The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-05
THE STORY OF THE ANGEL.
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING BRIGHT.
Other Stories For the Young Folks-A
Knowing YOungster-No Room-Pointer
For Adam-Freddy to the Rescue
Some Knotty Problems.

One bright summer morning some child
rem were waiting about the door of the
village school-house. They were talking
pleasantly together and listening to the
song of merry mocking-bird across the
way, when Master Lewis himself came up
and said, in CHEEKY hearty voice, just as
he always did:
Welcome, my children
"Welcome, masterl" cried they.
Then they went into the school-room
and took their seats; and they sat very
still while the master read few verses
from the bible, and then prayed that God
would bless and teach them all through
that day The thumb-worn books were
brought out of the desks and school be-
gan. The lazy boys forgot TO sigh and
frown and wish for recess that morning;
for Master Lewis talked so kindly TO them
and made all their lessons so clear and
simple by the way in which he taught
them that the hours passed by very
quickly. When the studies were over the
master took from his desk an odd-looking
box with pictures of birds painted upon it.
He called the boys to his desk and told
them that he had brought each one of
them little present. Then, while they
stood around. he drew out OF it some white
and pink shells and some pretty toys.
which he gave to them with kind and
pleasant words.
But the most lovely thing of all was a
little statue. of an angel. She stood with
her small white hands folded over her
breast, and her face uplifted, and appeared
so fair and so pure that the children gazed
at her with eyes full of 10Y. They had
never seen anything like it.
20 the dear angel. the beautiful angel"
they cried.
The good master smiled and said:
"This little angel is too lovely TO be
given to any child who is not good and
true Of heart. But the one who brings me
tomorrow the brightest thing on earth
shall have the angel for his own"
The children looked at each other, not
feeling sure that they understood the
master. But he said no more, and they
went home The next day, after the les
sons were finished, the children gathered
around the master to show him what they
had brought. Some had picked up spark
ling stones by the roadside; one had pol
ished a small piece of silver until it shone
like a mirror; another had brought a
watch crystal which his father had given
him; and Henry, the merchants son, had
brought breastpin with stone set in its
center that shone like diamond.
"Ah! mine is the GREATEST" cried
Henry.
"But where is little Carl ?" asked Master
Lewis looking around. 1--WE cannot de-
eide until Carl brings his Offering"
At that moment little Carl, the baker 8
only son, came running into the room. In
his hands, held up lovingly against his
neck, was a snow-white dove. Some red
drops upon its downy breast showed that
it had been hurt. 80 MASTER" cried Carl
81 was looking for something bright when
1 came upon this poor dove. Some cruel
BOYS were throwing stones at it, and 1
caught it up quickly and ran here. On, |
am afraid it will die"
Even as he spoke the dove closed it's
soft eyes; it nestled closer to Carl's neck,
dropped it's little head and died. Carl
sank upon his knees beside the masters
desk, and from his eyes there fell upon
the poor doves broken wing two tears,
large and bright The master took the
dead bird from his hands and laid it ten
derby upon his desk. Then turning TO the
school-boys, he said: "My children, there
is no brighter thing on earth than ten
der, plying tear
"Give the white angel to little Carl ~
cried the boys. 1--WE know now what you
meant; and his offering is better than any
of ours"