Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-09-19

| GOu'S OlfCh0ay l nave promised
| Him something ON His birthday, i
He stops it,"
But the father wrote OF, wrote
on of his destroyed hopes, of his
deathly sufferings and despair while
the child stood at his side and pratt
tied.
/" Papa, Las the good God chill
dren, tool" They must get lovely
things from Santa Claus /! Papa, dc
yeu know where the stork lives 7
asked mama, but she said when he
brought me to her he flew right off
again, away, away off. would like
to see him again some day. Willie
says he has seen him, but | don't
know il. it was my stork or not"
AT last she wanted to bite her APP
pie, but she remembered mamma
had forbidden her to eat it unpeeled.
Laying one little hand on the wri-
ter's arm she stopped the pen.
Please, papa, peel my apple"
He turned hastily and would have
chided her, but when he met the
clear brown eyes looking so conf
ding in his, he could not summon
courage to do it. Taking his pocket
knife he began to peel the apple.
Lottie looked on.
What makes an apple have a
peel like that The good God let's
it grow on, and cannot eatit. What
use is it 2"
"Why, it keeps the cold out in
winter" he replied, handing her the
fruit.
She was just going to press it with
the pearly little teeth, when she
thought of something else and asked:
" What does that do -
She looked so innocent, SO sweet,
he was completely overcome. Draw
ing her to him, he lifted her ON his
knee and covered her face with kiss
es. AT last, at last he could weep.
She thought lie was afraid of the
storm, which idea increased her
alarms, and she began to weep also.
" All, it is so dreadful ~ she whis-
pered. You must promise Him
something, too, if He will only stop
it,
What shall | promise, Lottie y
She could only think of what she
herself had promised, when her pa
rents were vexed at her fears. "You
promise that you will be right
brave I"
That cut him to the heart. Be
brave !. To fly from life, to forsake
wife and child-was that brave !?
He gave her no answer.
Have you promised 7" she asked
after pause, and just then a daz-
zling fash came. "Qnick promise
now" she urged, and in her increas-
ing terror she began to pray aloud
just what came into her mind first.
6 Father above, protect my sleep and
let thy angels keep watch over me-"
Father" his heart whispered,
!" Thou art the father of this little
one, who in trusting love reposes on
thy breast, looking to thee for pro-
lection; will thou then abandon her,
never to be at hand to watch over, to
protect her youthful steps in the IN
tried journey through life Z" Then a
voice answered Is not even that
better than to see her to grow up in
poverty and privatlon with no power
to help ~
He seized the pen again.
"Ifmamma was only here,n sighed
the child. If mamma was only
here would you be afraid, papa ~
"Ah, no,n his heart answered.
What should he fear with his faith
full, loving wife at his side, ready to
share his burdens.
Another flash and thunder clap
The mornings prayer rose to the
child's lips and she commenced in a
half-singing voice. Dear Father,
bless me and make papa and nam.
ma happy by making me good.r
Then the little head Dropped drowsi-
", the little hand nestled to his
breast.
But thoughtru rushed with lightning
speed within his brain. Make
papa and mamma happy By making