Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-05-16
MISCELLANEOU&. -.
The Babe Of Heaven.

The question came from a sweet pair Of lips.
Opposite sat young gentleman Of striking
exterior. He and the child were travelling in
a stage coach. The latter sat on her mothers
knee. Her little face beautiful beyond dcscrip-
ton, looked out from frame Of delicate lace
work. For four hours the coach had been toll
ing on over an unequal road, and the child hal
been very winning in her little ways-Hspng
songs, lifting her bright blue eyes 20 her moth
er's face, then falling back in little old fash
ioned, contented way, into her mothers arms,
saying, by the mute action, 4 am happy
here"
For more than an hour the dear babe, scarce
yet entering the rosy Threshold Of her fifth
year, had been answering the smiles Of the
young man, who had been pleased with her
beauty. He had nodded his head to her little
tunes; had offered her bis pearl-handIed knife
to play with; and at last his heart went over
to her at every glance The mild blue eyes,
full Of the innocence Of holy love and a trust
ing faith, made his leap with a purer JOY and.
as the coach ratified on, he began to wish the end
of the journey not SO very near.
The child had bccn sitting for the last fifteen
minutes regarding the young man with a glance
that almost seemed solemn; neither smiling AZ
his careSses nor at the dear face that bent above
her.
A thoughtfulness seemed to spread over the
young brow that had never yet been Swallowed
by care and as the coach stopped at the inn
door, and the passengers moved uuca,iIy pre-
paratory 20 leaving, she bent toward the young
man, and lspcd, in her childish voice. these
words: "Does you love God?'
lie did not understand at first, in the confu-
sion, and bent over nearer and the voice asked
again, clearly and almost eagerly, " Docs you
love God ?" the thoughtful, inquiring eyes,
meantime, bcaming into his own.
The young man drew back hastily blushins
up to the very roots of his hair. Helookcl in
q sort ofconlused, abrupt way at the child, who
frightened at his manner, had hidden her face
in her mothers bosom turned to the coach
door, gave another look back as if he longcd
t. see her face and then he left the coach.
He hurried to his hotel, but the little voice
went with him. There seemed au echo in his
heart, constantly repeating the question Of the
child. Does you love God2'
Several gay young men met him at his hotel.
They appeared to have been waiting for him.
and welcomed him with mirth that was almost
bosterous. they had prepared an elegant
supper. and after be had been to his room, es-
corted him to the table The full cleam Of
the gass fell upon the glittering furniture; red
wines threw shadows Of a lustrous crimson hue
athwart the white linen. There was mirth,
wit, faces lighted with peasure-everythiug to
charm the eye and please the palate! but the
young man was conscious Of a void never ex-
perionced before His heart ached to see the
child again, and ever aud anon he seemed t.
hear the words, Does YOU love God?'
His name was Gilbert. Only twenty-tirco
years Of age, he was a good scholar-cstecmel
by his friends a genius Already he had made
his mark as a writer; but be had never thought
As he thought tonight, on the solemn import
Of the simple question, Does You love God?'
It came to him when he held the rel wine to
hi, lips: it was heard among the clat'ero Of tbe
billiard balls, and the shouts Of merry laugh
ter that filed the wide room cverywhere.-
Whichever way he turned, he saw the earnest
glance Of the blue-cyed child, heard the low
voice laughing, the low voice asking thrllingly
"Doesyou love God ?"
/ 1tfollowed him to his bedside He had
tried to drown 1t in wine, in song, in careless
leyity. He strove to sleep it away, but he
heard it in his dreams.
The next night he met fashionable friend.
/ He was to take her to some place Of pleasure.
She was very beautiful in dazzling robes The
CLEAN Of pearls and the lustres Of silk and lace
WED with each other to enhance her loveliness;
but even as she came sailing into the room with
smiles upon her red young lips, and welcome
in her words; there came, too, floating noise
lessly at her side, the presence Of that angel
child. The better feelings her innocent pres
encc had awakened were yet warm, and, be-
fore he knew it, the young man said, quickly
and earnestly, Does you love God?"
"Wbat do you mean p exclaimed the young
girl. with start Of surprise.
q was thinking, as you ucame in, Of lovely