Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-06-14
Lifted into the Light.
BY MRS. R. D. c. ROBBINS.

pany "A, 44th regiment, and started for
the seat of war, he left good bust
ness as first class mechanic, CON-
Portable, happy home, his wife and four
young children. At the end Of the
third year he was among the unknown
dead" His pay of course ceased
The formalities necessary to secure a
pension, together with the prices, re-
duced his family in short time to ex-
treme poverty.
In December of 1864 they had been
driven to occupy miserable garret
in one of the poorest streets in New
York, and here Eddie, the eldest son,
a lad of six years, sickened and died.
The sad event took place upon one of
the darkest, stormiest nights of the
winter, and the mother, without fire,
without light and without food,
watched his life ebb away. The more
touching, then, are the words with
which she awakened her eldest child
Ruth, when the cold, grey dawn began
to steal over the dead boy.
ruth, Ruth, did you know our lit
tie Eddie has gone into the light ?"
"Into the light !' The child start
ed from her troubled sleep to a con-
seriousness of what her mother meant.
Eddie was in heaven. And while the
thought was coming home to her, her
mother repeated in voice which had
in it almost tone of joy
"His home now is the city that has
no need of the sun, neither of the
moon, to shine in it, for the glory of
God doth tighten it, and the Lamb is
the light thereof"
Not here, then, with this dim, strug-
CLING winter light-away beyond the
clouds and the storm! Happy little
Eddie! And Ruth, rising, goes to the
bed upon which he lies, looking down
with solemn awe upon the emacia-
ted face, the sunken eye, tight shut
lips. A vague, bewildering idea she
has that it is, and yet it is not the sick,
living boy; dim, first knowledge of
the dread mystery Of death.
Poverty has given years to,thiS small
girl, and rudely jostling with this sor-
row comes to her the sharp necessity
for help. Yesterday, for the first time
through all their suffering, she had
begged: and part Of the pittance Civ
en- her yet remained, kept miserly for
this dread event, which she, young as
she was, saw approaching.
"Help help!' And with these words
ringing over and over in her heart. she
whispered to her mother, and long be-
fore the great city had stirred to its
daily round of toll and pleasure, she
stole out into the keen morning air.
A police officer was passing the door
as she opened it, and she laid her pur-
pie hand gently on his arm.
Help, sir" she said; Eddie is
dead"
1t was a kind hearted man God had
sent there for this very purpose; and
he lifted the child in his great, father
ly arms, carrying her up the flight of
stairs, as she pointed the way, nor ba-
ted he in the least his kindness until
he had brought fire, light and food, in
to the desolate home he found there.
, With this relief came into Ruth's
heart the wish to spend bit of money
the hallowed money, set apart for
Eddie only-in buying one little white
flower for him to carry in his hand in
. to the cold, dark grave.
"He loved them so well, mother, y
l the child said. If it's only little
one, but real living flower, it seems
to me it would be easier to let him CO. ,
And then, with her mothers consent
; she wandered up and down before the
flower filled windows, venturing in the
: stores now and then, but coming out
1 without even the tiniest bud.
i At length her pale face, with its look
: Of unutterable longing, peering in thro
7 the window, attracted the attention of
i the boy who sold flowers in a large
+ store.
! "What can this girl want ?" he call
{ ed to a woman who was arranging DO
! quets behind The counter. q never
= saw such face She looks as if sht
must have a flower; but when sht
! came in she only asked the price Of
;. these small white ones, and went ou
g without offering to buy"
The woman came to look at her, ant
y her heart was touched. She beckon
= ed Ruth into the store, and said, kind
~ ly-
- "You seem to love flowers. d.
you wish to buy some"
"I-I wanted to get one for Eddie,
q q said Ruth, her lips quivering and tn
ae - tears starting into her eyes.
- !, Who is Eddie ?'
- ",My brother. He is dead"
VI - ado you wish the flowers for hi
- coffin ?"
% ale loved them," answered Rutf
- I'VE used to come here to the windo'
" ! to see them, and he wouldn't feel alon
~ if he had one. He was so sick whe
~ he came last, and hungry; but he di
not cry out there" and she pointed
e. the place where she had been standin!
No outside of the window.
III "Poor child; you shall have som
w for him, and | am sure you are we
n come to them"
ut From among her white buds the w
Ie man selected the choicest, and in fe
or minutes Ruth held in her hand, trer
ch bling in it's eagerness, rare boquet
ed Gods benson on this kind heart !!
H,L o,o ,;r,,,Io ludc chaV not he hiddf