Huntsville gazette., 1888-05-12

ing arms around my neck-and a
great wave of agony breaks over my
soul at the retrospect 5
We had made for our Little One a
downy nest; we had sheltered and
hedged him about with the tenderest
care; but alas! no earthly love, how
ever tender, could screen him from the
Destroyer! Scarlet fever of most
virulent type broke out in the village,
and in spite of all human precaution
our zone eve lamb" was an early vic
tim. How we battled with our fierce
despair as we lowered in breathless
suspense above his pillow. How alter
nately elated we were by hope, or
depressed by foreboding, as wewatched
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-one by one, our hopes
We're going out from the sands of a
life, and we were forced to bow to the
inscrutable.
1t 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 a
sort of conscicus-stupor, from which
we had feared to arouse him, when
suddenly the plaintive voics 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, tooP"
Eyes, dear, your papa is here, too"
''Then, l want you to come and sit
where can feel you near to me; for,
oh, mamma, l can't see you at all! l
somehow seem to be slipping Slipping
away from everybody. and your
poor little boy is SO coldr'
In fearful silence we obeyed his
request, when, clasping ha9d of each,
he again sank into partial stupor, the
while there crept through all his
blessed little frame an icy chill, which
gathered in heavy dews upon his fore
head.
A long. long silence ensued, and
then was heard feeble fiut tering:
Mamma"
What is it, now, my pet+"
"Draw the curtains aside. please. /
can see once more and l want to look
out upon the pretty bright stars and
the lady moon. They mako me think
of the angels you've SO often told me
about. And mamma, did you know
that your Little One was going to be
one of 'em tonight? You always said
that when good little boys and girls
died they would be made like those
lovely angels who wear the white
dresses and beautiful golden crowns.
| haven been very good little boy,
mamma, but feel something drawing
me-up-up-up- the blue sky, and
l am not bit afraid for a Shining
One holds my hand. y
"Oh. my darling! my darling! you
will break my heart if you talk that
wayr'
Poor mammal" fondly s:roking my
face with his wasted hand. ''my own,
poor, dear mamma! don't cry any
more. Your tears hurt me so bad and
keep me from going where I'll be well
and happy always and always. Let
me go now, please. I'll come back
to see you lots and lots OF
times, for I'll just tell the dear
Saviour that papa and mamma haven't
got any other little boy to comfort 'em,
and then He will let me COME. Now,
kiss me good night like you always do,
and don't cry any more. Little One is
going to be an angel you know, and up
in that beautiful home he'll wait for
papa and YOU"
And thus, with a smile OF ineffable
happiness irradiating his conntenance
and the seal of q divine peace upon his
brow, died our precious Little One.
Many eventful years have come and
gone since he faded from sight. But
in our hearts his memory is fresh and
green; and to-day as we sit by our
desolate hearth we stretch forth oul
arms in impotent yearning to enfold
the fragile form of him who was wont
to fill them SO completely. But we
shall see and know him again--some
day. He will not change beyond oul
recognition, and the eye of unerrin9
love shall single him out from among
the myriad hosts thronging the celes-
tial courts, for in Heaven, as on earth,
he will be forever and aye, only-oul
Little One.-DetroH Free Press.