The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-08-15

WV ltdiS ol'l WHICH, We lllONtu W
our sea board parish and her little voice
had closed around many words. even then
One of the stranger neighbors, dear woman,
caught her in her arms at the society,
WINGS Just the name for the precious.
said another; and then all around the
room they kissed my baby, and each one
reiterated the pretty title. Mamie laughed
meant, and tossed her arms about i'll great
glcc.
''Ah, all = exclaimed Aunty Curtiss,
observing the movement, you mustn't get
your wings for long, long time =
''Neoer!" said |, fiercely, "a baby on
earth is worth half dozen in heaven,
whereupon they looked at each other in
a funny way, and | suppose they thought
what strange woman was the minister's
wife. They forgave me afterwards, when
they knew me better
Mamie grew prettier every day of her
life. and her title always chung to her.
And how is our little angel without
wings?' the neighbors would enquire; and
Mamie in her own dialect. would say ::
.'Is pwitty well | doesn't fly yet awhile. 5"
''See that you DON'T they would some
times say, and then would shake my head
and laughingly reply: There isn't any
danger; she loves her mamma too well.
oil x.I,a sod
letters crossed the ocean to Frank, from his
mother, who, failing in health, begged to
see ''her boy once more ere she died.
/ did nottell you Frank was an Englishman.
| say as little of that as possible, for
would have him one of Americas own
sons.
We had little money laid by, and we both
felt it was Franks duty to take it and go to
the aged mother, who waited in farcountry
for a sight of her only child. As the weeks
before his departure grew less and less, my
heart gave way in anticipation, and with it
my health Then it was thai the kind peo-
pie of our congregation thew into my lap
purse which was to take me too.
And leave our angelo | questioned
seeking Frank eyes.
with your MOTHER he replied; ''she
shall come here and the child will be bet
ter to remain behind Can you not make
this self-denal, and leave sans wings with
her grandma - And looking up into his
face, my lips said ''Yes, while my heart
cried No
The eventful day at last arrived. Good
bye, little angel, said Frank, hugging and
kissing Mamie as though he was never to
see her again. Goodbye, sweetheart,
precious darling" | murmured, and left
her cheeks wet with ears. She did not
comprehend what it was all about, though
Lift me up, papa she entreated, and
then with her little arms around his neck
she exclaimed; Papa, DOR angell dit e
wings if 90 and mamma do away
Frank strength appeared to desert him,
and I--why caught my baby in my arms
and begged to stay behind. 1T is only a
ehild's prattle,' said Frank, though much
disturbed 'Milly. shall We pray once
more -
We went back into the house and left
the good people all standing around the
door. God knows fla prayer could have
saved our child, the petition that went up
that morning would have done it. But it
was not to be.
''God sent our angel wiags, and she tfeao to
Hmself." was the telegram that greeted us
as we landed ON foreign shore.
Was it easy to bear? oh, it was not
II pas not! | was crushed, overwhelmed,
sutocafed with grief, and Frank grew pale
and haggard the few days of our stay,
though he whispered over and over, God
knows what is best God help us to en-
dure y
H is parish by the sea, as | have
said Living near the water, the sea
always in sight. one forgets what cruel
grasping things are waves learns to
trust them and calls them beautiful.
Mamie had often wandered on the beach to
atnef Shells, Willle L SAT on tiit IothS iicai
by: but never. like other children of the
neighborhood. had she been there by her
self to play. cannot account for it now
how she came to wander there alone: yet
it was there, in a cleft rock, they found
her little hat and basket half filled with
pretty white shells. But Mamie was her
self missing: forever gone from sight.
washed out to sea, was the general
verdict, and giving crcdence to this,
would creep to that lonely beach and beg
the great. cruel waves to tell me more OF
nv Mamie. For hours | would sit there
motionless. Watching, staring, at the roll
ling waters. praying that the form might
be cast at my feet. Not in my way, but in
] His, did God answer those prayers.
! had spent a weary afternoon on the
/ shore. Night was coming on the sky
grew grey. and the waters looked dark and
| bitter. A chill came over me, and with a
shudder | hid my face in my hands.
Scarcely had done SO when, close by my
| side, felt the sweet presence of the lnyisi-
| BILE One and in accents the most tender,
| | heard those precious words Il will not
Il.