Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-01-01
GAS n Little Child"


LESSON ron THE NEW YEAR
Louis Wise sat alone, wrapped in sorrow
full abstraction. The house was still, for it
was midnight, and the day was the Sab
bath---the last day of the departing year
day full of grief to him, for in their quiet
chamber his young wife lay dying. All day
her cheek had burned with fever, and she
had looked solemnly beautiful as she lay
thus in unconsciousness; her ruby lips
parted, her brown eyes hidden by their
white lids, soon to be unveiled amid the
splendor of the Kings palace.
Louis had been sitting by her side all
day, wiping the cold death-dews from her
brow.
She will soon be gone" they had said
and with groan of anguish he had fled
away, half wishing that he might curse
God and de-
The strong, young heart rose up in open
revolt. Surely it was terrible and as Louis
cast his eyes for moment upon the tiny
girl asleep in her cradle beside him, so soon
to be motherless, he clenched his teeth in
very anguish, and his muscles worked hard.
He turned his face away from the cradle,
quafiing bitter draughts OF the water of sor-
rowful reilt ction and growing stronger for
rebellion, he mourned to himself, " People
| u
Impossible Very just; very loving, to
take from me that which alone could give
me any Joy. And yet these Christians will
tell me that God is love- Heavens De-
liver me from this kind of love, so greedy
that it robs even its own offspring. JUS
tice,' too where is the justice of the act
which removes from earth sweet, innocent
being like her 2" Here his heart failed him,
and he wept bitterly, shedding tears of re-
sentiment and anger. Then he continued :
" She was being who loved every one; one
of the few who kept this miserable world
from going direct TO destruction. | cannot
understand it. | ,cW not understand it 1t
is too cruel, too cruel If the Almighty
thinks to win my heart by torturing it, he
is mistaken. | will never -
"Mr. Wise, will you please step in ? |
think she is dying" said low voice; and
Louis stepped softly in, sitting down at the
bedside.
Yes, she was dying, surely. He took the
thin fingers in his own, pressing them
gently, and the brown eyes Enclosed. He
bent forward, and kissing the burning lips,
he called her "his darling; his life his all.
He could not let her go. No mol"
At this the eyes swept upward second.
She knew him now; knew all that she
was going home-going, through faith,
willingly. In low voice she said, toying
with his fingers
go, Louis, the baby; bring the baby,
dear" And the nurse brought her, rosy
with sleep
Louis took the child, and the fond mother
heart made one last effort, as, laying her
quvering fingers upon the silken hair, she
whispered brokenly; Dear Louis, teach
her-the way-the truth, and-the life
Jesus, Jesus only. Stay the little feet upon
the Rock of Ages-blessed Rock-'otheI
refuge have | none Seek it, dear Louis
, O, seek it, love-and come The brown
eyes lost their love-light; there was a. ilut
tering sigh, and the spirit returned to
God, who gave it," just as the knell of the
, departing year sounded out upon thought
: less world.
Louis laid the child down, and throwing
/ his arms about that quiet form, he besough
? her piteously "not to leave him, o, not t.
leave him. o, my darling my wife. How
shall live without you | cannot; | shal
!. die God help me pity me 1t is NOR
+ than | can bear Here his thoughts re
verted to God himself, and his heart hard
! ened instantly. lie arose from her side
J, and went out into the night, cherishing II
!. his breaking heart thoughts of bitter resent
,
? he re-entered the house.
:. Two DAYS later, and all was over. Tn
voice of him who stands between the livin
and the dead had uttered the august, soem
words " Dust to dust, ashes to ashes, ther
n to lie in hope of glorious resurrection
n Now the house was empty, and the YER
# silence spoke of her that had gone foreve
IS The babbling of the little one the twinin
l. of her fingers, her smile-all were agonii
n ing to him. He musC 60 away; he woul
,r take his child, and go to his distant cit
1t home, to his mother.
A All, the going forth the last glance arouu
S. the darkened rooms the touch of old, fan
.e iliar obiects-objects that seem now to ha
n, low your hand by contact; and write
" everywhere the grand, awful words of Il
IS resurrection angel lie is not here"
~ Louis gazed around him until hard, pa
n sionate thoughts crowded his brain, at
N, then looking backward, he said once more
OF "Yes, if the Almighty thinks he will W
ce my heart by this means, he will find that
III will fail. | will never, neuer yield;" p" but
er he adjusted the little one within his arr
ne the words of her who now lay, with clos
On lips, under the shadow Of the old chur
of spire, came back to him "Teach her 8 t
ly life, the truth, the way Jesus; Jesus on
|
of Ages"
ss- He gazed upon the child, and with ra
at of tears he cried 80, Mary My darlir
ry where shall | look What shall | dc
an Life is too much for me- Out of the l
or, known somewhere, come to me, help II
ng teach me. God knows | cannot teach O
Of child 1" Here the baby laid her soft ha
a upon his cheek, aud wiping away his tel
ie- he passed down the grass. .bordered pa
he opened the gate, and was gone. AT dusk
pei took the train in which he was to pass
ely night, expecting to reach the city in
on- early morning.
'ut Baby had been well fed, and was n
en- awake, in high glee, her pretty face full
ne, dimples. Louis dreaded the long mig
mt, journey, and longed for the morning. Nil
or came on, and when the lamps were light
The baby was all the more wild aud loyo
Nothing escaped her. Louis knew tina
s. reaction was sure TO succeed these wild
10y of glee were almost invariably followed
s'y long seasons of fretfulness, ere sleep cal
els, 1t grew late, and baby grew quiet
'1 ,eil steady motion of the train seemed like Il
@ sne of mammoth cradle, and Louis hoped L
ase as the blue eyes would soon close, when S
w W., denly the cars stopped, nearing statl
f.. and the conductor informed them that u
pu' had received orders to wait half an he
'nes .n What confusion filled the air and al
,un Vne all, baby Marion opened wide her blue e
'on. li, aud sat up on her fathers knee. Louis 6
lug a sigh, thinking of the consequences. l.
WI lshmael, her "bottle was soon "spel
and she grew cross The poor child
tba cried for her mother until she was hoa
ave and now uttered a sharp disagreeable
inc growing more and more vehement Lc
,one was in despair, for the child now shed g
ath tears, with nervous pain and fear.
rhe The passengers began to be annoyed,
he Louis looked out, but alas, IL was now ri
y at ing, and he could not take her out into
1sr shed station. In vain he strove to ql
and her. and finally he said, in tones OF pati
dsr sorrow "My dear motherless child, "
ears shall do with you p
,nds His remarks were overheard by q
,yer lady in heavy mourning, who sat in Fl
of bin, and beside her little girl, Ia