The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-02-23
DEAR CHILDREN: / homo YOU have been

DEAR CHILDREN: ! hope you have been
ENJOYING my letters Oh history. I had an
other subject selected for this letter, but all
day today I have been thinking of q little
Flower conercd mound on beautiful hill
side, where yesterday We left darling little
girl, the joy and sunshine OF a now saddened
home And thought L would tell you some
thing of this dear little child and tho mission
of her beautiful life. I often think of the
thousands of children who read my letters
md what a great responsibility rests upon
NO. like to entertain you, but like best to
feel that l am imp!anting in your young
hearts some truth that may make you better
for timo and for eternity, and, so, l have
turned aside from all other subjects to tell you
Of the life and death of little Elsa Spauldlng,
my little friend.
Her name, Elsa, is suggestive OF tenderness
and love, IS was the precious child. She was
Just six wears old. and all those years were
full of pain and suffering. She was not
strong and healthy as other children, but when
gho was a little baby it was discovered that
something was tho matter with her little
back, and, though her fond parents did oil
they could and she was carried to the bost
physicians III the country and all that love
and skill ccul do was done, yet she grew
weaker and moro feeble. But as her body
She moved about tho house in her gentle
quiet little way SEQ seemed an angel from
heaven that God had only loaned to her dear
friends for little while. Sho was never
known to complain or fret. AL the little
children in the neghborhood loved her and
would only play those games little Elsa was
able to join in.
So very GRADUAL was the change in her
health that those around could scarcely see
that size grew worse, but few days ago she
took a bad cold and her little frame was too
weak to stand the racling cough, and then
the change came rapidly and her dear ones
realized that the little life was going out but
even while suffering the greatest pain not ono
paurmer escaped the dear child-only such an
expression as tits:
AZ am so uncomfortable"
That was all.
Did you, dear children, ever watch the
sun 80 down in bed of gold? II yon have
you have often seen light tleecy clouds float
ing up in the sky. For q moment they would
catch the golden glory of the sun and even
while you gazed vanished AVA, you know
not where So it was with the life of little
Elsa. Her little life reflected for a while the
glory of heaven and then vanished like clouds
even ike the snow drop, that opens
Its pure white face to tho morning sun and i'll
the evening slowly closes its petals until the
light Of another day. So this darling, I'M
folded as the snow drop its purity for while
In the early morning Of life, and in the even
Ing gently closed her eyes and folded her
hands to expand again III the light OF heaven
with new beauty; to exchange the loVlincss
OF the flower for the radiance of star, where
she will shine IN her beauty bright jeni for
Ills Crown"
And now you will ask me the mission Of her
little life? BY her patience and sweetness
she taught all those around her a lesson. Even
her little p!aymates would be moro gentle
when Elsa came the servants loved and hon
ored her, and none came within her influence
without feeling as if they had been touched
by the passing wings OF an angel. 1 wish
YOU could have seen her as she lay in her lit
tic pure white casket SO peaceful and at rest,
her long beautiful brown curls clustered
around her marble brow, her little hands
ciaspod together, and all around pure white
flowers, brought by old and young. to show
their love for the dear Child it wos q beau
tful tribute, and memory will love to linger
DER the scene.
The most touching tribute paid to this little
child was by her aged grandfather, whose very
heartstrinCs were woven within and around
her little life, as he stood and looked for the
last time upon the little form SO soon to be hid
from his sight, he said: THAT was tho most
perfect life l have ever known" He had
known many lives, of all ages, and yet the six
wears of this little life had been the most per-
feet OF them all.
May little Elsa Spaulding's life emulate
you to try and live, SO that yon may meet
her in the bright beyond, and when Christ
comes 'to make up His jewels" may you be
among "IIis loved and His own"
AUNT SUSIE.