Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-06-12
Knocking at the Door.

little cheeks in the world.
Yes, in the heated air, soothed by the lazy
drone of the hungry flies and the restless
hum of young student voices, Katie had
fallen asleep. She was dreaming, too. She
was dreaming of the little brother darling
Charley, who in the bright spring-time
when the violets were just opening their
eyes after their long sleep, had strayed away
from earth, and passed through those gates
of glory always open for the entering of
little feet; and she dreamed that she clasped
him to her lonely little heart and begged
him never to leave her again. Amid the
greatness of her joy, she sobbed aloud, and
started TO find Bellies soft arm around her,
and to hear her whisper
"What is the matter, darling ?"
Before poor Katie could well collect her
thoughts TO answer, school was dismissed ;
and she heard the teacher exclaim, as
she pointed to the darkened west Hurry
home, children, or you will be caught in the
showerl'
Then Katie poured into the sympathizing
ear of her little friend all her troubles, and
finished by saying =" I could not bear to
find it only dream; feel as if | must see
Charley once more"
"Where do you think he is ?"
III HthNtll, 1 KNOW, Teplleu haJle !,
"mother says he cannot come back to us,
but we can get to him some time; and her
sobs broke out afresh
"Why don't you go to him now ?" cried
Belle.
al don't know the way" replied Katie /;
a. was very sick when they took him in the
little coffin, and don't know where they
went"
IL A 10 -, L.
Belle eagerly.
"Oh know it," replied Katie
"Then," said impulsive Belle, q" then
put your little brother" The glad light
in Katie's fearful eyes was beautiful to
behold.
"Well, will you show me, Belle, now
this very afternoon 2"
ayes, indeed ?" cried Belle; and with
casped hands, unmndful of the gathering
gloom. these little pilgrims set forth on their
journey to heaven.
Belle
"Oh !" said Katie with great assurance
chow Charley would run to open the door 20
and her cheek flushed with anticipation.
ado you suppose Charley is very happy ?"
urged Belle.
avery" said Katie, emphatically.
"And what does he do all the time p
"Plays with the angels with such lovely
wings" cried Katie, with great animation.
And they pick up stars, that lie all over
the floor of heaven; rainbows, suppose
they keep them all summer; and oh Char
ley used to love rainbows. He once cried
because -
"Dear me-" said Belle, interrupting her
in great dismay st rains, Katie, and we
are ever so far from home; what shall
we do ?"
But we are almost to heaven, amt we ?
Let us hurry and go in there
eyes said Belle, Z" | see the door,"
"Where? where ?" cried Katie, breath
lessly.
There !" responded little Belle, pointing
to the little rising ground and the iron door
of the village vault.
"Oh," faltered Katie, with disappoint-
ment; SIS that heaven O Belle it is
like great gravel" and her little lip quiz
cred sadly.
"Why," said Belle, that is where they
took your brother-the very place-and you
said he had gone to heaven besides" con-
tinued she, Frightening, "when we get
through the little dark door, it may be all
bright and beautiful on the other side"
"Perhaps it is, f" said Katie, more hopefully.
But now the large rain-drops began to
fall very fast, and the thunderstorm, in all
its sublimity, burst upon the little travellers.
The burdened west seemed cleaning like
an ocean of flame, and the floor of heaven
resounded to the solemn tread of the mighty
thunder. Still the little children, with
clasped hands and pale lips, pressed on, and
the angels who do always behold the face
of our Father" watched over them lovingly,
and they walked secretly in the heavenly
company.
AT last the busy pattering feet reached
the gloomy entrance, and Katie's sweet
hopeful lips were pressed close to the cold
door.
"Knock," cried Belle; and with all her
strength Katie did knock, and hollow echo
was all the reply, while the dead from within
needed not the call from fresh, young, hope
full lips; and the little brother, with closed
eyes and pale, clasped hands, heard not the
sweet implorng cry.
"Charley, dear Charley, it is your own
sister, your own sister Katie; won't you
open the door 7"
"lle does not hear you, Katie, it thunders
so, said Belle; let us wait little while -
and they waited. Soon there was lull in
the storm, and again Katie, strong in faith,
knocked at the dreary door, and her loving
cry, "Charley, dear Charley" echoed back.
+" Do you hear anything ?" asked Belle,
with parted lips is he coming 2"
"No," replied Katie; 81 thought once
heard his little feet but it was only rain
"Perhaps," suggested Belle, with large
imaginative eyes, "perhaps he is playing
with the angels, great way off, in beau
tiful garden"
"oh !" sobbed Katie, " hope he will not
love that little angel more than me-"
"knock once more-only once" whispered
Belle
With wavering faith again the little soft
hand pleaded for entrance and the tremu-
lous voice cried piteously.
"Charley, darling, dear, sweet little
brother, please open the door to your own
poor Katie. Don't love the little angels bet
ter than me. o Charley Charley /"
She threw herself upon the wet ground,
and sobbed in an agony of grief and disap
pointment.
Katie" said Belle, half frightened at
this outburst "let us go home now, and
come again tomorrow and try"
She rose without another sob or fresh
tear even upon her wet cheek but the
grieved expression of the sweet, childish
mouth was pitiful TO behold. Back again
over the dreary way went Katie and Belle.
Little shoes wet, little dresses dripping, lit
tie heads bent down like dew-laden flowers,
little hearts very heavy,
At katie's door stood her anxious mother
peering through the shadows for her darling.
The child sprang to those loving arms, and
with one cry, that spoke all the agony of
bitter doubt that crept into her young con
fident heart, exclaimed;
sob, mother ! have been knocking at
the door of heaven, and Charley would not
let me in"
Dear, grieved little Katie refusing to be
comforted in this, thy first sorrow, it may be
that ere the violets come again Gods hand
will beekon unaware, and with better guide
thou shalt indeed find the door of heaven
Then knock, little pilgrim, aud thou shalt be
heard amid the hallelujahs of the heavenly
choirs. Back shall roll the blessed portals
and Charley shall lead thee with eager wings
10 the feet OF him who loves little children
while the song of the angels shall be, "Of
such is the kingdom of heaven" --Selected.
OLD woman "What a lot o. eyes these
q