The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1875-11-30
A LITTLE CHILD SHALL
LEAD THEM.
BY A. E. s.

She was 40 fair flower TO blossom in
80 poor O home. Her baby eyes opened
upon a dreary scene. A low, dingy
room where dirt and disorder held sway
where poverty, squalid, disheartened
poverty, had set its seal on everything.
| The mothers greeting was with tears
and sorrows, though the true mother.
heart stirred with love as she held her
only baby-girl in her embrace. The
sturdy boys who had preceded the tiny
maiden had been greeted with love, but
as they grew older the evil associations
about them far out-weighed the feeble
mothers influence; and indeed the cur
rent had proved too strong for her, and
she had almost forgotten the good prin-
ciples of her early days, and quite laid
aside the tidy ways with which at first
she had made her home attractive. Her
husband, never firm in principle, had
yielded, step Ivy step, 10 the influence of
his companions, till the saloon knew his
presence oftener than his home. An
old story. 30 sadly old that we see and
hear it daily with only feeling Of rest
less impatience at its repetition for
getting that for those who live IL, it is
fraught with sorrow ever new with pain
at which the listener can only guess.
The boys as they grew older followed in
their fathers footsteps with dangerous
haste ; while the poor feeble mother
bewailed her lot in helpless fretfulness,
and the scanty comforts of the home
grew more scanty year by year.
The oldest son, lad of seventeen
seemed rapidly making hopeless ship
wreck of his life. For days and weeks
/ he was absent, no one knew where then
as If with some desperate reaching after
| better life, would work steadily for a
/ few days, only TO be swept away again
by the tide of evil influences around
him. There was good in him, flashes Of
generosity, a kindly spirit toward the
weak and helpless, hours Of remorse,
when some patient heart that had learn
ed Christ, might have gained soul ;
but as the years went on, the hope grew
fainter, and the priceless. human soul,
because no eye pitied and no hand saw
ed, drifted down the broad way, for
there, at least was no lack OF helpers.
Such was the home on which the inno-
cent baby eyes opened.
Months passed. The little creature
grew fairer every day. The large, blue
eyes had n depth of pathos in them, and
seemed TO appeal to all that was pure
and true in every heart Her hair, soft
and curling, framed as fair and sweet a
face as any little lady in the land, robed
in fine linen and dainty laces ever had.
The mother, watching the little one dai-
ly, poured upon her wealth of love
| ~. a.. G,.1
so worn a heart.
Gradually, for baby's sake, the house
grew brighter the sunshine found a
way through the low window, because
once when a stray beam crept it, the
little hands were stretched eagerly to-
ward it. BY slow degrees the untidy
room was put into a semblance of order
and the mothers tones grew softer, for
when her voice was sharp and fretful
the little one grieved, and the soft eyes
had frightened look. But in sunshine
and smiles the fair little face was brigh,
with content. Time wore away until q
half year of her life was spent.
The older brother hurried faster and
faster on the way to ruin. He had visit
ed his home but once in the half year,
and then for q hasty hour. At last he
stood once more upon the threshold. II
was pitiful 10 see, in one so young, such
marks of dissipation and so haggard 9
face. The morning was one Of those
!. rare June mornings which bring some
brightness to every place, and the room
was full of sunshine. IL was without
occupants, except near the sunniest win
dow, the old, worn cradle stood, and
prompted more by curiosity than any
warmer feeling, he bent over 1t. Ther'
lay the little child asleep, 30 fair, so in
nocent, so in contrast with his haunt'
and himself, that he stood spell bound
The tiny, white fingers held flower
for by common consent, everything fan
and sweet was brought TO the cradle n
to a sacred shrine. As he watched, th'
little sleeper stirred and woke, but no
frightened at the rough figure, she smil
ed at him, and held the flower towardi
him. He bent to touch the tiny hand
but drew back as IL his touch might pol
lutte its purity. But her sweet bah,
wiles touched his heart, and as he turne,
away O tear stole down his cheek. Al
day long the little hand seemed to dra,
him back All day long the innocen
lips smiled on him, and often checke'
the wicked words that came 80 easily b
his utterance. Drawn by the spell, q
night he turned his steps homeward.
Slowly but surely the little one di
her work. Slowly but surely, with man
slips and falls, the boy struggled towar
better life for the sake of the bab
sister, who learned 10 watch for his com
ing, and welcome him in sweetest fashion
| n .atat tlat ls. aerl
wear dainty garments, and that he migf
bring her flowers and toys at night
And as she clung to him, his thought
going back over the day, made hiI
shrink from her touch, il he recalled fot
words and rough actions. So he stroys
poor tempted lad, gaining so slowly thf
he was often discouraged, but still lie
onward by the little hand, or rather b
the Hand outstretched 10 all huma
need, in varying why's.
The father felt the presence OF his littl
child, but 20 strong were the chains ths
bound him, that his escape seemed hops
less. But he avoided his home afts
drinking 10 excess, and his gruff voic
= softened, and his frowning brow relaxe
when he spoke 10 the baby-girl. Thi
was all but the mother at the cradl
recalled the half forgotten prayer ,
J, other days, and tried to plead that III
angel of their home might yet lead hil
in paths Of peace. a
The baby's birthday found her a tin
sprite. learning TO lisp the first words ,
infancy. fair and delicate, more like
dream-child than the child of povert,
Then sickness crept upon her, strang'
!. slow fever. The little feet could bes
!. her slight weight no longer; but sl
would he content, and try 10 smile IN
d play ns she had been won't, IL only CT,
died in loving arms. IL left alon,
though never crying noisily, a shado
of pain touched her face, and with a
her baby arts, she would try 10 cntis
some one 10 her side. The father. se
!" ing how she had changed, hastened hon
y from his work that he might soothc n
little sufferer by carrying her in h
strong arms The brother forgot n
rough companions for the little chi
who smiled 10 see him, such n shndow
feeble smile, but 80 loving thai il W,
brighter than sunshine 10 him.