The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-12-06
POOR CHILD.


 night.
 In the parlor, on a table was a plain coffin, and in it the remains of a child that a few days since stood leaning out from the window to welcome her papa as he came home from the shop, and who m reply to a question stated, when we saw her alive two weeks ago that she was four years old. Beside the coffin when we entered, stood the father, an honest, earnest man, with lips quivering, and the waters of grief yelling out from his eyes. Leaning upon him was his wife, sobbing, trembling as in anguish of soul she held to her eyes handkerchief wet with tears. Near by stood a solemn taced man who said:
 Poor child!'
 Then he told of the accident, resulting from carelessness, whereby the home had become in part desolate. Of the efforts of all to hold back the beautiful little spirit from going back to the ,hrongs in the golden gardens where parting is not as is parting here. And he asked:
 |" Is it not dreadfulS'
 C Is not what dreadful
 The death of so sweet child f'
 The mother sobbed and leaned down upon the shoulder of her husband, who bit his under lip as his body shook with emotion.
 No. It IS not dreadful. It is beauti- ful. There is no death. Life has many steps, one to the other. as on, and on, and farther into the eternal travel all who enter life by mortal doors, to remain a time as visitors, and who are ever pass ing on.
 Poor mother who nouns her missed treasure. Poor father whose heart has had one of its tendrils taken away. But for the child-it is already on the door steps of its home in the Land of the Leal, where loving angels await its coming, and where it will soon be in the parlor, looking out of the window and waving a welcome 10 papa, mamma and all who arrive from the dark land and the dismal shores. Then our departed juniors will be our welcoming seniors. As we are kind, loving, careful, considerate of them here in the tolls of temptation, so will they crown heads with hslos re- splendent and Ill our hearts with happi- ness eternal
 But II is hard to part with those we love"
 Yes, that IS 50. We had rather part with every a,em of worldly possessions than with enc friend whose friendship is friendly. No man ever yet succeeded in taking an ounce of wealth from the world. Not even bud, fruit, a flower, result of thought or an atom of material. It all belongs here and its use gives us rank Over There. Not only the use of material but the use of words, of ideas, of our affections. Those we love we correct mildly yet firmly, so that the good door to the future may be opened. not closed, in the face of the hnle ones who are advancing. Our lives go out into and along with theirs. Their child ish prattle is music sweet. Theirs is love uuselhsh. The dear little ones are guided along into beautiful ways if we are careful with them, so that when they depart from our arms they leap direct to those who welcome children to heaven as fond parents welcome them to earth life. The spiri, goes, the physical, use less body remains.
 There shows every bruise, every ugly wound we infiiC on 1t as our most beau nful furniture shows tke scratches made AACAC1B Oy (04ClCSS UT uGSuuCuVG 1AQdS.
 We who arc left to mourn, are the ones who need sympathy. Weep not for those who have gone on, as they are b. cated to love and are home building against our coming.
 Heaven is the home for innocence, and we who pass the innocent along can keep them and love them, and be kind to them and teach them while our guests. We k,llow on if they go before us, as sure to Ind them as we are deserving of such happiness But mourn not for those who pass on to the beautiful, but for those not yet dismissed the school of life.
 Some weeks since we stood by the side of coffin in which were the remains of a wife and mother. The husband. a stout man of the world needed the care, the love, the heart leal of the one wbo had passed on. A little boy not yet in his teens was left to stand beside the coffin and weep; to him one could say
 Poor child
 From him vent the sweet, loving. ten der care of a good mother; from him had gone his shield, his teacher, his hear, anchor. It was the little one who was left to suffer Fathers are too busy with the world to bring up orphaned children. No loss like that of good mother. All the world does not ill the vacancy created in child lite when she passes on. No, many days since we visited a man in prison. He was happy and content. A year more to serve, then the doors will open and he can go out to freedom and to his inclinations as goes the spirit dis enthrailed. We asked him why he was 90 cheerful
 Il have a letter every week from my mother. She believes that am innocent. know that l am innocent, and thus a, rest within, and blessed with true hear without, why should ] not be happy innocent man in prison is happier than a bad man out. The opinion of the world amounts to little in comparison oi our opinion of ourselves"
 The prisoner talked to ne of h;s