The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-12-29

~ voice, and althoue ga we know be is hap
pier now than We are, We have wanted to
have him hear with us just as he was year
ego"
The other children suddenly ceased their
play. They had no thought of little Carl
III day long, tut now the mention OF his
dead name hushed each voice. Dear little
Carl! az If that home had not been bright
enough, the good Father inheaven had given
him to make it all the more radiant and
heavenly wits his childish beauty and in
nocent pruttie. 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 soft sigh
ing OF the little soul to sleep in mas arms,
that they could hardly realize the idol had
that followed, tee heartaches, the silent
ogory IT tears, the voiceless echo Of his
baby vcice-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, or
what he 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 anything else
bad choking fselingi il his throat. There
is nothing more pathetic than child's re-
cital after death and sorrow.
That night after mamma had zone to bed
and as she lay oppressed with grief and
lonesoneness, she heard the patter Of little
feet and i'll another moment Elsie was
standing by her bedside.
"Why. dirling," exclaimed mamma, why
are you he-e-what do You want?"
Mamma said Elsie, YOU remember +
did not say my prayer Tonight when you
put mo to bed. It was not because I was
not thankful for all Gods goodness to me-,
for oh! mamma. nm indeed very thankful
that have such y pleasant home and such
a dear mamma and papa, a0d such loving
brothers and sisters. But you have been
so wretched all day, mamma, that wanted
to come and knesl down by your bed and
pray to have little angel Carl come down
Tonight and kiss you. My /, mammal"
NO priest nor orator inspired could have
breathed into invocation O simpler, grandel
child.
AS II God heard the prayer at once md
wore fastening to grant it, a holy calm
seemed to come into the mothers breast
the heartache ceased aud presently the eyes
weary with weeping, were closed in pro.
found slumber.
"A Child Angel. accompanied by his gooi
guardian Christophel, was walking tn.
streets Of heaven, seeing the beautiful
sights and listening to tho sweet music.
blow lovely place heaven isl" cried thu
Child Angel, and how happy I am t
think that it is always to be my home"
"Do You never think OF the home you
lett on earth?" asked Christophel.
Very. very cften," replied the Child.
Angel, and perhaps might be miserable
Odd not know that by and by tho deal
ones left there will come to join INC and
hive with me always here"
Just then silver bell began to ring out
its melody and oil heaven was filed with
the glad sound
What bell is that?" inquired the Child.
Angel.
1T is the silver bell which tells us the
prayer OF litt]s child on earth has been
heard and will be answered." said Christie
phel. ''>~
Come, let us 20 in and see," exclaimed
tho Child-Angel.
SO the two entered the great golden
temple where children were sinoinp Oh the
loveliest melodies.
The father was in the midst of the chill
oren. There was an eternal smile on his
patrlarcbai face, and the children gathered
about his knees and pressed their kisses
upon his glowing, snow white beard.
Come here, my little one." said the Fa-
Their to the Child-Angel. And the Child
Angel went to him gladly.
little prayer has come to me from
earth, said the father, and it asks thai
you, my child, may be spared a httls vhile
1rom heaven to go down and kiss your dea,
mamma"
And may 60. dear Father-may 90
ond Kiss mamma just once?" cried the
Child Angel. ''
befall you. Now, hasten. that vour a H. os
be not too long"
SO Christophel and the Child Angel went
hand IN hand together. Out through the
gates OF heaven they passed, and upon tina
clouds OF descending snow they came down
to earth, Wv w
Perhaps it was because he had lost hi.
way, or perhaps he desired to test the feel.
lngs OF his little compartment snv rste
Christophel conducted the Child Angel intc
grand, lofty mansion, where there was
music and dancing and the noise Of child.
rem ut play. In their heavenly puise Tia
two could move about unseen, and thew
passed through the carved doorways into
the roons where the Raiety was at it's heioht.
Inc rooms were brilliantly illuminated. the
carpets were so soft you could hear no foot
TAU upon them. costly paintings adorned
the walls, the air Has heavy with the fra-
GRANGE OF flowers, and the whole scene VISA
one OF worldly magni6cence. Men oad
women were dancing and groups of child
rem were scattered here and there. enoaoed
IN merry games.
This is very beautiful" said the Child.
Angel, but it ia not as beautiful as heaven. y
lyon are right, my ohild," said Christo.
phel, "its splendor might be increased ten
thousand fold, and still it would pale before
the infinite glory of our home in the skies. -
This is not my home. is it. Christophel?''
asked the Child-Ange!, II do not see nam.
ma or the rest. Surely this never was nv
haxnAs ~