The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-02-06
The STRAY ANGEL.
EY GRACE DEMO LITCHFIELD.

EY GRACE DEMO LITCHFIELD.
\ little Angel once strayed from
Heaven and lost his way. He stood all
alone in the immensely of space, with
great stars rushing past, and golden
comets dartirg by in Kissing splendor,
and far-9lf suns burning and shining in
una!terabe, unapproachable glory. But
none of them was Heaven. And the lit
tie Angel toated along on weary wing,
and strained his gaze looking upward
and downward and around in search of
the home he had lost. till at last, too
wait or wander more, he dropped down
upon the nearest world, which CHANGED
to be our earth.
Il have lost my way from ii :aven,'
said the Angel timidly to the first per
son he met. and who happened to be a
clergym man.
Can yon show me the way back?'
The man stopped and looked at him
severely over his white cravat.
"Certaiuly." he said. "Do you &C
knowledge the apostolic succession aud
infant haptism?'
"Wby don't know replied the lit
tie Angel, dnubipusly, 81 never heard
of either in Heaven
Dear me- said the clergyman, rails
ing his eyebrows to fine high-ch
angle. IF you are SO utterly ignorant
as that, there's no use in my pointing ont
the way. You can't get there anyhow.
But here's my brother. lou may get
on better with him.
"Do you believe in ubstantlatl, n
and papal infallibility, my son?' asked
the brother mildly, with soft. persua-
| sive voice and milky smile.
The little AngA looked puzzled.
They Fever taught me that in
| Heaven" he answered Il really can't
say
We'll. Just learn that first, my fine lit
| tie fellow: and then come back to me-
There's no other living body can teach
you the way to Heaven; for we hold the
! keys. and none else can pass the door,
But | want to go TO Heaven now--to-
day, said The little Angel, entreatingly
llease. oh, please show me the way
there
No. no. Not yet, m, sad little here
tie lei lied tie other, in a soothing.
oily tore. purge Your soul fins, Of all
apostate cree's In the meantime per
haps my cousin hele can help YOU"
mt low. | haven't time" said this
one, big. clustering looking man, with
a scowl like "A November day upon his |
face. 81 M to deliver lecture to night |
upon The Sole Way of Redemption
Open to Sinners, and the closing sen
tence has still all to be remodeltd and |
elaborated. ii viewer, | see neighbor
there who may help you
There. There. Out of the way, my
boy said the neighbor, smiling benevo
lently through his gold trimmed specta
cl,s, and pushing the little Angel
roughly out of his way-very roughly. |
it would have seemed, but for that in
tenscly nevolent smile. What is it
you war,, The way to Heaven? Yes, |
yes, to e sure: very proper; but | can't |
tell You now. I'm on my way to a meet
ing of the Grand Panjamdrum Society
for the Relief of the Poor, and can't be
stopped by beggars. Another time, my
/
find some one who ought to help you
".ielp you?' grcans d a man going by, |
mtn .ean and lank, and haggard look
ing as an attenuated exclamation point |
"Ah, poor wretch, what help is there for
your unregenerate soul? Repent, repent,
ere He'll oIen headlong beneath ynur
feet, You are an outcast from q ace. a |
child Of the Devil. A son of perdition. |
Help you" Alasr' Aud he smote his
breast "iI"w can help you? Are We
no. al! lost alike
But where is lleavele'' cried the lit
tie Angel, IespAiriugy. Il can get there
alone il only know the way. Is there
no one eau show M the way to Heaven
#" tleaver, NY deaI?' echoed "a pas
scr, using in surprise. well, | don't
KIN just Where that is: but it isn't ne
crssarv. | can show you the way to
Brother Bind rs instead, and that's all
any one needs to know. What he tells
you is better than the Bible, and truer
than truth. Come to him."
stay, stay. called another, excitedly.
"Iou'Ii never get to Heaven through
those doors. Poor little Innocent lamb!
Come with me! I'll raise a subscription
for YOU so You shall be fed and clothed,
anu taught to lCck pious aud sing hymns,
and shall have beef and pudding once a
week, and lots of holidays. and grow up
to save other sinful little boys from the
wicked and deluded ways of your own
childhood Come, come, my lamb
"And 90 from the House of the Guon
Shepherd direct to the House of Correc-
ton; that's always the eldn grum' led
another voice. Better put him in prison
at o-ce, and save time. What's the little
vagaboud doing here?'
81 only want to learn the way to
Heaven" sobbed the little Angel "And
no one knows"
'Why, We all know said merry
voice, coming up behind "Ol course,
we do. A.. of u'. I's up among the
stars someu here. Wen find it straight
o,,tn,,b W han ho and c,,,,av
But where. where - asked the little
Angel, beathlesslv. Can't you show
me, too?
TIE mau looked blank.
You 'on't need to find the way yet,
my infant. Time CROUCH foi that when
You are old. really haven't found the
exact road myself yet; but | will try by
and by fra la la NV and nv Time