papa, and make him
good aud happy"
As the gentle young mother kissed
her darling, she shut ber eyelids tight
~, to keep the tears from falling over
her cheeks
"You must never forget dear papa"
said the mother. 1t was only by an
effort that she was able to speak with
Il steady voice, for her heart was moved
10y some strong feelings that she wish
ed TO hide
81 won't again, answered the child,
and then added, 81 don't know what
made me forget. always do pray for
him Oh. | wish he were here to kiss
me before | 90 to sleep. Tell him to
kiss me when he comes homework
you, mamma? May be I'll know it in
my dreams
The mothers shut lids would hold
the tears no longer. Large round
drops fell on the child's forehead
ooh mother dear !" the little one
exclaimed, throwing her arms about
her mothers neck, "what makes you
cry? Is it because l forgot papa in
my prayers Oh, III never forget
him again. | can't tell what made
me.
For a little while arms were clasped
tightly around the child and her head
held closely against her mothers
breast Then good-nights were said,
and goodnight kisses were exchanged.
Soon after, the only sound heard in
the room was'the soft breathing Of a
child asleep.
For over an hour the young mother
sat in the still chamber alone with her
little one Then she went to an ad-
joining room, and sat by an open win
dow, listening to the footsteps that
came and went along the pavement,
never catching the sound for which
her quick ears hearkened. Often she
sighed; but she spoke no words of
WEAKNESS or complaint.
Another hour passed, when, return
ing to the room where her child slept,
she undressed herself, ard lying down
with an arm under the head, and her
cheek against the face of her little one,
was soon lost in slGmber.
All was not right with the young
mother. Such tears as she held so
closely beneath her shut lids, that they
might not fall, are not tears OF Joy.
One loved by her, oh, SO tenderly
the father of her sweet child-was
absent; and always when he was away
her heart felt lonely.
Where WIS he? What held him
away from his wife and little one, now
that the day was over? Why did the
darling of his heart pray for him at
bed time, Instead Of giving him her
goodnight kiss Had business taken
him TO another city? Was he absent
at the call of duty? All, if we could
answer, yes But we cannot.
Across the great city, IN room
miles away from that in which angels
watched lovingly over the sleeping
mother and child, half dozen young
men were gathered around table on
. which supper had been served They
! had eaten and drank, and now sat
smoking. Walters cleared off the la
bic, and brought in bottles of wine,
> and glasses.
More winel Had they not been
: drinking freely at supper? Yes, too
+ freely. But they who "tarry long at
, the wine" grow thirstier the more they
drink, until sense and reason are too
often drowned.
Let me fill your glass, said one OF
t1e company to a young man, whose
! clear ewes, calm mouth and smooth
forehead gave no signs of an evil OF
: deprayed life Looking at him, and
then at his companions, any one would
have seen that he was out of place
and in danger
Nothing more at present, answer
!, ed the young man, who had already
taken, with his supper, as much wine
' rs be felt it prudent to drink.
Without needing this reply, the one
who had addressed him filed the
7 Young mans glass and also his own.
. 10 birdie in the home-nest + he
said, lifting his glass
! The young man thus challenged
Il raised his wine and held 1t between
h, his ewes and the light.
. "To birdie in the homenest p All
: the tempter miscalculated the power
= of that sentence. He meant evil tc
Q the Young man, but God had put this
thought into his mind that he might
use him as an agent of good. Jus'
then. birdie in the home-nest was say
ing. "Bless dear papa, and make HIN
GOOD and happy" and God, who Is
over trying to lead his erring children
into right ways, heard the prayer a.
bo.rs oil nravers that true hearts