Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-01
little ONE


tenaciously clung to him from the hour ne
had been thrown a friendless waif upon
our mercy until the present, when at 10
years of age he was no larger than are
most children Of 4 and 8.
We were q childless couple-my hus-
band and I. Our luxurious home had
never resounded 10 the pattering OF baby
footsteps nor the music OF baby voices,
and so when on that bitter winters night
we had found him lying in mute helpless
ness upon the threshold, we thanked God,
and at once adopted him into home and
heart. And in home and heart he had
reigned triumphant ever sincel
Who he waS-from whence extracted
we had never thought to question. It
matt~red little if honor or shame was his
herit age. He had come to us in time Of
sorest need; he was helpless and innocent
and sair TO look upon, and so we had
straig htway enthroned the tiny strangers
Fran the very first he was possessed Of
to..ching, appealing sort of beauty, and
of laost endearing baby ways; and as day
by Jay discovered some new charm in
nina or body, we grew to love him with
love that was akin TO idolatry. Oh how
we loved our Little One! And now, when
stand beside the mound that covers his
ashes, how the hot tears gush to my eyesi
and how throbs my heart-in keenest an
guish, as | recall the winsomeness that so
endeared him!
Had we been gifted with a prophets
vision we sgoIld have foreseen that the
jewel had kseen lent US for a season only,
and the blow had not then fallen so sud-
denly as to find US unprepared.
The many yeined transparent temples
~, II, y
upon the unseen, as it were-the gentle
tones-the spiritlke tread-told a story
all their own but love had blinded as and
we could not read between the linesi'
For him the future was to be one I'M
ending dream OF delight; for him we built
castles in Spain, and planned and boarded,
so that when manhood should come to
him lie would take his place among the
proudest in the land. Could we but have
known that this frail life SO dear to US,
was fast receding from our grasp-that
the tender feet were even now approach
ing the shores Of the Mystic sea, think
We we would have so dreamed and
planned? True, there were moments,
even in our blindness. when q vague fear
would send q panS sharper than sword
thrust to the heart, as we caught his rapt,
far away gaze, or marked an unusual
languor in his movements. But all such
fears We're dismissed as quickly as they
came, and we would go on planning and
dreaming. as before.
Always;a quiet child, he grew more and
more so as time sped on until now none
ever saw him engage in romp and play
/ like others of his age, nor heard his voice
raised in boyish laugh or shout. This
was unnatural and should have caused
Us timely alarm so that we might have
/ tried the efficacy Of more vigorous meas
ures But we were blind and could not
see what was best for the child. For
hours and hours ne would aInUse himself
in his own subdued fashion with his books
and toys while | sat sewing near him.
/ And l, who loved him better than life,
was content to have il thus.
But when the twilight shadows filled
/ the room it was his habit TO throw his
/ playthings aside, climb my knee, and nest
ling his golden head in my bosom, beg me
To tell him the dear old Bible stories, and
+ OF the angels with their harps and crowns
stories TO which he had listened from
/ infancy but Of which ne never wearied.
Then when bed time came and I had
ROBBED him in his snowy nightdress, he
would kneel at my feet, reverently fold
/ his waxen hands and pray with an earnest
ness that was almost uncanny in SO young
a child, after which he would coax TO be
taken in my arms to be rocked and sung
/ to sleep. Il was baby trick of his which
/ he had never outgrown. and one IN which
/ delighted to indulge him. It all comes
/ back TO me-the tiny white robed form,
the grooming lullabies, the saint like
prayer, the contiding, golden head, the
touch of elinCing arms around my neck
and a great wave Of agony breaks over
my soul at the retrospect
We had made for our Little One a
downy nest; we had sheltered and hedged
him about with tendeTest care; but alas!
no earthly love, however tender, could
screen him from the Destroyer Scarlet
fever of q most virulent type broke out in
the village, and in spite of all human pre-
caution our zone eve lamb was an early
victim. How we battled with our ferco
despair as we lowered in breathless sus-
penSe above his pillow. How alternately
slated we were by hope. or depressed by
SorebodipC, as we watched the crimson
cheek. or noted the fitful pulse. let those
tell only who have thus endured. One
by one loves tendrils were being wrenched
from their hold on the heart-oae by one
our hopes were going out with the sands
/ of lie. and we were forced to bow to
the inscrutable!
II was glorious evening in early
June The sun had gone down in more
than usual pomp, leaving an afterglow OF
liquid radiance, which in turn had given
place TO the solemn stars and a full orbed
moon. Little One" had been lying for
hours in sort of conscious stupor, from
which we had feared to arouse him, when
suddenly the plaintive voice piped:
Mamma, are you there:"
Eyes, my precious. mamma is here, and
she does not intend 10 leave you either"
"And is my papa here, too;"
'Ies dear, your papa is here. too"
'Then l want you both 10 come and sit
where / can feel you near me; for, oh
mamma, l can't see you at ALL | some
how seem 10 be slipping-slpping-
from everybody, and your poor little boy
10 SO cold,''
In fearful silence we obeved his request,
when. clasping hand OF each, he again
sank into partial stupor. the while there
crept through al his blessed little frame
%, ICY oaiiIi. which gathered II heavy cews
upon his foreheadl
a long. long silence ensued, and then
was heard another feeble nuttering:
Mamma -
Whst Is it now. ny pet:''
Draw the curtain aside. rieaae. can
see once more and want TO look out upon
the pretty bright stars and the lady moon.
Thew make me think Of the angels you We
so often told ne about. And, mamma,
did you know that your Little One was
going 10 be one of EN- to-ni-hts You