Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-06-13

Cross 10 SUduU Ill lTOuO VI UuS puppy.
She could hardly think of anything
else but the approaching Children's
Day and she would clap her hands at
the charming prospect before her.
One week had passed and one day
of another week The time had near
ly come and it seemed that all the ar
rangements for the coming Sabbath
were complete. But, alas! the frailty
of human hopesi Little was thought
this vision of beauty was to vanish
next we hear Of our sweet Floy, she is
tossing in cruel fever that is burn
ing her delicate life away.
Oh! could nothing be done to save
her? The doctor began to shake his
head. Could it be possible that Floy
was going to die? How the past gold
en- days with Floy's beauty and merry
laugh kept coming back, and then the
thought of the coming Children's Day
would bring new sorrow as they saw
that it could not be.
To Floy's mother the trial was es-
pecially hard She was young, and
although protesting Christian, she
had not lived as near Christ as she
might have done. All! how earnestly
did she pray now that God would
la was placed near, where Floy could
look at it. Minnie was constant Wis
itor. At her last call Floy kissed her
and said: "Dear Minnie" while Min
ME sobbing, cried out: "F1oy! Floy!
don't die, nobody will love me then!"
The night came and the soft, glim-
mering twilight filed the heavens.
Suddenly Floy said: ssFloy sees boo
full fings, mamma" and raising her
thin hands to her mothers face she
whispered: "Dood-by, mamma; Floy
loves you" Then her delicate form
fell back upon the pillows and Ian
guidly the snowy lids dropped until
the silken fringes swept the fair cheek.
The little lips moved, "Dood-by,
dear" the rest of that sweet SEN
tence was finished in Heaven.
It was in vain that the agonized
mother threw herself beside the still
form crying: go darling! my darling!"
1t was in vain the distracted father
buried his face in his hands and sob
bed aloud; for Floy Linwood had fall
en- into that eternal sleep which the
infinite Father giveth his beloved.
1t was Children's Day. The beauti
full sunshine filled the earth with love-
Illness. The exercises were held, but
of a different character from what
were expected. The church was
beautifully decorated, before the pull
pit lowered the cross of white flowers
was seen the black Grape that told the
sad story, for in front Of the weeping
audience stood the white casket of
little Floy.
1t was Children's Day-the day to
which she had looked forward with so
much interest. She was there. Her
marble form was robed in spotless
white and wealth of flowers was
strewn over her. How beautiful she
was! And just beside, in bold relief at
the floral cross, stood the lilies of
which she was SO proud, fit emblem
of her who rested beneath them.
1t was evening. The last rays of the
sun were gliding the new grave where
Floy was sleeping. Instinctively, Mrs.
Linwood turned her steps toward the
lonely cemetery that held all that was
mortal of her precious treasure. To
her surprise, there was little form
clinging to the ground and sobbing as
though her heart would break. 1t was
Minnie. She lifted the child from the
ground, wiped away her tears, and
kissed her tenderly.
''And so you still love my precious
Floy."
The tears came anew. "Oh, nobody
will love me now, as she used to-" she
cried.
eyes, will love you. You will al
ways have some one to love you for
her sake. Will you let me be your
mamma and love you as my own lit
tie girl? We want you always in our
home now that Floy is gone"
Two little arms about her neck gave
answer.
Hand in hand they left Floy's grave,
and little Minnie found a happy home.
Hand in hand they journeyed up
ward, for Mrs. Linwood no longer re-
fused to follow the Master fully. The
spirit of little Floy seemed ever beck
oning her onward, and she was always
sure of welcome to Heaven since
Floy's first and last Children's Day.
BLACKSMITH SAVES THE LIFE OF LITTLE
GIRL-Minnie Carney, of Lyle City, Iowa,
perhaps as near leaving this world any