Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-05-24
''Little Nell'S Star" J"
BY MISS ROSE PORTER.

| dew was sLlll sparkling on mower ana
grass blade,-when little Nell began the
watch that she kept up, even till the
shadow Of the great oak that grew down
by the garden gate, stretched across the
village street,-even till the sun was
sinking behind the blue mountains over
westward.
Whose coming could it be the child so
eagerly anticipated?
The child-yes, Nell was only
child the years of her life numbered
scarce twelve,-a brief earth life that
was not to round out the full twelve,
for Nell's step was slow and halting
that summer time,-Nell's voice weak
and languid.
"lt was only question of few
weeks, more or less, and the end must
come - so the Doctor said ; and, sooner
than he thought, the end came, for the
flowers of June had not stolen away to
make room for July blooms, when little
Nell went from earth to heaven. went
home to rest In the arms of Christ,
"Who carries the lambs in His BOSOM"
home to learn in that "school where
Christ doth rule Just before she
went it was that Nell won the star of
which we now tell you.
Think Ia star, the light of which
will never grow dim, won by a child of
scarce twelve summers But we wander
from the June day, when Nell's little
chair was drawn close to the wide-open
window, through which she could see
far down the road-way-the roadway
her feet had so often trod before her
illness begun,-for never, among all the
merry children that passed up and down
that village street, had there been one
lighter of feet, lighter of heart, than
Nell.
Light of heart she was, even now, for
Nell loved the dear Christ, so we'll, spite
of weary days and weary nights, she
was happy,-happy, except for the sor-
row that those dear to hear did not love
the Saviour, too. Among those who,
most of all, Nell longed to have know
Him, the Lord, was one with whom she
had been familiar ever since her baby
hood-Joe Handel, the village black
smiths son,-Joe Handel, lad when
Nell was baby, a young man now !;
and it was for Joe she watched so an
wearingly that summer day,-watched
and prayed.
1t came about in this way. The eve
ming before Nell had heard voices, her
mothers, and surely 1t was Joe's, too !;
but with tone in it never she heard
before,-a tone that made her call with
engerness. "Mother Mother tell me,
is that Joe % and there was something
in her mothers reply that made Nell's
eyes fill with tears, her great heart beat
quick with fear.
"Yes, it is Joe, Nell, but not the Joe
my little Nell used to know; that Joe
was an innocent lad," and Mrs Wilson s
voice sank almost into whisper; "but
now he is man, who night after night,
day after day, sells the liquor that
browns mems souls in perdition, and
drinks of the same cup himself"
Nell but half grasped the reproach
concentrated in the words, yet enough
she did understand to lead her, spite
her feeble strength, to rise from her low
seat and eagerly stretch her weak,
trembling hands out toward Joe, as she
asked:
Tell me, do you ?-oh do you?''
And there they stood, with the star
light deepening about them. the child
and young man,-the child so weak in
body, so strong in faith,-the man so
strong in the vigor of his youth, but
alas weak-oh. so weak Only for a
moment Joe's answer was delayed then
it came:
''Yes, Nell, am afraid l do"
Why was the room so silent after
that ? What was the matter with Nell ?
Why did she stand SO still, clinging to
Joe for support? =? Why were her eyes
closed ? Why, because in that moment
Nell, little Nell, was talking with
Christ. Was this why, minute later
the tears were brushed from her eyes
Who, with her slow faltering step she
turned away from Joe, asking softly:
Mother, please, light"
And the mother brought the lamp
and held it, as Nell bent down over the
little red box where she kept her treas
ures,-not very many. not much worth
the keeping, yet they were precious tc
Nell ; from among them she took out +;
tiny book, and then, with a smile light
ing up her face, where the tears still
fingered. again she approa ched Joe
saying:
Joe, dear Joe, will you do something
for me. little Nell? Will you put you
name in my little book. and promise M
, you won't taste it, or ask others to tast
1t, ever again (and they both knew. th
young man and the child, what that 4