Morris tribune., 1881-12-29
TIE CHlLD-ANGEL.

R4OS Gu 6O 1AnS = wy bAiASS@A "AtA 49, N>S~S
that it was already dark before the children
knew it.
1T seemed to me, " said Max, "as if I had
never had such good time in my life be-
fore. ! wish New Year would come every
day of the year."
$50 do r." resouuded from each of the
other children.
Elsie, the most thoughtful of them all,
had not entered into Sheir sports as Gaily as
the rest Several times during the day she
seen Mammals eyes full of tears, and 1t
troubled her to think that amid all the
laughter and play mamma should be sad.
Once she had crept softly to mammals side
and said, Dear mamma, won't you tell me
why YOU are weeping?" But mammals only
reply was kiss and word, bidding her to
20 back to the rest. But Elsie guessed the
cause of mammals sorrow.
ave have all been very happy" said
Elsie, but we have not forgotten our little
Carl, who was with US last New Years; We
have not forgotten his chubby face, his
golden hair, his laughing eyes aud his mer-
~ voice, and although We know he Is hap
pier now than we are, We have wanted to
have him hear with US just as he was year
ago."
The other children suddenly ceased their
play. They had no thought OF little Carl
al day long, but now the mention OF his
dead name hushed each voice. Dear little
CARL as If that home had not been bright
enough, the good Father in heaven had given
him to make it all the more radiant and
heavenly WITH his childish beauty and in
nocent prattie. And then after the wor-
ship of the child had grown TO be relig-
ion with the parents, God sent his mes
sengers for him and called him home again.
The death of little Carl had been SO gentle
and SO peaceful-it was SO like q soft sigh
ing of the little soul to sleep in mas arms,
that they could hardly realize the idol had
sons forever. But the black, long days
that followed, the heartaches, the silent
agony Of tears, the voiceless echo of his
baby voice-these and ten thousand other
sweetly bitter things had taught them to
the full measure of their loss.
The children fell to talking about their
angel brother. Now that his name had
been called, each had some little childish
memory to recount Of how Carl looked, OF
what ne had said or how gentle and kind
and good he had always been. Mamma sat
hard by and listened to it all, and the tears
came into her eyes and she felt the awful
depth of her bereavement more than ever
before. And papa-the great, strong man
had never seemed moved by any thing else
bad choking feeling in bis throat. There
is nothing more pathetic than child's re-
cital after death and sorrow.
That night after mamma had gone to bee
and as she lay oppressed with grief anc
1onesomeness, she heard the patter of little
feet and in another moment Elsie was
standing by her bedside. .-.--,-
.sWhy, darling" exclaimed mamma. "wh,
are you here-what do you want?"
Mamma" said Elsie, you remember
tn-1Irnf
put me to bed. 1t was not because I wa
not thankful for ali Gods goodness to me
for OH mamma, l am indeed very thankful
that have such pleasant home and sucl
dear mamma and papa, and such lovin
brothers and sisters. But you have bee
so wretched ell day, mamma, that wante
to come and kneel down by your bed an
pray to have little angel Carl come dow
Tonight and kiss you. Nay 1, mammal"
No priest nor orator inspired could hav
breathed into invocation simpler, grands
eloquence than that isped by the kneelln
child.
AS If God heard the prayer ct once an
were fastening TO grant it, holy call
seemed to come into the mothers breas
the heartache ceased and presently the eye
weary with weeping, were closed in pre-
found slumber.
A Child Angel, accompanied by his goc
guardian Christophel, was walking Il
streets of heaven, seeing the beautif
sights and listening to the sweet music.
"How lovely place heaven isl" cried Il
Childe Angel, and how happy I am
think that it is always to be my home"
aDo you never think of the home ye
left on earth?" asked Christophel.
Very, very often," replied the Chile
Angel, and perhaps I might be miserab
did not know that by and by the de
ones left there will come to join me al
live with me always here.
Just then silver bell began to ring O
its melody and all heaven was filed Wi
the glad sound
what bell is that?" inquired the Chill
Angel.
IL is the silver bell which tells US Il
prayer Of little child on earth has be.
heard and will be answered." said Christ
phel.
Come. let us 60 in and see," ezclaim
the Child Angel.
$50 the two entered the great gold
temple where children we're singing oh! Il
loveliest melodies.
The father was in the midst of the chi
dren. There was an eternal smile on /
patriarchal face, and the children gather
about his knees and pressed their kiss
upon his glowing, white beard.
Come here, my little one. said the F
tier to the Child-A Angel. And the Chill
Angel went to him gladly.
A little prayer has come to me fro
EARTH" said the father, and it asks tt
you, my child, may be spared a little VIII
from heaven to go down and kiss your dc
mamma"
And may 60, dear Father-may
and kiss mamma just once?" cried t
Child ANGEL.
Yes replied the Father, and Christ
phel shall 60 with You, that no harm m
befall you. Now, hasten, that your absen
be not too long,"
So Christophel and the Child Angel we
hand in hand together. Out through t
gates OF heaven they passed, and upon t
clouds of descending snow they came do
TO earth.
Perhaps it was because he had lost
way, or perhaps he desired to test the fe,
1ngs OF his little companion-at any RAJ
Christophel conducted the Child Angel il
grand, lofty mansion, where there "
music and dancing and the noise of chill
rem at play. In their heavenly guise t
two could move about unseen, and th
passed through the carved doorways il
the ROOMS where the gaiety was at its heigl
The rooms were brilliantly illuminated, t
carpets were 80 soft you could hear no TO,
fall upon them, costly paintings adorn
the walls, the air was heavy with the Fl
GRANGE of flowers, and the whole scene v
one of worldly magnifcence. Men a
women were dancing and groups of chi
rem were scattered here and there, eneae
id merry games.
This is very beautiful, said the Chi
Angel, 4but it is not as beautiful az heave
Yon are right, my child said Chris
phel, Its splendor might be increased [
thousand fold. and still it would pale Def,
The infinite glory of our home in the skie
!, eThis is not my home, isit, Christophe
astsdfSe Child Angel, II do not see ma
MAJOR the Test Surely this never was
home.