Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-11-21

street.. With trembling fingers b
placed the key in the lock. As he en-
tered the hall. low. pitesus moans dis
turbed the stiffness of the night An
other instant and he was standing be
side the bed where Nellie was kneel
ing. her arms still clasping the it'll
lifeless form of her child. His child
his Lilly, whose loving caress SCENE,
still warm about him, her pleading
voice still sounding in his ear, laystill
pale aud cold before him. Her pur,
Spirit had fled to Father, whose Low,
never taileth- Her frail little life hat
yielded. a speedy victim to that terro
of all mothers, Group.
For weeks after this terrible shock
Stanley Morely plunged more wildly
into scenes OF dissipation and vice
drinking more frequent of the wine
cup. Friends gathered round, earn.
estiy endeayoring to reclaim him, but
in vain. The poor stricken wife still
clung to him. Every night she watch
ed and waited his coming-her heart
ever filled with dread of some new
sorrow.
! 1t was wild, terrible night in No
yember-such wild, terrible night that
no human would venture from shelter,
except forced by the direst necessity.
Never was music, with its soft and
sweetest strains. so soothing as those
| wild, tempestuous sounds from with
out, as they filled Nellie Morely's ears.
That night he would be safe with her
that night her eyes cease their watch
ing, her anxious heart grow still.
Stanley threw himself on a lounge.
and was soon lost in slumber. He had
not been drinking as much as usual
that day, and his sleep was sweet and
quiet. Nellie watched him as he lay
His expression was different from the
usual one. She shaded the cheerfully
burning fire, and turned low the gas,
that he might sleep on. And then
she kneltand prayed-prayeda as she had
not tor long, long time. And spirit
OF peace grew in her; she hoped again;
1 she prayed once more with faith.
How long she knelt she know not.
She was aroused by slight movement
of her husband. Looking up she saw
his arms extended, and heard him mur-
mur:
Lilly. come to papa"
Again he grew quiet. She knew he
was dreaming of his child. There
was a sweet, gentle smile playing about
his lips, and frequent words of endear-
ment escaped HIM. He dreamed on;
the smiles faded away. A weight of
sorrow gathered on his still handsome
face. His lips trembled, and from be-
meath the quivering eyelids tears stole
gently down, bringing the tidings of
heart touched and softened by some
magic power.
"Oh, God grant it might be thusin
his waking hours" Nellie murmured.
A little longer, and he sprang up
from his slumber. gazed wildly into the
mirror opposite, and cried out:
Ills no dream. Lilly my darling
you are with me, your dear arms still
clasping me. No more-never again
will | grieve your gentle heartl'
He sank back again upon the lounge,
passed his hand again and again over
his brow and then called softly:
LII lbotdub SuC WIS OCSiuC HILL
Have | been sleepiug?"
Yes, dear"
And dreaming?'
Sweetly, Stanley dreaming of our
child"
Would to God that dream had
been forever; that l had fallen into
that last sleep! You would be happer
then, Nellie
She came to him in the fond, loving
way of days gone by, and said
Look at me, Stanleyp p
He gazed with an inquiring look on
the face upturned to his The old,
weary. suffering look was gone. Never,
in the early days of her fresh, bright
beauty, was she so lovely as then.
An expression inexpressibly sweet-a
patient, hopeful. aye, peaceful look.
was on her pale face Clasping her to
his bosom, Stanley said sadly:
Poor child you have been dream
ing too-dreaming of days that may
never come again"
Nay, my husband if / have
dreamed, mine were waking dreams,
that have filled my heart with peace
And Liliy-has she been with you?
Oh, that was no dream! Never in the
days when she was with Us. did ever
see her palmer.
She would not strive to dispel the
deluSion, or tell of ftful shadows
thrown about the dimly lighted room
fashioned. by the thoughts that filled
his brain into the form of his darling
child. No, no; vision or delusion, it
was in all wisdom sent.
Stanley Morely was changed man
from that night. The old haunts
knew him no more. The reformation
was sudden, but complete.
Nellie. prudent little woman, asked
no questions. She believed some time
her husband would tell of that dream.
And so be did, When, many months
after, she placed in his arms another
little child, bright. beautiful boy, he
said:
Another link in the chain to hold
Inc firm against temptation. Another
whose little arms will cling around me,
and draw me back from evil. One on
earth, and one in heaven-Lilly, whose
spirit seems ever with me. Nellie, ever
since that night, as in the dream then,
Lilly arms | feel about me, her sweet
face pressed lovingly TO mine, while
she pleadingly whispers: Dear papa.
don't take Lilly there, among bad men:
it hurts Lilly, trightens her so much :
That dream, my wife, and the vision as
/ woke were my salvation. Never
again could | enter such scenes as |
knew would distress and terrify her
pure spirit, which truly believe is as
guardian angel sent.
Happiness as true as earth can give
was Nellie's eyermore. She no longer
mourns Lilly's loss. Now she feels
why she was sent to them to fill their
hearts with love. and why recalled to
her home among the angels.
! CHARLES 2. THOMPSON, the man