The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-08-10
A CONTRAST.
The Comforting Power of Gods Grea
Love Illustrated.

The Comforting Power of Gods Great
Love Illustrated.
1t was a dreary morning for a rail-
way journey. The wind came shrek
ing full of frost from the northern
snow-tields, clouds hung black and por-
tentous, undecided whether rain or
snow would prove most discomforting.
Even ray of March sunlight would
have been a blessed relief, but it was
not given.
The train was an accommodation,
and every new passenger continued the
story of coughs colds, grip, and pneu-
monia Verify it was a gloomy, dis
piriting morning
At a forlorn little hamlet shivering in
the mud at the foot of a rugged hill a
lady entered and made haste to an
nounce to the first acquaintance she
met: 80, have you heard that Col Hay
denis baby is dead?"
80 don't tell me such distressing
news" said the woman; sit can't be
possible"
''But it is. The little thing was
buried yesterday" And then followed
truly pathetic recital of the sickness
and death of this lovely, idolized only
child of wealthy parents. All the de-
tails of the funeral followed. "And
the flowersr' she said "They were
sent by express from friends far and
near. The rooms were full of them.
The tiny white velvet-covered casket
stood on bank of creamy rose-buds
The air was heavy with the fragrance
of heliotrope and violets, but they
brought no comfort to the stricken par
ents. Nothing gives them any COM
fort"
81 have never known Christians to
continue in that way. They must feel
the touch of Gods hand after little
time"
''But they are not Christians"
''How terrible and hopeless that fact
makes the thought of death"
The morning seemed more cherries
than ever, and silence fell that was
not broken until the next station was
reached. There a lady entered who
was an acquaintance of those whose
conversation has been recorded. She
had been visiting in the vicinity, and
had attended the funeral held at the
elegant residence of Col. Hayden, but
instead of commenting in any way up
on the distressing circumstances, she
said:
''Do you remember Jane TwiSs, who
taught so long at Dimicks Meadows?'
80 certainly. She married John Web
Der, and what pretty couple they
were They went away somewhere tc
live with his mother, and l never have
heard of them since"
"Well, he and his mother were mem
letter and united with us. She was
faithful to all her church obligations
and made many friends. They had two
children, and lived very comfortably
but when John Weber died very sud
denly last fall the mother and wifi,
were left with no resources but thei
own labor for their support. When tn,
poor father had been three months il
Heaven baby was born, and strang
as it may seem it brought consolation
to the sorrowing hearts. When it hat
been with them less than month, tn
poor grandmother was stricken witt
apoplexy. The family moved into
smaller tenement, and Mrs. Webbe
struggled bravely on, and with tn
help of friends succeeded in keeping tn
little family together.
THE baby was an exceptionally beau
tiful child, and everyone who calle
was touched at the pathetic sight as
lay on the bed by the patient grand
mother, who considered it her especia
care, Last week l was told that tn
baby was i'll, and made haste to cal
but what was my surprise to hear tn
little girl who opened the door for IN
say timidly:
so have you heard that our bah
has gone away to Heaven to see papa
You know she never saw him here, an
of course she wanted to see him; br
we were all sorry to have her GO
''They were sorry indeed. The mothe
gave me wistful smile, but could nj
speak at first, and tears ran down tn
checks of the poor paralyzed gran,
mother who lay helpless in bed.
the Oldest little girl wiped them tel
derby away, she said:
baby is asleep just as papa wa
before they put him in the box. Yo
can see her if You want to: mamma wi
let you. She is ON the table there, III
der grapdma's shawl
"'There was nowhere else to Law hel
said the mother, gently lifting the co
ering from the tiny wax-like form.
Isn't she pretty? Isn't she swee
Won't papa be glad to see her? asie
the girls.
"'What can ] do for your asked Il
mother, and her reply went to m
heart % everyone has been kind, ar
all the necessary arrangements al
made, but l should be so grateful if
could have one little flower to put
tween her fingers. She was whit,
child, and she has never seen a fiowe