The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-09-08
Our EarIy Dead


Many homes are seddened By the loss
Of children. They came into the world,
as we thought, for usefulness. We
gave them careful nursing and culture.
We saught them the uso Of their grow
ing faculties, and answered, as we were
able, their curious questions. We be-
held with joy their development, and
faneied for them a long life Of uscful.
ness. We became anxious al the APP
proaeh of discnsc, yet hoped TO arrest il.
We watched and nnrsed and prayed for
their recovery. But they fell asleen.
And as their eyes closed 10 uncopsci0us-
ness, aud they no longer answered 10
our call, we wept, and our once bright
hope gaze place to an aching heart. As
tho half formed fruit suffers blight and
falls to the earth unused, SO ID the
misty moments Of grief We have thoaght
Of our little ones as having lived their
few brief years in yain. We haze
wondered why, after SO great paiDs had
been taken for their culture, and just
as they were giving promise Of useful
ness, they should sink into the sleep Of
death
Bot our little ones have not lived il
vain. Think OF the JOY which their
presence brought TO our homes. When
We returned from our days task, they
met US at the door and weleoned our
return. We were sometimes moody
and discontented, and they. made Us
merry with their childish sports. Bus
iDess depressed US, and they lightened
the burden They offered US tokens of
love and gratitude. They spent their
brief life filing our houses with sun
shine. They have been useful in their
little sphere. The pain at separation
is great, bat let us praise God for the
joys of the past, and cherish without
complaint the memory Of our carly dead.
These children have contributed to
our culture. They have been our most
thorough instructors. We were in
many points uncultivated, and they gave
US lessons Of child wisdom. We were
rude, and they asked Us to BE- gentle.
We were eoDceited, aud they, putting
questions which we could not answer,
reminded US Of our ignorance. They
taught us purity of thought and action.
They smoothed down the rough edges
Of our character. They were trustful
and obedieut, aud showed US the way to
the Kingdom Of Heaven. If our hearts
have been open to receive instruction,
they have made us better by their short
lives. While we have nourished their
youth, they have ennobled our man
hood.
These little oues are germs Of i'm
mortality, aud in their brief stay here
they have sprouted for Heaven. There
has been formed in them the power Of
an endless life. Stay says one to
the gardener, as he lifts from the earth
the tender shoots .they have only be-
gun to live. They have put forth no
fruit, and only twigs aud leaves are
seen in their tops. You are wasting
them without profit" No. says the
gardener, ''my trees can never be fruit
fnl In this thick growth aud shada.
Into yondor broad fertile field viii I
carry them, and give them deeper cul.
ture- Their roots shall feed upon the
rich soil, and their wide spreading
branches and copious foliage find nour.
ishment 10 the bountifnl atmosphere.
then shall they put forth pleasant and
abundant fruit" So our children, sen,
arated from US in the early stages Or
their development, suffer no loss Of
spiritaal vitality and worth. We have
not nourisbed them in moral aud rol;.
gious truth 10 vain. The hand or God
has transplanted them to the richer
soil and more genial atmosphere Of
Heaven, and they shall bear fruit in the
great hereafter.