Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-10-11
Birdie in the Home Nest.

and lifted her soft brown eyes to her
mothers face.
Have you not forgotten some
one p
A shade Of thought fell over the
chiIdS cOuntenance, as her mother, al
most a child herself, gravely repeated
the question.
Who, mamma 2" she asked; then,
before her mother could reply, she
said, Oh, yes, | did forget" and
dropping on her knees, clasped her
dimpIed hands, and with shut eyes
and face upturned, spoke these words
to our Father in heaven:
" Bless dear papa, and make him
good and happy"
As the gentle young mother kissed
her darling, she shut her eyelids
tightly, to keep the tears from fall
ing 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 a steady voice, for her
heart was moved by some strong feel
ings that she wished to hide.
l won't again. answered the
child and then added, 4" 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
home-won't 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.
"Oh, mother dear p the little one
exclaimed, throwing her arms about
her mothers neck, "what makes you
cry? Is it because | forgot papa in
my prayers? On, I'll never forget
him again. | can't tell what made
me-
For a little while arms were clasp
ed tightly around the child, and her
head held closely against her moth
er's breast. Then good-nights were
said, and goodnight kisses were ex-
changed. Soon after, the only sound
heard in the room was the soft breath
ing Of a child asleep.
For over an hour the young moth
/ er sat in the still chamber alone with
her little one. Then she went to an
adjoining room, and sat by an open
window, listening to the footsteps
that came and went along the pave
ment, 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, re-
turning to the room where her child
slept, she undre8sed hersel l@and lying
down with an arm under the head,
and her cheek against the face Of her
little one, was soon lost in slumber
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 chiId-was
absent; and always when he was
away her heart felt lonely.
Where was 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 bedtime. instead Of giving
him her goodnight kiss? Had busi
ness 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 a room
miles away from that in which angels
watched lovingly over the sleeping
mother and child, half a dozen young
men were gathered around a table Oh
which supper had been served. They
had eaten and drank, and now sat
smoking. Walters cleared. off the
table, and brought in bottles of wine
and glasses.
More wine! Had they not beer
drinking freely at supper? Yes, toe
freely. But they who tarry long a
the wine" grow thirstier the more
they drink, until sense and reason
are too often drowned.
Let me fill your glass" said ONT
Of the company to a young man
whose clear eyes, calm mouth anC
smooth forehead gave no sighs of al
evil or depraved life. Looking a
him, and then at his companions, an,
one would have seen that he was ou
Of place, and in danger.
. "Nothing more at present, answer
ed the young man, who had alread
taken, with his supper, as much win
: as he felt it prudent to drink.
Without needing this reply, tn
one who had addressed him filled tn
young mans glass and also his own.
To birdie in the, hOme-nestE h
said, lifting his glass.
=, The young man thus challenged
raised his wine and held it betwee
his eyes and the light.
To birdie in the hOme-nest?" Al
A the tempter miscalculated the powe
o of that sentence. He meant evil t
4 the young man, but God had put thi
/, thought into his mind that he migf
a use him as an agent of good. jus
' then, birdie in the home-neSt wa
: saying, BLESS dear papa, and max
him good and happy" and God, VIII
. is ever trying TO lead his erin
rt children into right ways, heard tn
prayer, as he hears all prayers tn;
- true hearts offer up, and answered
in his own best way.