The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-02-17
DOWN THE BRIGHT WALK TO
 THE BEAUTIFUL GATE.
BY JOHN MEAGHER.

was n the air, through which the sun shone with a soffened and crimsoned light Upon seat in an arbor beneath the brown leaves of a vine from which the luscious fruit had been gathered, sat a man whose long, white beard and whiter hair, as well as his furrowed face and bent form, bespoke the near ap- proach of that great change which awaits us all. The life journey of this aged man had been a long one. For nearly four score years he had been pilgrim on the earth. and the end was drawing nigh.
 A few months ago, the loved and loving wife who had been his compan- ion for nearly fifty years, grew tired and left his side to enter into that rest which remains for earth's weary ones in the great hereafter.
 Now he was alone, neither son nor daughter had he, whose 6lial love and tender affection would sustain him in the hour when his tottering feet should be ow and mystery of death.
 His had been home without children. for many years. In the earlier days, when his beloved wife was as fair and beautiful as poets dream, one bright. sunny-haired image of the young mother came and made their home radiant for brief period with her happy and joyous life. With what price and Joy he watched her day by day while her life unfclded itself like a rose, and grew sweeier and more precious every hour. She was gem-a treasure. peerless and prieeless-from whose eyes, which had caught and constantly reflected the ex- quisi,c azure of the skies, there sparkled forth light. softer and purer than ever came from diamond depths It was the love-light of baby's eyes, answering the unspeakable and ineffable tenderness that shown forth from the depths of those of the young mother, in whose arms the precious gift from heaven nestled cooing and growing in sweet and satis- 6ed content.
 When the baby learned to walk. and her little feet grew strong enough, papa used to find his darling and her mamma, as he came toward the house from the office each evening, waiting fer him on the porch. As soon as the little eyes causht sight of him, there would be heard a ripple of joyous laughter. pit-a-pai of little feet. and little form with the light of the sky in its eyes and the gold of the sun in its floating hair, would fly with outs,reiched arms down the walk to the gate to meet him as he entered it. Then, there was little head resting on his shouLier, a little mouth smothering him ling themselves in his dark beard. as he carried the laughing. riotous maiden into the house.
 One evening, in the Indian summer days, as he came home in the gray dusk "a warm, mild evening at the close of a calm, dreamy day-he turned the corner of the street but saw no one waiting for him on the porch. That evening there was no ripping laughter or pit-a-pat of little feet heard as he approached the gate. When he reached the porch. his wife came out to meet him, her face wearing serious and ..x:cr. lcck She answered the unspoken inquiry that showed itself in his eyes by telli1g him their little darling was not feeling we'll. and she was afraid she was going sO be very ill.
 YeA she vas very i'll so Ill that neither skill of physician, nor the tenderssk nun ing could avail to stay the flight of her pure spiHt to Him, who. in the tender ness of his Divine heart, said: @Let lit ,le childrea come unto me, and forbid them not. for of such is the Kingdom of Heavep!" fs 4
 Evesy mother and every hther who has seen the sunshine of a bright and happy spirit pass to that land that is fairer than day, knows the grief that was presen, in that home, so still and so lonely now. The young mother had now as sacred Teasures~-t treasures to keep the heart pure and tender through all .he coming ycars-the little dresses, and the little shoes that encased the ten der feet. and the playthings that used to strew the floor. These she would take out day after day, and kiss them one by one while her stricken heart found re- lief in binding tears.
 One sacred treasure the father carried with him always-a little lock of sunny hair-and often he would sit and gaze upon il with swelling heart and tear-dim- med eyes. At such times there came 10 comfort him the words of his darling her last words, spoken Just~beiore she passed through the peariy gates to the beautiful beyond. A light that was no; of earth was in her eyes, and a radiance
 
 looked up into the fearful faces bending over her, and said. in the voice of one gazing upon a beautiful vision. 70, Papa. Oh. Mamma. sec such pre,- ty. pretty place. I'm going to it, and Papa and Mamma. you must not cry, for I'll be your baby over there I'll wait for you Papa and Mamma, and I'll come down the bright walk to the beautiful gate to meet you.'
 
 Ks this old man sat in the arbor on that autumn afternoon, a little lock of hair held in his aged and trembling fingers caught and imprisoned the golden sunlight that streamed in through the vines and lattice-work-
 As he stroked the silken strand his mind went back through the long years and he thought of her-his baby. Yes, h;s baby. Such she had been to him al- ways. He never thought of what she might have been had she grown to