The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-04-12
LITTLE ONE"

In all his brief life lie had not known or
answered to any Otlcr. IL seemed 10 be
part and parcel with himself and it had
tenaciously clung Go him from the hour he
had been thrown iriendleSs wait upon
our mercy until the present, when at ~
wears Of ace he was no lnrger than are
most children Of and ..
We were a chiidless couple-my hus
band and /. Our luxurious home had
never resounded TO 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 ana
heart. And in home and heart he had
reigned triumphant ever SINCE
Who he was-frOn whence extracted
we had never thought to question. II
mattered little If honor or shame was his
heritage He had come TO us in a time OF
sorest need; he was helpless and innocent
and fair TO look upon, and so we had
straightway enthroned the tiny stranger,
From the very first he was possessed OF
a touching, appealing sort OF beauty, ana
of most eudearng baby ways; and as day
by day discovered some new charm ia
mind or body, We grew 70 love him with
q love that was akin 10 idOlary Oh how
we loved our Little One. And now, when
Island beside the mound that covers his
ashes. how the hot tears gush TO my eyes
and how thr0bs my heart in keenest an
guish, rs recall the winsomeness that 50
endeared Liml
Had we been gifted with q prophets
vision we would have iorescen that the
Jewel had been lent Us for a season only,
and the blow had not then fallen so sud
denly as 10 find US unprcpared
The many veined transparent temples
the large, melancholy blue eyes ever bent
upon the unseen, as it were-thc gentle
tones-the spiritlke tread--tOld "a story
all their own, but love had blinded us and
we could not read between the lincsW
For him the future was to be one un-
ending dream of delight; for him we built
castles in Spain, and planned and boarded,
so that when manhood should come 10
him be would take his place among the
proudest in the land Gould we but have
known that this fail lie so dear 70 Us.
was fast receding from our grasp-thdt
the tender feet were even now approach
ing the shores of the Mystic sea, think
We we would have 50 dreamed and
planned? True, there were moments,
even in our blindness. when vague fear
would send pang sharper than sword
thrust 10 the heart, as we caught his rapt,
far away gaze, or marked nm unusual
lanQuor in his movements But all such
fears were dismissed as quickly rs they
came. and we would 20 on planning and
dreaming, "a before.
Always a quiet child he grew more and
moro so as time sped on until now none
ever saw him engage in romp and play
like others Of his age nor heard MS voice
raised in boyish laugh OF 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 he would amuse himself
In his own subdued fashion with his books
and toys while sat sewing near him.
And |, who loved him better than lie,
was content 10 have it thus
But when the twilight shadows filed
the room il WAS his habit 10 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 he never wearied
Then when bed time came ana ! had
robed him in his snowy nizhtdress, he
would kneel at my feet, reyerently fold
his waxen hands and pray with an earnest
ness that was almost uncanny IN 50 young
n child, after which he would coax 10 be
taken In my arms TO be rocked and sung
10 sleep IL was baby trick OF his which
he had never outgroYn and one III which
1delighted to indulge him. II all comes
back 10 me--the tiny white robed form,
the grooming lullabies, the saint like
PRAYER, the confiding, golden head the
touch OF clinging arms around my neck
and a great wave OF agony breaks over
my soul at the retrospect,
We had made for our Little one II
downy nest; we had sheltered and hedged
him about with tenderest care, but alas ,
no earthly love, however tender, could
screen him from the Destroyer Scarlet
fever OF a most virulent type broke ont IN
the village, and in spite or all human pre-
caution our zone eve lamb was an early
victim. How We battled with our fierce
despair as we lowered in breathless sus-
pense above his pillow. How alternately
elated we were by hope or depressed by
foreboding as we watched the crimson
cheek, or noted the ftful pulse, let those
tell only who have thus endured One
by one loves tendrils were being wreuched
from their hold on the heart--ouc by one
our hopes were going out with the sands
OF life and we were forced 10 bow 10
the inscrutable!
Ii was a glorious evening in early
June The sun had gone down in more
than usual pomp, leaving all afterglOw Of
liquid radiance, which IN turn had given
place 10 the solemn stars and 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 plmntiye voice piped
Mamma are you there"
eyes, my precious, mamma IS here, and
she does not intend TO leave You either
And is my papa here, too"'
Eyes, dear, your papa Is here, too"
'Then want you both 10 come and sit
where | can feel you near me; for, oh
mamma, | can't see YOU AZ all | some
how seem TO be slipping-slipping-away
from everybody, and your poor little boy