The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-07-03

| trowned upon Mamie-our darling-ye
she had little restless feet and busy LITTLE
hands, and there is~no room for then
here. Mamie was as fair a flower as evel
blossomed; the roundest face, the faires
head, the pinkest cheeks and the bright
est eyes of all the babies that ever grew
Every one said sol-not only Frank anc
but every one. She was nearly two
years old when we moved to our "sea
board parish, and her little voice had
| closed around many words, even then
One of the stronger neighbors, dear wo
man, caught her in her arms at ''the so
clety, and called her "a little angel
without wings" just the name for the
precious said another; and then all
around the room they kissed my baby
and each one reiterated the pretty new
title. Mamie laughed as though she
knew very we'll what it all meant, and
tossed her arms about in great glee.
"Ah, ah" exclaimed Aunty Curtiss, OBJ
serving the movement, "you mustn't get
your wings for a long, long timer
"Never" said ], fercely, "a baby on
earth is worth half dozen in heaven -
whereupon they hooked at each other in
a funny way, and l suppose they thought
what a strange woman was the minister s
wife. They forgave me afterwards, when
Mamie grew prettier every day of her
life, and her title always olung to her,
'And how is our little angel without
wings? the neighbors would enquire !;
and Mamie, in her own dialect would
say;
IFS pwitty well; I doesn't fly yet
awhiles."
"See that you don't" they would some
times say, and then | would shake my
head, and laughingly reply:
There isn't any dangerl she loves her
mamma too we'll"
Mamie was four years old, when sad
letters crossed the ocean to Frank, from
his mother, who, failing in health, beg
ged to see cher boy" once more ere she
died. l did not tell you Frank was an
Englishman. ] say as little of that as
possible, for l would have him one of
Americas own sons.
We had little money laid by, and we
both felt it was Franks duty to take it
and go to the aged mother, who waited
in far country for sight of her only
child. AS the weeks before his departure
grew less and less, my heart gave way in
anticipation, and with it my health
Then. it was the kind people of our con-
gregation threw into my lap a purse
which was to take me too
"And leave our angelo I questioned
seeking Franks eyes.
with your mother" he replied; "she
shall come here, and the child will be
better to remain behind. Can you not
make this selfdenial, and leave sans
wings with her grandma p And look
ing up into his face, my lips said Eyes"
while my heart cried mo-
The eYentful day at last arrived Good
bye, little angel" said Frank, hugging
and kissing Mamie as though ne were
never to see her again. Goodbye sweet
heart, precious darling" 1 murmered, ,and
left her cheeks wet with my tears. She
did not comprehend what it was all about,
though her wee, baby face was very
thoughtful Cliff me up, papa" she en-
treated, and then with her little arms
around his neck, she exclaimed: "Papa,
oor angell dit e wings if 90 and mamma
do away!'
Franks strength appeared to desert
him, and I-why caught my baby in
my arms and begged to stay behind: at
is only childs prattle." said Frank,
though much disturbed ''Milly, shall
we pray once moreY'
We went back into the house and left
the good people all standing around the
door. God knows if a prayer could have
saved our child, the petition that went
up that morning would have done it.
But it was not to be.
"God sent oar angel soingS, and she -9eoo to
Himself" was the telegram that greeted
US as we landed on a foreign shore.
Was it easy to bear? Oh, it was not!
1t aOas not p was crushed, overwhelmed,
sufocated with grief, and Frank grew pale
and haggard the few days of our stay,
though he whispered over and over,
"God knows what is best! God help US
to endured
H is parish by the sea, as I have
said. Living near the water, the sea al
ways in sight, one forgets what cruel
grasping things are waves, learns to
trust them and call them beautiful Ma
mie had often wandered on the beach to
gather shells, while l sat on the rocks
near by; but never, like other children of
the neighborhood, had she been there by
herself to play. 1 cannot account for it
now-how she came to wander there
alone; yet it was there, in cleft rock,
they found her little hat and a basket
half filled with pretty, white shells. But
Mamie was herself missing: forever gone
from sight washed out to sea" was
the general verdict, and giving credence
to this, l would creep to that lonely
tell me more of my Mamie. For hours l
would sit there motionless, watching,
staring at the rolling waters, praying
that the little form might be cast at my
feet. Not in my way, but in His, did
God answer those prayers.
l had spent q weary afternoon ON the
shore. Night was coming on; the sky
grew grey, and the waters looked dark
and bitter. A chill came over me, and
with a shudder, | hid my face in my
hands Scarcely had I done so when,
close by my side, 1 felt the sweet pres
ence of the Invisible One, and in accents
the most tender, I heard these precious
words: ~ will not leave you comfortless,"
Then the sun, which had already set,
appeared to shine forth most gloriously,
and the waters, rejecting its splendor,
were like unto molten gold. As gazed,
spell-bound, the waves parted, and upon
the soft, dry earth, disclosed, saw the
prints of little feet. With my eyes 1 fol-
lowed them to the other shore, and there
beheld form like unto my Savior, lift
ing in His arms the child who had jour
neyed unto Him. As he drew her to
himself, the wee one turned, waved her
hand to me, then, trustingly hid her face
in His bosom. 1t was our Mamie-our
little ANGEL She wasn't drowned after
all; God had parted the waters, and led
over on dry land to the angels home.
When l returned that night, Frank
knew by my face that something had
happened. l was too much impressed by
the wondrous vision to relate, just then,
what l had seen; but, in answer to his
inquiring glance, uttered, heartily, ut
is wellW After that night l seemed to
come back to the realities of life; the
color returned to my checks; my voice
grew steady and strong; my face resumed