The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-11-14
Our Agents,
READDUR SUPPLEMENT-
"LITTLE MAMIE WINN."

Some ten years ago we were sitting
by brisk pine fire in our humble
sanctum, of Sundays eve, when a
servant entered, leading beautiful
child of some six or seven summers,
quite neatly and jauntily dressed, as
is most appropriate for these buds OF
creation. Our attention was imme-
diately attracted to the lovely crea-
ture, holding in her hand a magnifi-
cent bouquet, which at that period of
the season seemed to be curiosity
indeed. Never had we seen a more
perfect gem from Natures mind than
this emanation Of a deep mysterious
hapdicraft. The flowers in her tiny
hand were reflected upon her fair
round cheek and finely formed fore
head; her eyes were of that dazzling
brilliancy that belongs to healthy
childhood, and her movements soft
and elastic as a fawn in the spring
time of n Southern cline.
Blushing, but with the confidence
of innocence and truth, the little
creature advanced; and presented US
with her rich gift, uttering few
Mandatory words, that found their
way, with the quickness of the elee
trio fluid, to the chamber of the
heart. She thanked US for some
lines dedicated to the memory Of her
father, hastily thrown off in the hur-
~ of the moment, at the solicitation
of a worthy friend of the honored de-
ceased, and left US to most pleasure,
BILE emotions and reflections, tinged
with the rainbow hues of imagi-
nation.
1t is principle of our nature, and
a redeeming principle, we may say,
to love children; for, considered In
any light, they present the only evil
dence we have of that perfectability
which we are told is reserved for hui
man destiny. There are flowers a
shade too circumscribed for the coil
OF the Serpent Of Evil. They are the
diamonds Of truth that blazon the
dark pathway of sin and sorrow, as
the stars relieve an inky sky; and we
confess to feeling for them, up to a
certain age, which is intense, afford
ing US the most valued pleasure we
can obtain in weary pilgrimage
We would indeed at any time, give
up any society for the qualification of
converse with child whose mind
was just developing the occult design
of Gods decrease pure, fresh, sug-
gestive and pleasing-that we won
der not at the beautiful admonition
of the Saviour Of man, "Suffer little
children to come unto me, for such
are the kingdom of Heaven" We
know not whether the quotation be
correct, for, we say it in sorrow, our
knowledge of sacred writings is most
limited indeed.
Years passed away and we saw our
protege frequently. She had mind
of rare power, much perception, and
that versatility of intellect which we
do not regard as fortunate in its pos
SCISSOR, although it is attractive and
highly priced. She was a healthy,
beauteous plant, full of promise. In
the whirl of a thousand cares and
troubles we partially lost sight of
her for considerable time, and when
our attention was again called to our
pet, little Nannie," we had the
modification of learning and discov-
ering that the bright intellect of
childhood had paled its fires at the
command of disease. The insidious
worm had entered the ripening fruit
upon the tree and worked it's way to
the rich core. Her mind, once so vi
vacious and winning, was in the dark
gloom of insanity. We turned away
from the wreck as the mariner does
from his ocean bride, a favorite bark,
going down to the coral caverns of
the deep, and offered up q prayer in
our heart that if it were impossible
to reinstate her health--to restore
the brightness of the jewel-she
might soon be called by the Almighty
to join the immaculate creatures who
pace the realms by seraphs trod,
and constitute the ornaments of
Paradise.
A. few days ago, in a far distant
portion of the Parish, aud in the tur-
moil of political strife, we learned
that the stricken sufferer was sum
moned home. Our favorite "Little
had breathed her last