Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19

long time, but he didn't come"
Coming back Where did he go2"
ale died"
"And what was it that he told thee 2"
lie said that would see him"
"Yes," said Reinhold, "thou shalt see
him, but he cannot come back"
"And thy mother Z" asked Liebchen
"thou hadst mother 2"
az don't know" said Margaret.
Poor child murmured Liebchen 10
herself, that knows not what mother s."
"Oh, yes said Margaret, Z" | know that
a mother is good thing, for Martha has
mother, and when we go singing together
aud get nothing her mother kisses her and
cries, but Theresa beats me-"
How long is it that thou hast lived with
her 2"
"a long time" answered the child, with
a sigh and Reinhold and Liebchen glanced
at each other and sighed, too and all three
sat and looked into the fire till the chid's
head began to droop; she was falling asleep.
Shall | bring in the cot ?" asked Rein
hold.
EYES," said Liebchen, and she softly rose
and unlocked drawer where little clothes
were laid away between sprigs Of lavender
carefully, as though for long time. A tear
fell into the drawer, and Liebchen knelt
there, looking into it and seeing nothing.
Reinhold came in with the cot, and she
rose with little white gown in her hand,
and undressed the child. Her little shoul.
ders were marked, as well as the arm, and
brought low cry of pity from the good man
as he saw them but Liebchen rubbed them
with ointment, and tied the string around
her neck.
Now, I'll put you in a nice, warm bed"
await minute, please" said Margaret,
and she knelt down and said, Come, Lord
Jesus"
"Why do you say that ?" asked Reinhold.
Father said it," answered the child.
"Did he teach you ?"
"No, but he said it often when he was
sick. He was somebody that father loved,
and he wanted him to come he always
called him when something hurt him; so
when Theresa beat me and was hungry
said it too. say it every night. Maybe he
will come if he knows it, for he is good
father said So"
"Thou dear heart !" cried Liebchen, "and
is this all thou knowest of the blessed Jesus?"
"Do you know him ?" asked the child
earnestly.
"Ay, and tomorrow will tell thee of him
but now thou must go to Sleep"
"Come hither, Margaret" said Reinhold
"here is something else for thee to say at
night and in the morning, when my father
and mother forsake me, then the Lord will
take me up"
Softly the childish voice repeated the
words, "When my father and mother for
sake me, then the Lord will take me up"
When her breathing showed that she was
asleep, Liebchen looked up, and in tremb-
ling voice asked, What didst mean, good
man, by that verse of the psalms ?"
"Good wife," said Reinhold, the child
is an orphan and friendless. The good God
took our child, and in those dark days we
thought that never again should we hear a
little voice say father, mother, but now he
sends us child to fill our hearts,"
A look of pain came over Liebchen's face
she tried to keep back the tears, but they
would come, and she bent her head and
sobbed. "Oh good man, anything but
that, anything but that"
"Liebchen," said Reinhold, "thou wouldst
not let her go into the storm tonight
wouldst send her into the bitter world to-
morrow 2"
"Nay, good man, it is not in my heart.
will keep her and work for her, do every
thing, bring her up but not to be our child,
our own child; it would hurt me to hear
mother from her lips
Them" said Reinhold, "you will give
the orphan everything but love ?"
"Oh good man, do not be hard upon
me- thou vast never mother"
"But | have been a father, Liebchen, and
the good Father in heaven loves us all.
Think, good wife, if we had died, and it
was our Madchen that went singing through
the streets with those scars on her neck and
arms.
The name and words touched another
chord. She went to the cot and kissed the
sleeping child, then came and stood by her
husbands side.
"Good man, thou hast better heart than
mine it shall be as thou sayest."
So the little singing girl grew up with
her father Reinhold, and her mother Lieb.
chen. She learned of Jesus, and with the
prayers taught her never forgot to say,
"When my father and my mother forsake
me, then the Lord will take me up"
Ten years had passed over the little
family at Eisenach it was midsummer,
and the window was open the evening sun
came in, flinging the vine shadows on the
floor and frightening the pots of flowers on
the window sill. Liebchen sat in the arm
chair now, but she was not knitting. Her
face, pale and thin, showed that she had
| Deen ILL., oue sdt tnere uulelly, ieauiuS
back her head, and watching girl who
stepped lightly about the room, laying the
supper table, and making up vase of
fowers-so tall and rosy, you would never
have guessed her to be little Margaret.
Daughter" said Liebchen, q hear thy
fathers step on the STAIR get thy hat and
go with him to the singing; thou hast been
housed too long with sick woman.
"But thou mayest grow tired of sitting
up mother and maybe get lonely"
al will not tire my child, and have
enough to do to sit down here and be
thankful"
They went out ogether-Margaret and
Reinhold-she carrying the music; and
Liebchen sat there in the summer evening
sunshine, and watched them down the stair
The evening air came fresh and cool through
the window, and filled the room with the
perfume of flowers that Margaret's hand:
tended the pictures on the wall were of hel
drawing, and many little tokens of love and
care showed the presence OF daughter
Liebchen closed her eyes and murmured
softly, A good child is heavens blessing,
and being tired she fell asleep.-Nep Yorl
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