The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-01-24
Put the Little Ones Happy to Bed.

And think it no small service If you
can kiss them into good dreams, and
placid, restful sleep. A little child's
heart is wonderful instrument from
it come harmonies the tenderest and
wisest mother cannot understand. How
can we hope to do so? For to them is
often revealed the wisdom too high
for us" and which we cannot attain to.
Who suffers as little child suffers?
What hours of touchy agony in the dark
nursery? 1t is no use to forbid ghost or
fairy tales there is no need; every
child finds them in his own "thick
coming fancies." They were Arrays
there, types of which the archytypes
are IN as and eternal.
Solitude and darkness are hell to lit
tie children, at least before you commit
them to it, let them feel that you are
within call of their foolish cry ; and
whisper between the kisses of your
"good night assurances of Gods love
and watchfulness.
Up the dim avenue through the hot
poisoned air, heavy with the sickly fra
GRANGE of oleanders, there passed my
door one summer evening two brothers,
the eldest scarce ten years old. For
moment they stopped and spoke to me,
and I noticed the weary looks and flush
ed faces of the children, and fear that
was a presentiment crossed my mind
and saddened my heart.
"Where have you been my boys? ?"
said, "your mother is anxious and
angry. Do you not know that the fever
is raging and that the night air is full of
death ?"
"We were trying to catch some trout
l. 4lo
ter, the fish would not bite, and Willie's
head ached so bad I had to carry him
most of the way home. "
The little speaker was SO weary or
sick that he caught at the railing for
support. I opened the gate, and, lifting
the youngest child, walked the few
yards necessary to see them safely
home.
It was nearly dark, so there was some
excuse for the mother not noticing in
the shaded piazza what / had seen at the
garden gate She met them with re-
proofs for their delay, and contempt for
want of success. and then hurried tn EN-
into the dining-roOm, saying:
Eat as quickly as you can and then
go to bed. :"
[ waited half an bour, but the boys
did not appear.
"Where are the children ?' I asked.
cob they are gone to bed, they were
too tired to cat"
"Perhaps they are sick" suggested.
"Willy had a very flushed face, and the
fever is raging to-day"
"Oh, mol They are natives and are
thoroughly acclimated. John has been
through three epidemics, and I fancy
Willy had as much yellow fever as ever
he will have, nearly two years ago"
[ never saw the little fellows again.
They were both buried in one grave the
next day. No one knew they were sick
until they were insensible, and almost
in their last moments They mTIttered
in delirious stupor of the fish they
could not catch for mothers breakfast. "
And for the poor wretched mother
there came never more in this world a
moment in which she could soothe
their wounded little hearts, or say one
atoning word for her last thoughtless
sheer at their want of skill.
Say "good night to your little ones
as if you were saying "good-by." The
angels may want them before the dawn
of morning. 1t is hard enough to bear
when grief alone fills the place of your
absent ones but when remorse sits in
the empty chair, and your last memory
of the dear little face is that of
wronged and sorrowful child, it is a
haunting reproach which you may hard
ly hope in this world to dismiss