Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-11-23
A Happy GOING Home.

Il knew young girl intimately. l saw
her almost every day. She was a beautiful
child, surrounded by all that wealth and
affection could bring. Some of my broth
ers here knew her father, for he was Presi
dent Of the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation in Cincinnati. His residence was
a magnificent mansion on beautiful hill
near the city. BY home instruction and
Sunday school instruction she, in early life,
gave her heart to Jesus One sad Satur-
day, turning around suddenly when near
the fire, her dress caught, and almost in an
instant she was euveloped in flames. Her
screams brought her father to her room,
and o what a scene for him 10 look upon
What horror must have crept into that
fond fathers heart He said he never
dreamed what misery was till that moment.
He speedily extinguished the flames, and,
finding that they had not reached the
child's head, nor apparently had time TO
burn her severely, he thought himself the
happiest man in all the world, for his dar-
ling was safe. He laid her on the bed and
began at once to apply such remedies as he
could command. Soon the child asked,
| Father, how long must | suffer this intense
agony? Q, not long, Helen. Only an hour
hope For three quarters of an hour she
did not murmur, nor utter a cry, nor say,
How near, dear father, how near is the
hour up% What submission in suffering
was there! At last the poor father said, 1
hope in fifteen minutes, Helen, you will be
relieved from this great pain
'The physician came day after day. Mr..
Neff at last saw by his countenance some
thing that aroused his suspicious that his
daughter would not get well. Doctor he
said, do not keep anything back; tell me
all The poor man who was an intimate
friend, burst into tears as he replied, God
knows, Mr. Neff, that I wish could do
something more for Helen, but have done
the last thing in my power: she must die
| am afraid, before tomorrow morning.
Never, as that father told me- never had
he experienced such feelings. % how car
| tell her?' He went to her at last, tool
her hand in his, and, with all the calmnes,
he could command, said, Helen, you are
a very sick little girl Yes, pa, | knowit.
'Helen'-and the poor father could scarcely
frame his words, but God taught him
Helen, sometimes little girls who are a
sick as you, are very long sick Yes pa
pa, I know that He could scarcely e
further, but at last had strength given hin
to say, My dear child, sometimes littl,
girls as sick as you are, do not get well a
ALL The child turned her eye, beautiful
and bright upon him and said, PA, I an
not afraid to die God be praised for
religion that can enable a child, in sucl
sweet trustfulness, to utter that testimony
That day was one of farewells to parent
and grandparents, and brothers and sis
tiers. Her brother Wallie kissed her an,
said, Helen, you must forgive me for an
noying you %, brother Wallie, hav
nothing to forgive. 1 want you to ask J esu
to forgive you, and make you his dear boy
He has asked Jesus, and since his sister
, death has united with the church The
her parents babe her farewell; and just be
1 fore midnight she asked them to sing,
l "Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly"
and she sang clearly and beautifully, will
out a tremor in her voice, through it ALL
j Then she commenced the Lords praye
and that father said he never heard tt
words, THY will be done on earth as it
in heaven, uttered as she uttered then
When she closed the prayer she seemed t
be for time breathing an inaudible pra,
er, and at twelve o'clock the bridegroom
! voice was heard, and Helen went out
y meet him, and the door was shut, and He
y en- went into the marriage supper of Il
" Lamb" -H ThaRe Miller.