Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-02-11
The Little Angel.


The Little Angel.
Can go on the common to play 2 I've
been good girl to-day" warbled the dear
little pet, Isabel Lee, in voice that was
sweet as the song of bird at sunlight.
"Say yes, do now, that's dear good
mother" she exclaimed, when at length she
| found herself in the arms of the loved one.
And there's no place in the world where I
| love so well to play as on that dear old com
mon of ours. / call it our little country,
mother cause there amt no houses there,
nothing but grass and trees and water"
"Yes you may 60, but mind not to play
too hard" said the mother, as she lovingly
kissed the darling; "and be sure, Belle, to
get home ere the dinner is ready" Out on
Ne common she rolled her hoop, tossed her
velvet ball, shipped and hoped 10 the
BARRIERS shop" made friends with the little
girls who romped beside her, watched the
little boys launch their boats, played with
the babies-and then, fairly tired out, wan
dered away from the noisy group.
But suddenly her steps were arrested; the
| light faded from her joyous eye; the song
died on her lip. There, on the green turf
beside her, the midsummer sun pouring its
torrid rays upon his upturned face, buried
in what seemed death-like slumber, lay
man in the prime of life. Tattered and
torn were his garments, battered hat be-
side him, a broken bottle clenched in the
right hand, blotted paper in his hand.
"The poor sick man !" said the wonder.
ing child, "out here in the hot sun asleep.
It's too bad, too bad. How sorry his folks
would be if they only knew where he was.
| The poor sick man-how l wish | could
make him well p
She looked awhile and then hesitatingly
approached him, and sat down beside him.
She took out her handkerchief and wiped
away the great drops that gathered on his
brow, and then famed him with that soft,
lelicate motion which we give to the dying
| friend. She wondered il he had a wife aud
| little chidren-and if they knew how sick
| he was and she wished he would wake up
and tell her where they lived, that she might
| bring them there.
At length the sick man turned and tossed
| as though his sleep was mostly over. /" Poor
man." said his little nurse, "poor man,
You'll be sore and stiff Pm afraid, sleeping
| 80 long on the ground when it rained only
last night Poor man, how sorry am for
you" But now her little cheek is laid close
to his bloated face, for his lips murmur, and
she would hear his words.
| "Just one glass more-one, one, only one.
I'm dying for it-give, give, one more"
"Hes begging for water" sobbed she, as
she raised her damp face. "IIe's dreaming,
and thinks they won't give it to him. Oh,
f only had some; it's SO hard to want a
rink of water and not to have it." Here
her eye rested on the broken bottle, and a
happy thought struck her: She carefully
unclasped his hand, seized the dark glass
/ tn ha xyi11 hOl
some; it will be better than none," said she,
rs she dipped it in and bore away the cool
ing, life-giving draught She poured few
irops on his parched lips, and then laved
his hot forehead and burning cheeks. That
water, that dew of human love, dripped
through his life pores and down to his very
oul. 1t broke the stupor that palsied his
nerves. He opened his heavy eyelids and
gazed-frst vacantly, then wonderingly
about him.
ado you feel any better ?" whispered the
little girl, in tones low aud sweet as the
cradle hymn of mother; "do you feel any
better2 I'm SO sorry for YOU
"Better, better" murmured he, eyes, |
feel better. But where am what am d?
lay down in hell, devil tramping upon
me; and wake up in heaven, an angel watch
ing over me. Amt you an angel amt |
in heaven ?" And he seized her hand con-
vulsively.
"Dont say such naughty words" said
she; "don't sir, you scare me. No, | amt
an angel nor you amt in heaven. | found
you here asleep in the sun, and I was so
sorry for you sat down and took care Of
YOU. am nothing but little girl. Shall
give you some more water y and she held
the broken bottle to his lips.
| e Mater uatarl yaS Uiva mo e0ma
Water from an angels hand may save my
soul" And he drank, and then he sat up and
looked around and at the little one be-
side him.
"Little angel little angel" said he, there
is hope for me yet hope for me. Heaven
sent you to save me- Bless you bless you,
title angel !"
"But amt an angel" said she, artlessly.
81 am only little girl. Feel my hand
YOU couldn't touch me if | was an angel.
And see, haint got no wings either" But
ne only said, little angel, little angel,
and laid his head in her lap and wept.
"Poor man," said she, as she bathed his
not temples and flushed cheeks; "poor, sick
man, Pm sorry for you. Haint you got any
home ?" He answered not, but only sobbed
the louder
By-and.by he looked up and said to the
plying child, Little angel, can you pray p
"Yes, sir, eau. prayed for you while
you was asleep"
"Pray agaiu-pray aloud-let me hear
YOU" And she knelt beside him, clasped
her hands and prayed, sour Father, which
aid his head again upon her lap and sobbed
"Shan't go and find your folks for you
poor man 2" asked she. ats getting late
| and I nuat m hnma soon"
"Take me to Them little angel-take me
to them" and he seized her hand and led
ner away out of the beautiful green spot
and across several streets, and down into a
dark, gloomy cellar home.
A pale, haggard-looking woman, with q
little purple babe upon her lap, sat on 9
rickety chair, the only one in the room, close
to the little window, stitching fast as hei
fingers could fly. On a straw bed in tn,
corner lay two other little ones, tossing il
, fever fits, while a boy OF lsabes age crouched
beside them, crying, "Oh, I'm so hungry
I'm so hungryp
"Thank God you've come back at last
William" said the woman, as they entered
"Thank God I've been brought back,
said the man, with choked voice. "Ant
: here is the little angel that brought me
saved me. Bless her, Mary bless her +
i dnu ne leu tne HallSchTtu culiu W tue Knee
: Of the wondering wife.
81 amt little angel" said she. "Pn
only little girl-and saw him sick ant
asleep out in the sun, and famed him, an,
brought him water and took care of him
Weren't you worried about him, so sick 7"
ayes, so sick-so SICK" said the man
d "And when they ask you what allied me
tell them was sin-sick, sin-sick. Go hom
now, little angel-go back to heaven you'v
saved me, made me we'll"
With fleet steps Isabel ran off and reache'
her home, all out of breath, Just as he
father was descending the steps in searcl
of her,
40 father fatherl" she exclaimed
"come into the house quick, quick; | wan
to tell you something" And she heede'
not the many questions showered upon he
: by her worried parents till she had toll
her story
"And o father o mother il you coul
have seen where he lived. poor, sic
man, down in cellar; only think-a dam
cellar for a sick man, aud nothing but a be-
Of straw aud two little sick children an
b one boy crying for something to eat and
little baby that was half-staryed; and sue