Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-06-19
A Poor Cripple.
That hope is dead.


be cared fora hinderance in the world
instead of a power Oh, it is a bitter
: disappointment My poor boy 1t were
e better if God had taken him home to
= heaven
: Do not say that, my husband, spoke
out the lady. " l thank the good Father
, who has spared US our precious boy. His
: weakness and helpessneSs make him dearer
to our hearts. Don't fear but that God
r will give him place, and find work for
him to do
: But the father shook his his head, and
would not take comfort into his heart.
Alter this he did not seem to care much
tor poor little Alfred, who passed many
= hours Of each day in bed, suffering great
pain but gave most of his regard to Leon,
! bright active boy, two years younger than
Alfred 1t grieyed the mother to see this
partiality. the more so as it was felt by
Alfred, who loved his father, and often
turned his pale face to the wall to hide his
tears, when he saw 50 much affection given
to Leon, while he was scarcely noticed.
Alfred Is so sweet and patient, the
mother would often say.
Poor child l am glad of It for his
sake and yours, the father would answer
' There Is nothing left for him now but
patience.
And then he would begin to talk of
Leon.
'' How strong and manly he grows. See
what q step he has, and how finely he
bears himself Then he is so true, and
+ generous, and brave. 1 grow prouder Of
I I'M every day
Leon Is good and noble; but Alfred IS
so patient in suffering" answered the
mother.
Yes, poor child 1t Is all that is left
for him. PATIENT am glad ;hat it Is so,
the father answered, in a voice that showed
litJle interest
One evening Leon came home from
school in bad state of mind He had
quarreled with q playmate and was feel
ing angry and revengeful.
I'm have it out with him tomorrow So
his father heard him say passionately. and
with something cruel in his voice. I'll
catch him as he goes to school, see if |
don't Leon was talking to Alfred the
while
Then he heard Alfred say, in 3 gentle,
earnest tone :-
Don't hurt him, brother lie isn't as
big as you"
Then let him keep civil tongue in
his mouth, replied Leon.
Hes very quick, you know, Leon, and /
will be sorry for what he has done in the /
morning. T
Sorry I'll make him sorry"
But Icons voice was losing its anger.
Wait for him to get sorry, said Al
fred.
Oh, brother" said Leon, IN returning
good hUmor, can't stay mad where
you are, But never mind If he troubles
me again, I'll have it out with him before
you know & word Of it."
And he ran out of the room. i
For good while the father sat think,
ing over this little incident He remem-
0ered thas Alfred's mother had said -
God will give him a place and find work
for him 10 do"
Then food of tenderness came into his
heart, and rising, he went into the cham
Der where the patient cripple lay, and sit
ting down beside the bed took his thin :
white hand and spoke to him IN q voice 50
new and sweet that Altred's eyes filled
with tears. .
Have You had any pain to-day" the +
father asked
Il a. all -yue now, the boy answered. Z
81 I am very we'll, nd-and-happy." =
Then the tears ran over his cheeks .
He raised himself slowly and with an .
effort, and threw himself on his fathers :;
breast, sobbing and trembling with a new !
delight. n
Ny poor dear boy - exclaimed the /
father, deeply moved. h
Love me father :" pleaded the child !,
' Oh, love me - q
I Io-e you" answered the father. :,
How calm and happy lay the boy on d
us fathers breast The very peace Of II
Heaven was in his soul !,
And now . love, more tender than that :,
elt for any of his children, was born for !
Alfred in his fathers heart. In his pity +;
vas mingled less regret and disappoint- j
lent, and more of 2 sweet compassion. IN
lie saw a beauty in the colorless face, and \
depth Of meaning in the large beau tiful y
yes that he had never seen before. >
That poor body holds an imprisoned al
ngel," he said to the mother one day. in
Ie had come home vexed and out of hu- e,
nor. Many things had gone wrong with NJ
i'm. His heart was full of anger against is
ne who had crossed his path and tried to ia
o him wrong and the tempter, who re
nows his opportunity, was filling his ac
hind with thoughts of retaliation til
But when he looked into the face Of Al ST.
red, and saw its patient sweetness, angry na
ceilings and evil thoughts vanished like ":
lorning mist in the sunshine He forgot sa-
he fretting trials of the day, and was SIC
ttcd into tranquil regions.
More and more every day do | feel
ais" answered the mother. '' God is N,
ood to our dear boy, and good to US in Iar
i'm pa
g And he is only cripple helpless Gu
Ifferer-a burden and care" said the &C
lther, his voice dropping into tender, lor
,gretful tone. ed
& Oh, no Don't say burden and WI
.re," was quickly replied. " 1t is my try
ally delight 10 be with him and minister ar
his needs. Love gets as sweet return a
1w as when he first lay babe upon my str
1som. col
The years passed on, and Alfred found ou
IS work 1t was good work, though he Vi
new it not. tbi
They serve the Lord who only stand and wait" kn
He did more; he stood waiting with aft
7eet patience that diffused itself around no
IN in a sphere as palpable to the spirit ie'
Il as the odor Of a flower is to the natur- boz
sense, and all who came near him felt rib
e tranquiliziDg power of this heavenly pie
mosphere. Leon grew to be a strong, in
lrnest man, active in good deeds. There pro