The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-06-21
ORIGINAL SKETCH.
MABEL'S JOY AND GRIEF
FOUNDED ON FACT.



"Oh, mother I'm so glad Decoration
Day is coming. Oh, my SO very glad,
mother, ! can hardly wait the whole long
week.
My child, you appear very much ex-
cited over it. Has the day any special
interest for you?'
Eyes, indeed it has, mother. We win
have a holiday the whole day long. All
the little girls are going to get lots OF
flowers and carry them to the Committee.
Then there's to be a splendid parade.
Everybody is to go to the cemetery and
place flowers upon every soldiers grave
who is buried there, and the band is to go
with the parade. Dear me, won't it be
fine9 Indeed, l can hardly wait. You
know we never had big time on Decora-
ton Day before in this town, and | do
think it will be jolly. You know how
often you've talked to me about papa
telling me how bravely he fought, that he
died while fighting, and that his kind
comrades buried him away off far from
heres where we cannot go to place flowers
upon his grave. Mother, dear, you have
told me when we have been rambling
through the fields, and have plncked
the daisies, how very much papa admired
them, and when heard we would have a
big time here on Decoration Day, made
up my mind that I, too, would carry
flowers to the committee. We have no
garden flowers, mother, but God sends
the beautiful daisies to every child, and
think bouquet of clover blossoms and
daisies would be very sweet. Perhaps IL
give them to soldier in our cemetery,
some other little girl about as old as !,
away off where papa lies, will give some
clover and daisies for his grave.
= g Yes, darling, they are certainly beau
tifal and possess the virtue of not droop-
ing as soon as many fine garden flowers.
You can arise early and gather them.
They were indeed especial pets of your
papa's, and your kind thoughtfulness
gives me pleasure"
Decoration Day dawned bright and
beautiful. The heart of little Mabel
bounded with Joy in anticipation of a
glad day. Her bouquet of clover, grasses
and daisies was quickly gathered. Being
very eager to reach the hall where the
flowers were to be received, she hastily
passed her humble cottage home without
stopping to show them to her mother,
who would have arranged them neatly
for her. The arranging of them was of
little concern to Mabel the fact of having
her daisies and clover blossoms was full
satisfaction.
On she ran to the hall, went modestly
up to the committee and presented her
little ragged handful Of Gods beautiful
gifts. The lady received them with a
very significant laugh which seemed to be
contagious. All the members of the COM
mittee Immediately caught the infection
and appeared quite lively over the offer
ing of little Mabel. In a moment she
seemed to comprehend that her daisies,
the pride and the anticipation of her
heart for whole week, were an object of
ridicule. The reaction in the child's
mind was intense. She burst into Hood
of tears while standing in their midst
quickly left and walked back to her cot
tage home with crushed heart, possessed
with feelings which neither the flight of
time nor the stern experience of long
life can efface. How often good impulse
in child's nature, which would bud and
bloom into life long usefulness, is utter
ly quenched by careless, thoughtless
act from one who is never in sympathy
with the little child, and no act, however
touching, is received with pleasure or ap-
probation by them. Children are lifs's
bright sunbeams, and II we exclude them
from our hearts are likely to often wander
in darkness. "A little child shall lead
thee.'