The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-06-28

"Mams, kiss Willie good night" and
with culver that shook bis body, he was
still. A terrible fear took possession of
the mother, and yet she sat breatbless,
holding him tightly as if she knew il wss
the last time. She felt as If she was dying
and yet she dared not speak aloud for fear
her husband might awaken, until, crszed
by terror, she spoke to her child: "Willie
are you sick?" Why don't you
kiss mama, nay darlisg? Are you
Willie, Willie, Oh. Henryi he
is dead, i" and still clesping him she tainted.
"JeDnie, why don't you get up and get
breskiss;? want to go down town. Here,
Willie is big enough to sleep alone, and he
shall; l say be shall It's the last night
ne shall sleep in your arms. l'll have him
sleep by himself alter this. Are you sick,
Jennie? Why do you not answer? Let
me have Willie" and he attempted to take
him from her, but with cry of horror he
lifted, not his bright, winsome, beautiful
boy, full of life and glee, but the cold, dead
body, still beautiful, but, OH how
changed. The father stood as if
turned to stone. His wife's face was ss
oloodless as that OF the dead, and
for moment he thougt that she too
in the darkness had passed into the light, !,
but slowly life and warmth crept back.
"Henry, where is Willie? What has
hsppened2 He is crying; no, he is asleep.
What is the matter with himf o, / re-
member! last night in the dark he grew
so cold. Is he dead, Henry? / am all
alone now, unless you will let me love
you, my husband" and she held out her
h nds 20 him plesdingly.
Like terrible storm was the first burst
OF agony when the father comprehended
how much his own unfsithiulness to his
family had brought this awful grief and
sorrow upon them, and slowly out
OF his despair was resolve
born to try to do better.
her child, and put on one of the simple
little dresses it had worn when living. She
brushed the soft, silky hair into clustering
curls about his head, and laid the white
hands gently on his breast. She had no
flowers, no cost'y robe, none OF the Deauti-
ful things we give our dead before we lay
them away, but upon the little calico
wrapper, and over the pure, white FORE
bead and hands were the tears of
mothers love, more precious and costly
than earthly gems.
There was no Grape at the door, only a
black ribbon that she bad worn, tied with
little bow Of white that had been Willie's.
They were too poor to buy any, and their
friends had dropped away, one by one,
until those that remained were OF the poor
about them.
"Henry, can not bear to have Willie
laid away by charity; can we not buy
little cssket TO hold our baby's body? Oh!
1 would give my very lite rather than to
think that my child was buried by strsng
ers. Can we do nothing?" "Jennie, we
have neither money nor friends; l have
lost both by my sin and taken them from
you. But our child will sleep as sweetly
thus as if we were to lay him away with
every hing we could wish. Do not turn
from me, my wife; do not reproach me; i,
and / alone, have been to blame, and i
merit sught you can give me, but do not
cast me off. l will be a better man tor
your sake and for the sake OF the memory
of child. Jennie, l have yet one trieno,
believe; will 60 to him and beg him to
help me-"
1ne old minister remembered him.
"Yes, spoke to you as you were going
apast my church one Sunday night, and
asked you to 60 in with me. What can l
do for you, nav brother? You are sober
now, and would like to help you." They
went together and bought the tiny casket
| and then laid the little one quietly to
sleep. Very tenderly did the old man
stoop to lay in the wsxen fingers few buds
and leaves he hsd brought, but more pre-
cious than all were the words of sympathy
| and cheer. Tne next day, IS the shadows
were growing long, and tAe birds were fly
| ing to their nests with low, soft twitter-
lDSs, lney ldlu away dLuODR bno nOW6IS tnc
taoy boy, and left him to the care OF Him
\ whose tender, wstchiul eye marks well
the spot where the children rest in their
long, last, dreamless sleep. Ere the poor
| weeping father and mother turned from
the grave where they must leave taeir
child, the minister prayed for them, such a
prayer as "doeth the heart good"-words of
supplicstion for strength for them, tor the
peace that only hesyen gives, for the abid-
ing presence of the Holy Comforter.
"HeDry Richmond has reformed, they
say" said one of mis- old friends, and how di-
| ferent be Is. Itell you whisky will take
| man clear down to the bot ON of jegrada-
ton. was talking 70 him yesterday and be
| said the minister that went to Willie's
funeral with them had got him some
work, and bad spoken kind words of him
and to him, and was helping him up again.
think that's religion worth talking about.
| Henry has quit drinking, and Jennie
1 10 ks happy, like as if she was sure her
| baby was safe, and was trying to help her
| husband to be- better man. They are
| living close to US now, and Henry never
| leaves her alone when he Is not at Work.
/ The minister looks in Once in awhile
| Henry said-often enough to tell them be
thinks OF them, and wanted them TO know
it too. Henry looks ten years older since
| his baby died, tor he says he killed it by
neglect and harshness, but II ever q man
repented he did, and l guess he is at peace
| with God and man, but though the pain
and agony OF the wound are gone the scar
| forever remains.
| THE JERSEY CLERICAL ABORTION
ISr IN THE WEST.
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