The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-12-27

papa, won't L? And he Will hold me In
his arms Just like be used to, and tiss
me and tall me Little Forget.me-not,
and say / amt dot any ozzer name, and
feed me with nice bread aud milk, won't
ht7 1 won't never, never, never be hungry
nor cold any more? Aud an angelic
smile of sweet content and happiness
transfigured the wan face Of the dying
child, making it shine with the dawning
light OF heaven.
The mother could only sob bitterly in
reply. In the strange, wonderful ex-
preston of her daughters face she read
the infallible signs of the presence of
Death, and knew that God was answer
ing her prayer by taking Little Forget
me-not from her aud the cruel world in q.
to His own blessed rest of peace, love,
and supreme happiness
Suddenly the dying little girls atten-
tion was attracted by the singing of a
Christmas Eve masquerading glee club
in the street. They had become tired Of
the sentimental songs of the day, and
now their voices rose in sweet accord in
that glorious old Christmas anthem:
"Glory to God in the highest. Peace
and good will to men,
"Hark, mamma, hark!" Little Forget
me-not exclaimed. "I'm almost in
heaven. hear the angels singing. Oh,
mamma, won't 1 be happy there! Never,
never be cold there, or SO awful hungry
there" And the dying child's voice
grew fainter and lower. The mysterious
and awful seal Of mighty Death was now
Enthusiastically imprinted on her face,
Suddenly her eyes shone with strange.
wondrous fire OF joyous recognition; an
eager, angelic expression lit up her face.
Stretching out her thin, wasted arms
and glanclng upwards she cried, ooh,
mamma, l see papa! see papa! Oh.
papa, dear, dear papa, take me, take me
in your arms like You used to. Tall
me Little Forget.ms-" Then she fell
back dead!
No moro would the bitter pangs OF
hunger torture Little Forget-me-not.
No more would the biting cold assail
her, nor the sufferings of disease torment
her. Her piteous appeals for food be-
longed solely to the dark, dreary past.
There would be no more Of these pa
thetie calls. No, no, thank God, size
was safe in the sweet haven of rest and
peace. AS the midnight bells chimed
in the glorious dawn of another Christ.
mas, an angel was born in heaven, and
one little suffering soul was forever al
rest.
The wretched, distracted mother
caught the lifeless, inanimate form oi
h6r child in her arms. and kissing hei
repeatedly, cried, "Oh, Little Forget
me-not, speak, speak, speak, darling ,onct
more. Say one word, baby, TO YOU
mother"
But no word would ever again come
from that little mouth, now pale ant
cold in the awful embrace of death
Until dawn, all through the darkness o
that terrible night, Mrs. Robertson hel(
J the mortal remains of Little Forget-me
=, not, beseeching her to speak, and Wildl!
, calling upon God to restore 10 her he
lost child. Then when the first rays 0
. dawn softly came through the window
she laid the mortal casket OF the nov
glorious angel in heaven back on til,
bed, and closed the once bright steel
:, blue eyes for all time. With despera
ton she seized an old well-worn Bible
+ aud by the rays of the now rapidly IN
creasing daylight, lead again and agair
= words which had so often been on he
lips for months past; "Come unto me al
ye that are weary and heavy laden, int
., | will give you rest"
- q
= 1t was nearly twelve o'clock, noon, be
y fore the lady member of the investigat
g ing committee of the local charitable OF
!; gauIzation stood at the door of the tene
IS ment house, and asked for Mrs. Robert
D. son. She had happy family of fv
II little ones, and had been detained b.
II them until that time, enjoying the kee
delight and surprise with which the
6 had received their numerous gifts, an
u participating in the family enjoyment c
B the beautiful Christmas tree heaYil
Is laden with its glistenipg fruits. In re
=" sponse to her inquiries she was Shown I
l. Mrs. Robertson's door. The door wa
D. fastened, and no amount of knockin
would cause it to open, At last, afte
lie much delay aud many conjectures b
le the now assembled crowd of "tenemer
Or house neighbors," the door was force
lie open. And what an awful picture wa
e, there disclosed. What terrible an
Iy striking contrast was there witnesse
e between what was there seen and th
Ia happy family which the investigator
Is lady had just left: Partly across Ii
o, dead body of her child, and on the foo
il in kneeling position, Mrs. Robertso
e. lay dead. Upon the child's breast Ia
T. the open Bible, and upon these wore
SIS the lifeless hand OF the dead woman res
ig ed Come unto me, all ye that al
of weary and heavy laden, and I will gi'
es you rest"
at God had kept his promise. She WI
tn at rest. God had answered her prayer
ng Little Forget-me-not was cold and hui
le, cry no more!
or - -
he HE CHANGED HIS OPINION.
he Good morning Mrs. McGuinness. "