The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-03-02
How Charlie and Joe Found Heaven.

ing cause I'm Sold Are We almost there,
Joe?"
"Just little further, Charlie, then well
10 where Heaven is. Try and keep warm q
little longer"
Eyes, Joe. It's never cold in Heaven is
it, Joe?"
mo, Charlie"
They truased along through the streets
filled With the crowds Of we'll dressed peo-
pie. No one noticed the little fellows as
they hurried by. No policeman Glanced to
question them. No one asked whittier they
were bound.
One of them was little four-year<old,
with blue eyes and haxen hair; the other
scarce two years older. Hand i'll hand they
walked along.
Joe, why didn't mamma wake up and
say good bye before tho man carried her
away i'll that box?"
II guess she wasn't asleep, Charlie. Are
you cold?"
Not very Joe" he answered, with sob,
70, the little feet and hands were aching
sadly.
Past the snyly Lighted shops they has
tened on their way to heaven. At length
they entered tho avenue lined with the
homes Of the rioh Lights cleaned from
WIS family heard through the closed doors.
Joe, Pm so cold; arc wo almost there?"
and the baby lips quivered in the faint
light
See, Charley, l guess wo have got to
heaven" Joe pointed to ray of light which
came through the door of q large mansion
across the street. A servant had left it
agar, and the faint CLEAN Of light seemed to
tue little ones o ray from paradise. On the
marble steps the children toiled. Softly
pushing against the heavy door, which
yit lded to their touch, they entered. Yes,
it was heaven. at last.
Worn out with cold aud hunger, Charley
sank upon soft rug. Joe wantod to find
mlmma, but he would not leave Charley
lest he should lose him. "Come, Charley"
re said, lets go and see mamma"
"Yes, Joe; but Charley is so tired"
With difficulty the little fellow rose from
his soft bed and hand in hand they started.
Tho drawing room door was open. Within
were the millionaire, MIR. Henry, and his
wife, seated before the open fire. The
husband was reading the evening paper,
while the white haired matron sat lost in
reverie. The tears were trickling down her
checks, showing that her thoughts were not
Joyous but sad. "Just seven years ago to-
night" she murmured. ooh, if I only
knew she was we'll and happy. Seven years
and not word" The tears fell faster.
Neither saw tho little figures coming to-
ward them.
"Please, are you God?"
The millionaire looked up hastily from
his paper at the sound of that childish
voice. Again tho question.
Are you God?"
The paper fel! from his inscrs. "Who
are you, and how came you in my houso?"
be exclaimed in wonder.
If You are God, may We see mamma?
They carried her away this afternoon and
the man said she he'd gone to heaven. SO
we've come to see mamma and papd, dear
God. Don't send us away"
The man rose quickly from h!s chair and
rang q bell. A servant entered.
John. who admitted these little beg.
gars?"
"Wo're Mt beggars, said Joe. "Wo ara
frying to find heayen--C Charley and l. The
door was open Il guess somo angel enw us
coming), and so We came right in. Don't
lie angry with us. We only want 10 find
mamma"
The blue eyes looked inplorin@y into
the angry face above thAm. What did tho
man see in those eyes 10 make him renem-
bor the daughter he ha,: turned out Of
doors Just seven years ago? He
asked in trembling vvice, "who are you,
iol?"
Pm Joe and this is Charley"
Charley had been his little sons name.
ami this ono had the s;.mo tlaxen hair and
deep Elie eyes that Charley had.
"Please God, may we sec LII ,mna?" said
little Cia:leT, laying h!s tiny hand on the
mlli2ulire's.
Il a1n MOI Cod" said the: latter in Won
derfully snftcned voice; Gid you think
[ was? Come, nov, tell me al about
it."
@l'apa went to heaven last winter and
mamma went this afternoon. The other
man told US to 60 away from the room
where We lived. He eaid wo could not
stay there any longer. So Charley and
started cut to find heaven and mamma. We
saw the light coming through the door and
Te thought il must be heaven. Mamma
said if We were good We shoEla 80 to hoayen
whe' it :s mover cold nor dark, whore we
shall never be hungry. but shall sing and
play With the little child Jesus. Oh, God,
don't let a policeman take us away. We
didn't mean to do anything naughty. II
you are angry, We will 90 away. Charley is
so cold and tired, please let him stay q few
minutes longer. He is only littIo boy. "
"Iusband, let them stay to night" said
the white haired W.T..
All, wonderful is tho faith and purity Of
cb,!Gdood! The touch Of that little hand,
the pleading look il tho blue eyes, the tone
Of that voice, so like his little dead sons,
the sweet trust in God, had undone the
work of years. The millionaire was HIM
self again. He sank down in the armchair
and buried his face III his hands. Tears
trick'ad between his fingers. My God! my
God!" moanad the man. Seven years ago
to night drove her from me- with q curse.
II only know where she was, how gladly
would go to her. On, my child, my dar-
ling Kate, cone home; como homo to your
old fathers heart and love-"
Ey this time the wife had little Charley
clasped in her arms, and the tears were
falling fast upon the silken curls. The lit
tie follow, worn out with cold and hunger,
ellaslcep. What mattered it to the white
haired mother that his clothes were thin
and shabby? Her wealth of mother love, so
long restrained had at last found an out
let.
The millionaire rose from his chair and
walked TO u curtained recess across the
room. With trembling hands he drew the
heavy curtain and disco 3ed q large portrait
hanging on the wall. 1t was the face of
beautiful girl just entering womanhood.
TIE father gazed long and stea lfast. the
tears dinmins his eyes. ooh! my KITE!
my child" he murmured. Joe had
watched his movements, and thinking per-
haps be had gone to find mamma, followed
him across the long parlor. He stool spell
bound before the picture. His mamma
had told him that the angels wore white
robes and crowns Of gold. This radiant
creature wore no golden c. own, but a robe
Of spotlcss white. Who was it that smiled
so lovingly down upon him from
the frame? Suddenly it dawned upon
him.
1t was mamma in her angel dress. 'Oh!"
mamma! mammal" cried the child. Come,
quick, Charley. I've found mamma"
With arms outstretched toward the portrait
the little fellow sank fainting to the
floor.
"Merciful God! can these be Rates chill
dren? Quick, wife, some wine. He has
fhinted.'
The wife sprang to her feet. Laying lit