The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1876-04-06

Reddening ont Of snow,
Were the form and face 80 fair,
OF the little child 81 prayer.
Alice Cnrg.
The only one in the house, a Iitti
child, knelt by her bedside praying alone
Perhaps the experiences Of ten years had
laid their weight upon her young heart
she certainly was not older-and were il
not for the impressions which sOrrOW
always leaves upOa its victims she would
have passed for q younger child. 1t wal
not a large house, for there were but
three rooms in it, and, besides herself, II
had but one occupant. He was away;
she knew not where, only that her fears
told her he was where he ought not to be.
She had prepared their frugal supper
hours ago, and had waited anXiOusly and
hopefully for her fathers returning foot
steps, but night CrePt on aPace, and he
came not to cheer the solitude or relieve
the anxiety Of his waiting child.
Tears had been falling from the bright
blue eyes, dimming their lustTe, and sobs
had burst from the roseate lips, telling
her hearts agony; and now near the mid
die Of the night, the little one knelt, as
her sainted mother had taught her to do,
and prayed for the absent one.
Dear God, bless my poor, dear IA
Their. Make him good and holy as my
dear, dead mother was. Keep him from
drinking the wicked brandy any more,
and make him love his little Mary as he
used TO-"
This was the burden of her prayer.
But how can we tell the expression of
her weeping eyes and little hands raised
imploringly to heaven in the earnestness
Of her petition? Her golden hair fell
loosely down upon her shoulders, and it
was a picture which made glad the
angels who beheld it. They had seen
the picture before, and the Lord had seen
Il, and heard The earnest petition of the
blameless one.
Charles Ransom had been prosperous
and weIl-tOdo. He had begun life with |
bright prospects, and with a loving wife |
and interesting children, his home was
one Of the bright spots OF earth. But
sickness and death came and robbed him
81 his hearts jewels--of all but one--and
EFF him desolate and disconsOlate. Truly,
be loved Mary, the one left him by a
Wise Providence; but his devotion to his
wife had been 70 entire and 10 absorbing
he had become 20 truly a part Of his
,Wn existence-that when she was taken
rom him life seemed disni dungeon,
nd he could see no veI lining" TO
he clouds which mantled LIES sky.
Dependency took possession Of him,
nd, 10 drown the poignacy Of his grief,
IL resorted 10 the wine-cup, 81 many an
Unfortunate one has done before him,
eluded with false hopes. Having once
teean In this way, be soon went 10 ex-
ea, At fnt the piteous appeals Of the
hild, and the advice and warnings Of
riends who ICyed him, seemed to have
ONE restraining effect but al length
here gradually Lost their power, and
Ne ~ one his friends" gave mp his
ne a. hopeless, and ceased striving with
lm, wrapping themselves In the mantle
( their own faneied perfection and in
ineible powers 70 resist temptation. and
apigned him TO BIS fate.
There wa but one who remained fast
IA firm, siauneh and true 70 the work
kis reformation; and that was his
aaveneyea, sunuy.crowned Mary. She
syer ALTERED IN her prayers o. her en-
.calies She needed no Fepulse, end
AZ discouraged by ne delay but with
le simple face N childhood she kept
e eye Used steadily on The boon 20
ndly desired the reformation 81 one
le held mDst dear On earth.
On ibis particular night Charles Ran.
m had fingered a. ukual a. the dram.
Top, and becoming intoxicated, was %.
ri0us 70 hia home, bis waiting child,
ld everything bus BE thirst for liquor.
De thirst Il seemed impossible to ,
leuch. Ifs money was ~, gone, and, I