The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-09-12
The Broken Flower.

A marvel of beauty and brightness was
"Littlc A." To those accustomed to OBJ
serve mysterious course Of things in this
world there had been many a misgiving,
many painful apprehension that the lit
tie life unfolding with SO much Of prom
lse before their eyes-every day develop
ing some newer charms. some rarer per-
tection-might come to a sudden end.
"Too sweet for earth" was felt bat not
spoken, lest the harmless words should
prove dreadful prophecy, or in some in
deinable way hasten their own fulfilling.
1t Is admitted now, however, with tear
full eyes and quivering lips by those who
were to him little more than strangers.
No one, think, who has spent an hour
of the last half year in his society but
has laid away in memory something to
go with him through his natural life,
something to come back at unexpected
times AID places, producing a mingled
JOY and pain-joy that such rare sweet
ness ever existed, pain that its existence
was so brief. 1t may have been only =
little act, the repetition Of a VOID "r ges-
ture of welcome which he had been
tanught, but it was done so graceiously!
the granting Of an asked for kiss, but you
would never have gu >ssed the pleasure
was not half his own from the eager ad-
vance with upreaching face, the sweet
face, the sweet lips wleathed in smiles
aud the soft violet eyes beaming with de-
light. Had he entered u,on life two
years ago with mature Intelligence and
the one purpose to win in that short time
all hearts to himself be would not have
been materially different.
His loveliness of form and feature NAV
have 5een-though rarcly-equalled, but
the beauty of his character, am conf
dent could not have been surpassed.
There are no words with which to define
it any more than to describe the aroma
of flower, the tint of its petals. Do we
attempt to outline with words q bit of
sublime scenery, a magnificent cloud
cluster transformed by the suns rays in
to thin"s Of life and light until the ima-
agination revcls in unknown woridsl
Much more the mysterious something
essence or spirit which surrounds little
child fresh from the hand of its Maker,
land like him more than any other Of his
created works, or than it will ever be in
oAlCl yC0lS) ucucS No. Va pO"CtANlAy
magnetic temperament the touch Of his
waxen baby hand thrilled you; something
in his shiny golden hair aided the fancy
that lambent light played about it and
you thought without proclamation of the
infant head. halood and hallowed, which
the masters have brought down to us
from eighteen hundred years ago. Sure
ly, ''of such is the kingdom of heaven"
and to the hearts wrung with anguish for
the loss of "Little A." this thought alone
has power to bring healing, comfort.
0 child Of promise rare!
Shall we not know thee there
By the strangely subtle charm that round thes
All felt its mystic power,
As, watching hour by hour,
New beauties opened to our wondering eyes.
And when that lovely form
Bentto the furious storm
OF Death: and low the precious head was laid.
We brought the rarest blooms
Laden with rich perfumes:
"Sweets to the sweet"-a fitting tribute paid.
Al fair. sweet human flower
Lent for heeting hour,
To cheer and bless US on our earthly way;
Then by Gods kindly hand,
Transferred to that fair land.
Where blight comes not; but flowers bloom
for aye
. JACK.