The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-02-03
NUMBER T..

" Annie's latdtup with her siuc most
Of the time and what with gricving
and taking charge OF the little ones
while I'm Off Workin', poor Esther
don't earn much,. though she's fur
maker BY trade: Now, ma'am, i1'm
ready for this shoulder again. !
GLOW blitholy she spoke! l had
been rather rlow-spiritcd oflatc-l with
my Que iluminod sorrow, Sic with
her load Of crow,ling carcsD As
as,thc shoulder was arranged. / went
into the entry to speak with Kitty con-
ccrning dinner. WhcnE rcopencd the
door say that mysterious movement
again. Ny dressmaker WAS slipping
something into her basket. -. :
Icon !"'AsioT6aidj With n slight JGmp.a
"wlat little thing starts me? was
just reading my little song" ...,
"Your little song" .-....
ayes; it's n bit Of writing I've had
Gvc or six years, the greatest comfort
of my life; almost and she lowered
her voice, "likc my Bible. Itk:pt mo
up when do believe nothing else
would"
She said this in such q CHEEKY way,
while picking out the busting threads,
that hardly knew how 10 reply. But
at last said stupidity cnoush:,
"Dont you ever get sick, Mrs.
Bond?"
NO, not often ;lcastwisc, not enough
to make me lose my day. Thank you,
dcary, Ill 90 on with that sleeve II
you lIaint finished it, and you can take
up the corlinS.'
"Its wonderful" said. tacitly fol-
lowing her direction, really wonder.
ful, TO think ofyou supporting all your.
family 20. and on two dollars II day"
Sometimes Ito WONDER" she said
quietly, how do ii; but God helps
us, and then. you know, ] have my
little song. III take them black hooks,
please"
We sat silently working for few
moments. At last said, softly and
revcrcntly:
-. Mrs. bond. will you teach me your
little song!" "
She looked up with surprised
i"What. dcary!"
THAT little song you were speaking
Of Ii would do me good, too, ] am
sure. "Will You teach il TO lie - ~
You, child! You don't need it
young, bright, and happy. It's only.
for tired old bodies like me-
/ "Ah! but pcrhapSI ! do persisted {;
"lifc is very vcXins to me sometimes"
She bent down, and. lifting her little
basket, slowly raised the lid. then took
out q folded sheet OF paper. worn aud
din"y. She opened it tcnderly rs she
handed it 10 me.
".This is my little song. .dcary: /
know all it says. but it always helps
me TO read it. especially when things
comes into my mind that oughtn't to-
had expected to find one Of the
sweet old hymns that tell Of comfort
. and JOY 10 come rs Il reward for sorrow
suffered here. But the verses that
saw surprised me.
: Where did YOU find this poem" !
asked.
IL didn't find it. The Lord sent It
to me sort Of mysterious. A young
. girl read it out once in 4 room where !
was sewing, and when l had chance,
asked: her TO write it down for me.
} | don't take to such things, cn'rally !;
but this song is kind o by ITSELF -. F..
And 50 il was. For thc poem was
Adelaide Proctor'S" One by One"
Il have whole book OfverScs writ
; ten by the same lady, said, still look.
; in. 1T the paper; shall bring It land
read you u few Of them" p.
No, dcary, thank you kindly but
most like wouldn't understand en-
This little song II last me o4,d we'll
: enough. rAs you re lOokin. ut it. dcary,
would you mind snying it Tor me out
loud"
For the first time during our con-
ycrsation. she laid down her work and
leaned back in her chair, while read
} in voice that tried not 10 trcmblc:
. "onc by one the sands nrc flowing.
one by one th" moments tall
Some are coming. Sonlc arc going.
DO not strive ~ ErISp thcn MI.
"Ouc by ono thy duties wait thee,
| Let Thy whoi' strength go 10 each;
Let no future drcaluS clat". thee.
IGsrn uSpG Nrat whnt these cum icnch.
"tnc By one (brisht Gifts from Heavcn).
} Joys rrr Sciii thee here brlUw;
Tako tllcm readily when given,
Ready, too, ~ let them 70.
"Onc by ono thy grlch shall meet thee,
do not fear aII armed hllld:
Ono Will inde nS other, greet tiIco. . .
Shadows passing through the Lind.
, "Do not look ut liEe'h long sorrow:
Sre how M small ,i,e caSh n. no,ncnrs "lA;
40 rnch day hSth ngiIln.
"Evcry hour that fleets no slowly
IioS It's t;lsk TO DO or bear;
Luminous the crown and EI!y.
, II thou set each gem with ciiir.
"I,o not lngGr with rcgrcttlng.
Or for passing hours GelpOnd;
, Nor, tho daily toll forgetting.
Look too eagerly beyond. .'
"HourH nre golden links, Gods token. -
Reaching Heaven; hut one by one
; Tuke them, lest tho chain bo broken
. Ere the pilgrimage bc done"
looked mp. Mrs. Bond was busilv
:. sewing, hor "wbolc strength" going
i. to the present duty, her little, wriLkIr.l
! mouth pursed intcnt!y as usual, her
gray eyebrows archcd mildly above
: icr spcctacIcs, and her sweet cd face
,,Innt,J tI,nn nVoI.