The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-04-06

| colue "ack 10 rest Deslde her brother
aud sister down there among the daises." "
Aud when we gathered flowers there was
always garland for "DARLINd's grave ;
hor basket and urn were kept greenest of
the thrco if any were best aud in our
hearts we adopted her as our own.
We had some reason to feel teudcrly
toward every stray waif which came
within our ken. When our first baby
came to us, like all tho unwisc, We
entrusted our treasure with servants !;
and one sad day, which we had spent
joyously at pic>nie miles away by the
sea, our babe carried bSour nurse across
bridge, sprang from her arms as she
loaued against rail. and fell into tho
river below, sinking from sight for>
ever.
So we learned with terror from her
affrightcd lips. And though we believed
it must be true, aud though days after
little body foated upon the shore we
had gone on loving it in every little
child which came Within our knowledge.
Two others had since come to US, and
gone back to heaven again.
All this was years ago; and tonight
have reason to thank God that before
this news about "DARLING's" parents
reached me another grave was added to
the three in the church. yard; for the
dear spirit could hardly have borne US
we'll us | the dreadful blow. And beside,
she, the mother, had found her own
long ago iu heaven, while here in the
earth fog, could not SEQ or know. L am
old and gray, too, and the blow is
lightencd BOW because shall soon join
them.
If it had come then, if we could have
known the truth, we should have done
just what wo did, with "DARL1Na,"
and grievcd just as we did, with the
added pang of certainty.
Aud to think what must have suffer.
cd when that man came to inc to-duy-
an old man, bent aud withcrcd and
creeping along fecbly just this side Of
the golden gate, with hair as white as
my own-aud confessed to me-:
"I stole your darling years ago,
because loved its mother and hated
you for winning her away. 1 bought
your servant with gold, aud the tale she
told was lie. gave up my life to your
babe, and cared ior her more tendcrly
than any mother. Aud because learned
to love her as I loved no other being,
became softcncd, aud purified, and re-
pcntant aud the inevitable cross was
laid upon my shoulders by the angels,
and | looked to GoD through tears aud
said, Thy will Lc d"nc.' And not daring,
to come with tho child least your Joy
should strike nc dead, sent her with
the story by FREUD who perihhcd on
that fatal train. The secret might have
died with them, bu, that to-day, standing
beside her little grave where you had
carved her own sweet name which I
gave out of my affection, vision. came
to my soul whispering Of forgiveness
from the Father OF Mcrrics and pointing,
me to the only atonemcnt l could
make"
The man has gone again. could do
no less than forgive, being so nearly
ready to regain my own; and sitting
here in the double twilight of age and
eve, l think OF all tho darlings in the
world stolen away from their lawful
h"mcs ard pcrishing where none can
know of darling loves ruthlcssly snatch
cd from the breast which quickcncd and
warmed and cherished them; Of baby
hopes deprived of their natural food,
and crushed out OF recognition Of
heavenly aspiration ground into earth
and clotted with gore and hidden away
under the daisies.
Whose darlings arc they all ? and who
shall confess 10 have been the cause of
their ruin aud death Where arc they
buried? Does any tender hand
"Garland their urns with whito roscs2"
No matter. Somcbody,-cvcry body,
will at last find and know their own,
and go in at the pcarly gate, grand aud
glorious, saying, as l do to night, "This
was my Darling"