The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-11-24
Ghildren's Column.
For the Central Presbyterian.
OUR KATIE.


nothing else to give, kind word or a
sweet smile would be given to some one
in need or in sorrow.
She was walking rapidly along one
clear, cool day in the autumn, having in
her hand bunch of those beautiful fall
flowers, chrysanthemums, of every hue
and shade. In her haste she dropped a
cluster of white ones A little boy, with
clean, but patched clothes, whom she had
been noticing for some minutes past,
picked them up, and hat in hand said
very wistfully as he handed the snowy
blossoms to her:
"Kind lady, mayn't I have them? they
are so lovely
Certainly my little man; but what
will you do with them?"
"Giye them to our Katie, she does
love this kind of flowers so much"
And who is our Katie?" inquired
Miss Roberts, smiling.
"Why, she is our Katie, ma am
But hasn't she any other name?"
40 yes, ma am, Katie Saunders. o
ma'am, if you just knew how she has
been wishing and wishing for some of
these posies, with the long names You
don't know how our Katie suffers" con-
tinued the boy, forgetting his shyness.
She lays down all day flat on her back,
and looks SO thin and pale. Nanny
says she has a broken back"
Poor child p said Miss Roberts, COM
passionately extending her hand, "take
all these flowers to her, but stop, little
boy, I'll go with you myself. Do you
live far from here?'
No a'am, only little way. Thank
you ma am, thank you" said Johnnie,
delighted, i" how happy our Katie will
be, she will have something else to look
at now besides the blue sky. You see
ma'am, continued Johnnie, growing
more and more confidential, eve live in
garrett almost up in the clouds, and our
Katie has nothing to do but look through
the window at the patch of blue sky. We
are so high up our Katie says heaven
seems very near to her, and all day long
while nanny and daddy are away she
looks and looks, and at night when she
can't sleep, she counts the sears"
But here we are, ma am" AS Miss
Roberts entered the low attic room, she
was unprepared for the atmosphere of
comfort and neatness which greeted her
On one side of the large room, drawn
close to the window was low couch, on
which lay our Katie, wearing on her
thin face look of patient suffering and
sweetness. One glance was sufficient to
tell the lady that though poverty dwelt
in that humble home, yet at the same
time the spirit of peace which the world
can neither give or take away, also dwelt
there
80 Katie" exclaimed Johnnie, "see
what this kind lady has brought your
Some of Gods flowers" said the sick
girl, reverently, bright smile radiating
the sweet face"
"Why do you call these particular
flowers Gods fowers?" asked the lady,
seating herself by the low couch, "they
are all made by him?"
"I've always called them so, was the
simple answer. "They are the last flow
ers, you know ma'am, we have, and it
seems to me they tell us, more than any
other flower, that God has not forgotten
us. Sometimes when the ground is COW
cred with snow, you will find them still
holding up their heads, still Drawing the
storms of winter, and looking so peaceful
and lovely. Dear kind lady, you couldn't
have pleased me better. There is no
flower in all the world that tells me more
about God and his goodness"
"She does talk beautifully, ma'am,
doesn't she ?" broke out Johnnie, his face
shining with love and admiration.
I beg pardon, maam," said Katie,
I didn't mean to talk SO much"
Where did you learn all this?" in
CURED Miss Roberts, wondering at the
earnestness and beauty of the child's
words.
About the flowers, you mean ma'am.
No one ever told me about them, and
ever since I could remember have known
about God"
After some further talk, Miss Roberts
rose to 60, saying as long as chrysanthe-
NUNS lasted Katie should have daily
bouquet.
AS the lady wended her way to her
luxurious home she thought not of the
suffering, not Of the wearisome days and
nights appointed to the poor, yet happy
child she had just left, but of the beauti-
full Christian graces displayed in her daily
life, marvellous patience and endur-
ance Of great pain, tempered with love
and gratitude to God and man. And
this child, on her bed Of suffering was