The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-01-27
THE ORPHANS.
"oUR FATHER WHICH is IN HEAVEN. ="

The wind was bowling fercely around
the old cottage, and sweeping through
the broken windows with its chilling
breath. There was sad scene within.
A woman pale and wasted by disease, lay
on a heap of straw, which formed the
only bed the room contained, while two
Children girl of ten and a boy of eight
years-bent fondly over her. She had
just awaked from sleep, and Rose smiled
and asked:
"Do you feel better now, mOther?'
Eyes, little, darling"
Il thought so; know you would be
better if you could only go to sleep"
"You must not deceive yourself, Rose;
l am not really better. l feel that |
am dying, l can not live through another
day."
"Oh, mother, you must not say that !"
pleaded the girl in saddened tones. You
must live for our sakes. What will be-
come of US when you are gomez"
"God can make her well, can't ne,
sissy"
"Yes, dear; and 1 think he will. l
have asked him so often to do it.
INV dear children, God can make me
we'll; but if he should not, he knows what
is best for us, and you must not muir
muir. That God who has watched over
you from infancy will not forsake you
when l am gone, and you must put your
trust in him. l have commended you
both to the kind care and keeping Of
''Our Father which is in heaven"
Just then a gust of wind blew out the
last feeble, Pickering ray of the candle,
and left them in darkness.
"Oh, mother! what will we do now?
1t is so dark, and we have no other can
die"
"You had better lie down here by NE.
Nestle closely, and we will keep each
other warm, and sleep till morning.
A few words of conversation, and their
voices grew fainter. The wearied chill
dren and their mother fell asleep, and in
that sleep the mothers spirit passed from
earth.
The sun was shining when Rose awoke
the next morning. Her brothers eyes
were fixed steadfastly on his mothers
face.
Hush" he said another is asleep;
it will do her good. Be quiet, and do
not wake her"
Alas alas it was the sleep that knows
no waking. Rose felt it as soon as she
saw the pale face and motionleSs body.
She had seen death once before, and she
could not forget its tokens. She pressed
her lips to the forehead. Its icy cold
ness startled her, and she drew back with
a shudder.
"DOn't sissy, don't; you will wake
her."
Eddie dear, mother is not asleep.
She will wake no more on earth"
"Oh, yes she will, sister,"
"Touch her: she is so cold"
"But so are we. The room is cold;
there is no fire. 1 wish we had some
wood, and that would soon warm her"
mo, no, Eddie; that cannot be. 1t
is too late now"
"But she can't be really gone, sissy.
She didn't tell US good-by, and kiss US,
as father did"
Because God took her in the nigh
when all was dark, and we were asleep
"And we are all alone, and so little :
What will we do, sissy? Who will care
for US now?"
"Not all alone, Eddie. You know we
have Our Father in heaven yet; moth
err told us we must trust in him. Hadn't
we better say our morning prayer togeth-
er now?
The orphaned children kneeled beside
their dead mother, and in broken, tremu-
lous accents, repeated the Lords prayer.
He who is the father of the fatherless
looked down from his throne on high,
and in love and compassion heard their
prayer.
Their sobs, while they were upon their
knees by their mothers side, had fallen
upon the ear of passer-by. They were
tokens of distress, and he was one who
was ready to lend helping hand in sOr-
row. The shutters were open, and he
looked through the broken pane and saw
the kneeling children. He heard, too,
the childish, broken accents, repeating,
'Our Father which art in heaven" and