Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-02-01

There was little. thin. sharp. .lcOkin,
widow, Ti!h Il boy on one side and 4 cir
on the other, gazing intcntly into the bes
drapcrs shop. The stranger stood still
when he first saw them. and then he wen
up slowly and stood behind them.
Its no good wasting our time. Mar
"ey." said the mother. for we can't If
ford TO buy anything
But looking doesn't spend mamma. :
pleaded Margey. land I'd Ike to pial
what Id give you il could. mamma. anC
10 choose what should like YOU 70 civ,
me. There, You should have that beauti
nj thick black silk, and it should be mad,
with one deep flouncc like tie mavor'.
Wlfe'SS, and you should have that soft gray
shawl to wear with it. And would hav,
Two OF those merinOS a dark brown foI
everyday. AMI an olive green for sun.
days, and one OF those neat. plain black
cloth jackets. And there's Tom gone of
TO look at the watches. Tom is going to
save SlXpcncea week TO buy one. mamma.
but won't it take a long tme:"
All. | wish could give you children
pleasant surprises said mamma wistful-
~. - was so fond OF that kind of
tricks once upon time"
And so you are still. NANNY dear
hargcy replied. pressing fondly to her.
" Isn't it always "a pleasant surprise when
you make Us tig-pudding? I'm sure We
are very happy. and | won't talk any
more OF my nonsense il it worries YOU
Then the little group passed on; and
the tall stranger followed them out of the
glare OF the %aslight into a small by-way.
Where they entered house with Mrs.
/. RogerSon'S : day-school for Young la
rral he.
went back 10 the high Street, and that
same night large parcel from the dra-
ptr's caine " For Mrs. R0gerSon and Miss
Margery," and little packet from the
jewelers.. for Master Tom Rogerson."
"Everything we wanted" sighed Mar
gerry happ ly. Il only hope tlicy are
real. How could they have come? The
say they were ordered BY a
tall, dark gentleman. very pale. wish
mamma would let us believe in ghosts.
and then we could understand it easily,
for that description is like dear papa. But
| never did hear of any ghost that had
money. | wonder what Aunt Mary will
say when she comes Tomorrow -
The stranger went back TO the Four
Swans. Next morning he went to the
cathedral. and stole into a shady corner
to take part in the service. The sharp lit
tie widow c9me in, looking swecter and
happier than would have seemed possible
the night before. Beside Margery and
Tom. she had lady with her-an elderly.
Iragile-loohing lady. with one OF those
pale, fair faces, that look as if perfect re-
pose was their only remaining atmos-
Dhere of life, and any jarring element.
,ven of joy. would shake and rend the
ender spirit from its feeble dwelling. A
ace brig LIT with spiritual joy, and pleas
mt fancieS and sentiments. God often
sends pleasant fancies to those pure but
weakly souls that could never rise 10 Gre
lie and grasp pleasant facts. What are
uch fancies but the dainty aroma of the
oval feast awaiting them in their Fathers
Lowly kneeled the stranger through
he old familiar prayers. He sat leaning
Drwards with his face i'm his hands, while
he whte-stoled choir chantcd the clori-
as anthem: GLORY be 20 God in the
Highest, and on earth peace. good will to-
Yards men,"
Then he came out. silently, among the
rowd of worshippers. People were ex-
hanging good wishes with each other
ctually Peter. the old waiter, salu.ed
ven him with "A merry Christmas"
"A merry Christmas.
The stranger stayed and wandered
mong the graves. There was a world of
Ilent memory seething in his heart. Be-
ide that vision of he little boy, listening
We struck TO the choir, there
'ere Others of a young man,
ain. eXtravagalt, selfish, counting
5 of nOught, or of little value, all
ne love ard pride and household joy
which looked so very fair from this point
{ view, this lonely wandering among
he dead! More pictures still. OF a
Oung man, reckless and cruel in his sins,
all of that bravado which dares God and
Ood men out of fear of the devil and his
Unions; of the ghastly horrors Of a con-
let ship; of a Stunned man on wild,
iwless shOre-the prodigal feeding on the
wines husks. Then of little rough,
group, listening 10 simple
mission sermon. which even "black fel-
Dws" could understand, and which. per-
aps. was the more likely to touch the
White men, because it was so like what
hey had heard at their mothers knee,
r in their Sabbath-schOols: of hard
eart broken, of sinner seeking saliva
ion, as men dying with thirst seek for
And then the sweet
Oustnofd iD>lluNlS. vi lC'i uCdlu
he forgetfulness of God. stirring again
n the remembrance of Him, and the re-
urn to his ways. o God! such lOngings
or comforting word in the old familiar
dreams of atonement and re-
OnciliatiOn!
All these memories between that little
Ov and this strange, silent man, whom
ObOdy knew.
Wn- fh.ra LONE tV,a1 ~
rod in NOrham that afternoon, poor.
tumble, stricken, and tempted to think
hat God in his mercy forgets his Justice.
nd tears the moral from the page which
lie purities with his pardoning blood?
)r was there any needless young sinner,
himself that he will repent i'm
ime. and that then all will be as if he had
ever sinned? Could either have read the
ecrets of that silent wanderer. each
would have got a lesson never to be for
,Otten.
How can bear it ? he said to himself.
. wanted TO hear the divine love and for
,iveness in dear human voice; but l
must not tear open old wounds, that are
lealed as much as such wounds can ever
zeal. 1t is just. They cannot forget.
iy life lies among theirs like a waste
ield, whence nOxious weeds creep into
ther peoples gardens. viii God
himself forget? How can l bear even
lis pardon, if his eye is fixe.l on the sins
hat hang about my neck? And yet. y
iod, though Thou slayest me, yet will l
rust in Thee"
And so he made his way among the
ong grass to a square, Old-fasfioned
all the names on it very old,
xcept one. which, with its remarkable
pitaph, had only been written the very
ast year.
To the memory of
BARBARA HERON,
Aged A.,
rho expressly desired that these words of God
hould be written on her grave for the comfort or
Whoever should come here, repentant and sorrow
tricken. ~.
'WbO i a God like unto Thee 2. Thou Will
ast all their sins into the depth of the sea.
'sFOr the Lord shall comfort Zion; He Will
omtort all her waste places, and lie VIII MAKE
er wilderness like Eden, and her desert Ike the
arden of the Lord: joy and cladness SHAH be
ound therein: thanksgiving and the voice OF mel
dy.''
And the stranger bowed himself to the
ground. as if he had heard an angels