Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-08-04
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DhN NNiA hidlhtA uiDlniAE 4 tnphAa AhtN
milliner's shop, and there | saw hale, hearty,
well-browned young fellow from the country,
with his long cart whip, and lion shag coat,
holding up some little matter, and turning it
about on his great fist. And what do you
suppose it was2 A 5a5y's JoHnet A little
soft, blue satin hood, with a swans down bor-
der, white as the new fallen snow, with a
frill Of rich blonde around the edge.
BY his side stood very pretty woman,
holding, with no small pride, the baby-for
evidently it was The baby. Any one could
read that fact in every glance, as they looked
at each other, aud then at the large uncon-
scious eyes, and fat, dimpled checks Of the
little one.
1t was evident that neither Of them had ever
seen baby like that before.
But really, Mary" said the young man,
" isn't three dollars very high ~
Mary very prudently said nothing, but
taking the little bonnet, tied it on the little
head, and held up the baby. The man look
ed, and without another word down went the
three dollars-all the avails Of last week 5
butter; aud as they went out of the shop, it
was hard to say which looked the most de-
light with the bargain
"Ah," thought ga little child leads
them
Another day, as was passing a carriage
factory alougoue of theprincipal back streets,
saw young mechanic at work on a wheel.
The rough body of a carriage stood beside
him, and there, wrapped up snugly, all hood
ed and cloaked, sat little dark-eyed girl
about year old, playing with great shaggy
dog As | stopped, the man looked up from
his work, and turned admiringly toward his
little companion, as much as to say, " See
what have got here!n
Yes" thought |, and if that little lady
ever gets a glance from admiring swains as
sincere as that, she will be lucky
All, these children, little witches pretty
even in all their faults aud absurdities. See
for example, yonder little fellow in a naughty
ft. He has shaken his long curls over hi;
deep blue eyes the fair brow is bent in q
frown; the rose leaf lip is pushed up in inf.
mite defiance and the white shoulder thrust
angriy forward. Can any but child look
SO pretty, even in his naughtiness?
= Then comes the instant change; flashing
smiles and tears, as the good comes back al
e in rush, and you are overwhelmed with
: protestations, promises, and kisses They
' are irresistible, too, these little ones. They
e pull away the scholars pen, tumble about hi
? paper make somersets over his books; anC
: what can he do2 They tear up newspapers
, litter the carpets, break, pull and upset anS
/ then jabber unheard Of English in self-defence
S and what can you do?
"If had child,' says the precise man
: " you should see."
0 He does have a child and his child tear
e up his papers, tumbles over his things, an,
4 pulls his nose like all other children an,
c what has the precise man to say for himself
a Nothing he is like everybody else ga lit
a tie child shall lead him"
t The hardened heart of the worldly man
5 untouched by the guileless tones and simpl
caresses of his son but he repays it in tim
d? by imparting TO his boy all the crooked trick
G and calous maxims which have undone him
Y self.
!, b Go to the Jail, the penitentiary, and FIN,
Y there the wretch most sullen, brutal an,
:? hardened Then look at your infant son
z Such as he is to you, such to some mothe
i was this man. That hard heart was soft ant
e delicate; that rough voice was tender an
lisping fond eyes followed him as he played
e and he was rocked and craded as somethin
II holy. There was time when his heart, soft
o and unworn, might have opened to question
r. ings of God and Jesus, and have been scale
e with the seal of heaven But harsh hand
seized it fierce goblin lineaments were i'm
e pressed upon it; and all is over with hir
forever
Y So, of the tender, weeping child, is mad
', the callous, heartless man; of the all-belieV
o ing child the sneering skeptic; of the beaut
full and modest, the shameless and abandoned
le & this is what the world does for the little on,
v There was time when the Divine On
:" stood on earth, and little children sought I
draw near to him. But harsh human BE-
ings stood between him and them, forbiddin
, their approach, All, has it not always bee
so? Do not even we, with our hard and III
Ig subdued feelings, our worldly and unspiritui
or habits and maxims, stand like dark scree
s. between our little child and its Saviour, an
e, keep even from the choice bud of our hear
lie the sweet radiance which might unfold it fC
m Paradise2 "Suffer little children to con
le unto me, and forbid them not" is still th
y voice of the Son Of God but the cold worl
,e still closes around and forbids. When of ole
disciples would question their Lord Of tn
l. higher mysteries of his kingdom, he took
d. little child and set him in the midst, as a sig
of him who should be the greatest in heavel
I'd The gentle teacher remains still to us. Ii
OF every hearth and freside Jesus still sets u
lg title child in the midst Of us.
a Wouldst thou know, 0 parent what
ne that faith which unlocks heaven2 Go not
ir wrangling polemics, or creeds and forms