The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-10-30

frightened me, had he not looked so
wonderful happy. most thought it
was an angel, though l didn't much
know what them was then. Billy,
said he to me, Billy, I've found it all
out! 1 know all about it! Oh, Billy,
it's better'n dreams 1 shan't mind it
now; I'm so happy, Billyr
~"Ithough the boy wasa little touched
ike, so l smoothed his hair and said,
Yes, Johnny, you don't want to go to
Sunday-school any more they are too
much for you I; they tire you all out
He says, Billy you are sleepin'l wake
up; Billy, III tell you wot = cross is
and then it flashed on me what it all
meant. Crosses pint ahead and
up'ard, as you said, Billy, but they
mean somethin-crosses mean some
thin. They amt just to look pretty,
and fix up with posies and gilt They're
heaty, crosses is, and we've all got EN-
to carry. But crosses amt never light,
Billy; they've all got q heft to 'em, and
we're to bear 'em, and carry 'em, cause
Jesus wants us to. He carried His
cross, Billy, and I've been shirkin' mine
all my life. He never complained, and
I've fretted so much at mine. But 1
shan't ag'in, Billy. 1t is better than
those dreams / used to have. God
HoUght enough o. ne To giuc me q
cross to bear, and I'm proud now, in
stead of being SO ashamed, for God put
it, there, Billy it's just as he wanted
il, or il wouldn't be there. God knows
it's all right. I've only to carry it in
this world we are to have crowns III
the next, if we're faithful. The next
world is heaven said he. After that /
took to goin' to Sunday-school, too, and
we've been ever since until Johnny got
sick. Indeed l don't know what l
should have done without him, ma'am.
He's a helped me along he's sent his
little prayers ahead O me and all around
me- hes comfortcd me when money
was scarce. Oh, he's carried his cross
bravely, ma'am, and helped me tugwith
mine besides"
But Johnny lies dying now, and Billy
sits there alone with him looking down
sorrowiully into his face.
Billy" said Johnny, "it's Almost
over. Bring me the little cross" And
Billy brought ia plain, poorly-pro-
portioned little affair which Johnny had
whitfield ont with his knife. "Oh, it's
meant so much TO me. Billy. | never
could speak n hateful word when l
thought OF it, or felt it in my pocket.
It AS ugly as tnis," said he. meaning
his hump; bu! when | see God in it, it
seems beautiful" His voice grew
fainter. Billy, I've tried to carry my
cross, tried to lift it as high as He
wanted. or I never could have carried
this little wooden one in my pocket g.;
'twould have seemed sneaky like" He
spoke with difficulty, slowly, ialteringly.
BILLY, He died on the cross-on-the
cross. If you are ever proud, be
proud o that. It's the cross that holds
the gates o heaven open for Us, Billy
for me and you. 'Twon't matter about
our bein' boot-blacks there /; we shall
git in, Billy-nof somehow or other,
b"t straight through tie gate. Jesus
will-let-us-in. Im-goin'-now-
Billy going - to - get -my-crown.
Carry-your-cross-a- little-longer
Billy Jesus - he-lp-y-ou- save
YOU
He's gone. No, bark he's still
whispering BILLY the - angels
neutrality-suspicious.. Twas
right under my cross - Billy -
B-~i-l-l-y"-and he bends over him but
Johnny never finished the sentence.
His little aching body had found rest
his cross of suffering had been e.
changed for Il crowno of glory.
The old widow enters and finds Billy
swaying to aud fro, and moaning to
himself Hes gone; he'll never
love MT any more :" and through her
fast-falling tears, she says: "Such
love us that boys for you don't die
with the body, depend upon it. He
loves you yet-purer and stronger than
And who can gainsay it?