Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-04-28
VOL. 7O.-3576. NO. %.
Baby Bellies NIsslon.

" Poor little baby Belief" That was what
everybody said when they looked into her
great brown eyes so full Of suffering patience.
and the slender, misshapen figure that sat 90
| still in the tiny wheelchair. Poor Iittle
baby Belle She had lived through 1--WE
summers Of roses, and though the Liliiputian
feet had never learned TO walk, and the fra
| gile hands were translucent like Sevres china
she sang as the sunshine played over her ON
the latticed porch, or in the bay window. and
was happy all the day long. No cloud
seemed ever TO darken the bright light of her
lustrous eyes, and the notes OF her birdlike
voice were as sweet as those Of the meadow
lark.
One day tall, sad lady clad in garments
OF deepest mourning visited baby Bellies
mamma, and az she looked at the cheerful
little soul so happy with the toys on the
miniature table before her yet destined never
to walk the beautiful EARTH always to sit help
less m the quiet corner, she silently shook
her head, and said to baby Bellies mamma
Why are such spared, and my husband, so
full Of life, and labor, aud usefulness, taken
away ?"
" Baby Belle has her mission" replied the
mother and perhaps, in her quiet way. does
as much good as many strong man. What
patience she teaches us, what gentleness
The boys are sometimes rude 10 each other,
but they are always kind and tender TO baby
i'ene. In their long rambles in the fields and
woods, they never forget her; some sweet
Wild flower, the strayed feathers of some
hright-tinted birds, or gayly.hued butterfly,
or bit of green moss, they bring back TO
Belle. When she was a little thing, and be.
Tore we knew she would be an invalid all her
NE, she always cried when the boys took her.
they handled her so roughly. But they have
learned to lift her so carefully that she loves
now to SIT in their laps, and have them tell
her stories, s,or 20 be carried about in their arms,
to see their pet rabbits and squirrels, and to
feed them from her own tiny hands.
" Baby Belle cannot bear a word Of anger,
or iinpatiencc, or roughness she can only
grieve over unkindncss. Knowing This. and
careful never TO wound her little heart,
we are all more gentle and considerate tow
ard each other than we should be were Belle
strong and rugged as the other children are.
SO she has become our perpetual peacemak-
er, and the maker of sunshine as we'll for we
cannot look into her face, pale with suffer-
ing, yet bright with patient cheerfulness and
wear clouds upon our own"
You cannot wish her to live, said friend
to me, the other day. "Not for her sake would
have her live, though the world is so beau
tiful, but how could we spare her ? Who
would teach us, as she does, lessons of smi-
ing resignation, Of trustful submission, of
cheerful hope : Loving and patient towards
her, we learn unconsciousy to prefer each
otser to self, 70 bring forward only the
sunny side of life, and bear its shadows with
serenity.
" Poor little baby Belief But she had a
mission, and is unconsciously making us all
filter for the heavenly mansions, from which,
for our sakes, she is permitted to remain a
little while away. Angel work is baby Belle
doing, till the angels take her home.'-Lii-
Ne Doruor,I