St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-05-07

II am afraid not, my dear. But he is
in the hands of good God, and you can
ask him to let him stay as long as pos
sible."
ssHal,n said the child, "won't you let
me 90 and ask the minister to come and
pray to God to let you live a little
longer I"
II reckon if you pray like you do
some nights when Pm in bed, and you
think I'm asleep, it'll do"
"But don't know much except NOW
| lay me- and Our Father"
''Say Our Father like you do at
home, with something else at the end.
With a fearful face the child kneeled
down, regardless of her surroundings,
and with folded hands and closed eyes,
repeated simply and tOuchingly that
beautiful prayer first used by oul
Savior; then she added sweetly: "Dear,
reod Lord, | don't know how to ask
Won hard and strong like a minister
but want you to let my dear brother
live. It's so lonely when he's away
and guess if he dies, I'd like you to lei
me die too; for there won't he anyone
to take care of me and love me wher
he's gone. Amen"
The old gentleman had occasion tc
mt his handkerchief to his eyes more
than once during the child's prayer; oul
he kept close watch of the boy, VINO
when it was over, turned sadly to hl'
sister, and said =
"Reckon you don't know that 1 an
sorry for what 1 did yesterday"
so Hal!n said the girl, cOloring, $
knew YOU were sorry for that right at
terward. But" lifting up the basket
as if to turn his thoughts from herself
"see what | brought youl l took some
money had saved, and brought it al
cooked, because | knew you would llk'
it so much"
'.Bully for you," said Hal, raisin!
himself suddenly; but as suddenly dl'
he fall back again, while the expression
of his face changed to one of intens'
suffering, and became deadly pale.
As soon as he was able to speak, tn
old gentleman questioned him closet.
as to the nature of his sufferings; ant
when he had described them, he said
with a faint smile: eff Pd been a girl
| reckon I'd have screamed when
struck me so quickly; but You see
couldn't do it well, because I'm boy.
.Humphm murmured the old gentle
man rs he turned away. 81 think b
has the right kind of stuff in him if b
could be managed well. Hope it's a
right now"
When he returned, Alice was holdin
her brothers. hands in her own, an
thew were in earnest conversations; bu
he had brought Il physician with hin
and they were disturbed to give way
a second and minute examination of til
injured boy. Poor Alice, forgotten b
those about her, stood II little apar
the tears running down her face as sh
saw the suffering OH her brothers.
When the physician turned to so l
nodded to the old gentleman, and SAT-
'It's all right"
Whereupon the old gentleman wei
to Alice and whispered something
her ear.
She ran to her brother, and openin
her eyes wide, said joyful!y; 80 Hal
he says you are going to get well afte
all. Isn't that splendid! and don't 70
think God is very good? guess We
better thank Him right away for it,"
As simply as she asked for his life
she now gave thanks for it.
"Dear good Lord, you can look RICH
down in our hearts, and see how gla
we are, and how much we want t
thank you for letting Hal live. Pleas
let him get well right soon. Amen"
The old gentleman, too, gave thank
before retiring that night. 1t was tn
first time for years that he had al
tempted to approach the mercy-sea
but it was by no means the last.
He bad been unaccountably attracte
by the boy when he saw him fall, an
followed him to the hospital. He wa
not in the habit of doing such things
but he went the next morning to sc
him, and it proved one of the create:
blessings of his life. He spent the mos
of his time for weeks at the hOspita
until Hal was able to be moved. Ii
suffered very much at times, but di'
played a great deal of patience an
courage through it all. He would a
ways be slightly lame, the doctor SAID
but Alice seemed more distressed ov'
that than Hal did himself; thong
when she first saw him use his crutche
she had u bright smile Oh her face, lie
he should feel sad.
The old gentleman took them bot
p away from their old associates, al
, gave them n home where they won
find comfort and happiness. They DO
looked up to him with reverence al
gratitude as their benefactor. Aud
;, yes, he considered them his benefa
tors, for through them he had been Ii
! back to the throne of grace, whe
+ alone he could find happiness for t
: future.
- As for Hal, he loved his sister with
/. strong, unchanging love that never v
II ried, and the two simple, child
: prayers she had offered at his bedsi
. became the sweetest memories of
i life.
a 81 wonder you didn't hate me-"
= would say. "But oh, suppose y
hadn't cOmew
Hazing at West Point and Annapol