Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-04-16

be wanted 10 see Il. You'll fnd him over
thero.p ts.s,
With swim steps Mr.. A. crossed the
street to the place mentioned, but returned
with, ''He has not been there" Eddie
was remarkably fond of skating, and my
next thought was thai he had been tempted
70 disObedience. said, calmly, I'VE viii
90 TO the pondp wal, perfectly collect
ed l could have worked all night without
fatigue with the nerves In that state of
| tension; but Mr.. A. said, mo, you
must 20 Ia and lie down. Eddie Is safe
enough, somewhere about the village. Pn
20 and find him." But there was moth
ing in the tone as In the words TO reassure
me.
As he spoke he crossed the hall to our
own room, and turned the knob. The door
was locked. What could that mean2
Eddie was either on the inside, or had
taken the key away with him. Mr. A.
ran round to window with broken
spring, which could be opened from the
outside. II went up with clang, but o
dense volume Of smoke drove him back.
After an instant another attempt was
made, and this time on a lounge directly
under the window he stumbled on the in-
sensible form Of little Eddie, smothered In
smoke Limp and apparently lifeless he
was borne into the fresh, cold air, and after
some rough handling was restored to con-
sciOusness.
From that hour think / have known
how Abraham felt when he lifted Isaac
from the altar unharmed, in obedience to
the command of the angel Of the Lord.
True, had been subjected to no such trial
Of strength and faith; my Father knew |
would have shrunk utterly before Il; yet II
it was not similar messenger that whis-
pered to me In the midst of that gay party
an hour previous, / have no wish to be
convinced oft; and were the book placed
in my hands which / knew had
power by its subtle reasonlngs TO rob
me Of this sweet belief, would never
open il. .f.
Eddie said on returning from school he
made good fire, and, as the wood was
snowy, thought he would ppt 1t into the
oven TO dry--something he had never
done before. Then, on leaving Mrs.
E---'s room, he went in for an apple be-
fore going to see Libby Roses picture
book, and 1t seemed so nice and warm he |
thought he would lie down a while He
could give no explanation as to what
prompted him to turn the key-it was the
first and last time; but this could have
made no difference in the result, for no one
would have discovered the smoke in time
to save his life. The wood in the oven
was burned to ashes, but, as the doors
were closed, there was no danger Of fall
ing embers setting the house on fire; and
had we staid to the concert, everything
would have been as when we left ex-
cept that little Eddie's voice would never
more have made music for our ears.
Everyone SAID that with delay Of five or
even three minutes, we should have been
too late.
Many years have passed since then, yet
now, when the lamp of Faith burns dim,
and God and his promises seem a great
way of, have only to go back to this
the first, the last, and only manifestation
of this nature-to feel that, 'As a father
careth for his children, SO oareth He for
u.s. Deliver US from evil, for thine Is
the power" is no mere formality, but
words pregnant with meaning.