Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1889-05-07

down the trees, and making path through
the branches and the fallen leaves and carrya
ing burdens, and working hard.
Sometimes they came to q long green avenue
that opened into deeper woods Then they
would hear very little distant voice Cayingt
g Father, father, am another child 1 Stop fof
mel" and presently they would see yery llttls
figure, growing larger as it came along, fuil-y.
ming to join thom. When 1t came mp, thet an
crowded around It, and kissed and Iteleofhed
1t, and then they all went on together. z
Sometimes they came to several avenues at
once, and then they al stood still, and one of
the children said, Father, am going to In4
dta,n and another, Father, I am going 70 seek
my fortune where can" aud auother,
q Father. am going to beavenIp SO, with
many tearsa atparting, they went, solitary, down
those avenues, each child upon its way, and
the child who went to heaven rose into the
golden air and vanished.
Whenever these parting happened tho trav-
eler looked at tho gentleman, and eaw him
glance up OF the sky above the trees, where
tho day was beginning to decline aud The sun
set TO come on. He saw, too, that his hair
was turning gray. But they could mover rest
long, for they had their journey to perform
and 1t was necessary for them to be always
busy.
AT last there had beenso many pdrtings that
there were no children left, and only the trav.
cler, the gentleman and the lady went upon
their way in company. And now tho wood
was yellow, and now brown, and the leaves,
even of the forest trees, began to fail.
So they came to an ayenue that was darker
than the rest, and were pressing forward on
their journey without looking down 1t when
the lady stopped.
My yhusband, said thclady, Il am c5iiled,'s
They listened, and they heard voices long.
way down the avenue say, g Mother, mOtherl"
It was the voice of the irpt child, who had
said, 81 am going TO Heaven! !" and the father
said, Ipray not yet. The sunset is very near.
Ipray not yet - r ei
But tho voice cried, Mother, mothorgli
without minding him, though his hair Fnsl
now quite white and tears were ON his face.
Then the mother, who was already drawn
into the shade of the dark avenue aud moving
away, with her arms still around his neck,
kissed him and said. MY dearest, L am SUM
moncd, and go!', And sho was gone. Aud
tho traveller and he were left alone together.
And they went on aud on together, until
they came to very near the end of tho wood
SO near that they could see the sunseg shining
red before them through the trees.
Yet, once more, while be broke his way
among the branches. the traveller Lost his
friend. He called and called. but there was
no reply, and when he passed out of the wood
and saw the peaceful sun going down upon a
wide purple prospect, he came to an old man
sitting on fallen tree. So he said to tho old
man, What do you do here Z" And the old
man said, with q calm smile, II am alWaysre.
membering. Come and remember With mel :,
So the traveller sat down by the eide, of that
old man. face to face with the sercnc SUNSET,
and all his friends came softly back aud stood
around him. Tho beautiful child, the hand,
some boy, tho young man in love. tho father,
mother aud chlldreui every one Of them was
there. ond he had lost uettipg. b he'll q
them all, and was kind and forhehFing WITH
them all, and was always pleased to watch
them all. and they all honored and loved him.
And think the traveller must be yourself, dear
grandfather, because this is what you do tous,
and what VIC do to you,-- Charles Dickens.