The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-21

The woods wore a carpet of moss 90 green,
A more silky aud soft ne'er has been seen.
It waved, as q light foot pressed the sod
In q satin slipper 30 dsintily shod.
a step so graceful. 1.-THE aud gay.
Seemed just required 20 enehsnt the day;
And a face more fair than anything yst
Ii looked like a sculptor's ststuette.
Clotilda's eyes were wondrously blue.
1t seemed from their looks she was speaking 10
you.
Her golden hair hung in ripping twirls
Down to the ground In laughing curls.
She bent down by the brocklet's side,
Her hand in the silvery spray to hide;
hand 80 white. so truly formed,
Well would 1t have q princess adorned.
Then she tripped to the pure, White lilies bed,
And there she bent her stately head.
Queen was she of fete and ball,
Yet beside these lilies she would fall.
They looked so pure, so innocent, there
She begged them to offer for her q prayer.
1.-The same dear Lord will list to you
That watches us the whole day through"
"But since from us a prayer you ask,
We will do 1t for you. 'tis not such = task;
TUT n huStla 4 hANasp NdAbiuR nero
Our songs and prayers 10 the Lord to bear.
CANCEL. sweet angel, carry this pray'r TO heaven,
That something more sweet TO this soul be given
Than the glory attained at fete and ball,
By wit, aud humor, and beauty, and all.
'PleGse give to her Of the better part,
For hers is a pure and a noble heart:
Her garment of innocence is snowy vet,
May il not by the tears of Temorse be wet"
"Oh, you dear little flower. | do declare,
Who ever thought you could make such a prayer
] have not yet spoiled my garment so white,
But / must have a new ball-robe for tonight"
These words were all so lightly spoken,
Never thiaking that each one meant a token
Or a turning point In her own selfish life.
In which she alone must wrest with strife.
In going TO her castle home that dsy
She often paused Upon the way;
Meditating upon the flowers prayer
And for that which gives . pleasure rare.
She thought, and thought, and thought in vain
How should she this noble pleasure gain,
Until at last she did maintain
That 10 work for the Lord would be no pain.
That night she was q fairy at the ball,
But she thought, in her heart, it's not my call.
Next morn she arose with the song of the birds,
Forgetful OF all the noise she had heard.
She humbly east herself on her knees,
With a fervor deep che murmuring prays:
"God, give me the grace to work for Thy cause;
For all is beauty embraced In Thy laws.
God, give me n heart that Is humble and true.
Strengthened with love for Thee aud my coun-
try, too.
May my love be an sll-consuming FIRE;
May ! work increasingly and never tire"
Not once since CIotilda had received her call
Had SIZE consulted her parents about it at all;
Loving them deeply with a gentleness sweet,
knowing not that in her their blies was COM
plete.
Then to her mothers room she went,
To tell her wishes and her hearts content.
Her mother grew white and shivered so
That Cotildaf or her father did 90.
when the father heard the story through,
lie cast on her a glance of anguish new
To her, who by her ariless wiles,
Hitherto brought to her fathers face but smiles.
A last he spoke in a gentle tone:
daughter. the choice is but thy own;
j and thy mother have loved thee well;
How this parting will hurt no tongue can tell."
"Leave father and mother sayeth the Lord.
Try 20 attain heaven on your souls accord.
This ] feel within my heart,
Nav we in this life forever part"
She spoke with a hrmnes, hsroiely wrought;
No one thought Of the troubles she'd fought;
Till the father looked with noble pride
IL D.. l..rHN.w -whA had ,ho.a. The kaSS.r ID.
. . . .
Two years later, and s~tanley's men
Were driven to Africa like hogs to q pen
To conquer and subdue those African vilds
And penetrate its forest, for miles and miles.
Under the glare OF Africa's suu
The dead ana wounded lay, oaro1 for BY none;
Upon he bare ground lay the wounded and slain
Perhaps on this earth never 70 meet again.
Some were moaning most pitiiuily, too,
At their no rrible sun ring, pain and woe;
Then anne their sisters. onv by one,
Binding the wounds Of that pitiful throng.
''sister. sister. please come here
And list To one on his dying bier.
Don't bind my wounds, nor ease my pain,
And give back to this world my life again"
Sister Clotilds bent her head
To hear what the dying soldier said.
'Sister, is there a chaplain near
That he my confession yet might hear?"
"Yes, there Is one within q mile,
But you must let me nurse you a WHILE"
The solder was tall and wonderfully handsome;
About his mouth there was something winsome.
But his restless eyes still foretOld
That they had q story TO unfold;
Then. says the Sister with a shivering glance.
where Is your home? j suppo-e in France"
Something had struck her mind just then,
That made her startle and look again;
For she saw on his lips and livid br,u
That the stamp of death was pictured now.
But, aiasl tho chaplain was not at home;
He to some other field had gone;
But the soldier still feels that he must die,
And this can be read in his CLASSY eye.
"Yes, my home Is Ia dear old France.
send me there II you have q chance.
But, Sister, kneel and pray for me;
The Lord will grant q petition asked by thee
Then she prayed so gently and mildly there.
= With q strength and fsrvor and warmth 30 rare,