The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-12-07
CHAPTER. /.

Ing survived several brothers and sis
terS AS her companions one by one
dropped off She became softened in
her childish character, once of wild
joyousnesS. She had awakened one Of
our greatest curses or blessings, as
the case may De-memory. Often
when her father OF mother sat watch
ing the gambols on the lawn of their
last three children, they, the parents,
resigned to the loss Of the others,
Alice would rur up to her mothers S
knee and lisp
Mamma, Johnny does not play so
nicely with me as Willie did. Don't
YOU memberlcct, mamma, how Willie
used to laugh when | caught him!
Where is Willie gone, mammal
And the eyes shone so sadly down
OH the rosy checks, which had not yet
learned to grow pale with sorrow,
that one involuntarily thought of stars
looking down on the glowing sins
they We're poWerless to check, or on a
grave dug III rejoicing. for the eyes
seemed no part of the face in sympa
thy of expressions; they were so sad,
and it, SO rosy and childlessly pretty.
Don't speak of Wine now," an
swered the mother hastily, 'you will
meet him in heaven
And she turned away, and as she
dismissed the child to play again,
she calmly remarked to her husband
Alice was very fond of our poor
Willie"
Yes. but she soon will be equally
SO of Johnny; he is a little rougher,
and that startleS her.
But Alice did not forget WilIie-sh
never did, and his loss influenced her
whole existence; he had been her first
affection. Willie was an extransous
growth on her affections Il first sell
fish love.
A short time afterward Johnny died.
she scarcely recollected him month
afterward. Then Emma followed.
then the father; and here the little
heart was tiawed once more. for what
is the heart but china? and through
every flaw the warm blood oozes until
1t grows callous and cold at last.
Mrs. Evelyn became resigned. and
spoke of meeting all in heaven again,
and this she tried to instil into the
young bosom beside her. But Alice
could not be comforted thus, SO she
crept away alone, and cried over Will
lie and papa's memory, while the toys
one had played with, and the other
had given, became the first mile-stones
to mark her road of sorrow
Persons said OF Alice, THAT will be
clever child; how intellectual she
looks!"
Moralists! The intellectual child is
sad one. Happiness in childhood is
divested of thought Thoughts bring
melancholy to all, and the lone pensiye
childnever grows up a joyous creature,
like the romp of dozen brothers and
sisters. 1t becomes a placid child, or
a thoughtful or grabbed adult, accord
Ing to the amount Of it's intellect
Mrs. Evelyn was placid woman;
what is called holy one by many
one deeming it sin to regret-one
brought up to see Gods will in all, as
W should do; but there are minds
which distort the best things. She
never allowed joy or sorrow to over
come her. We all should bow 20 Heav-
ems DEGREES, and not REBEL but If
Heaven chastens, it does not forbid
our weeping beneath the blow
Where would the punishment be if we
never felt it?
Heaven is so high up, mamma;
how can l ever 90 there" asked Alice
land see papa :nd Willie?"
They are there and you will go,
too, some day." answered the conf
dent and resigned woman.
will 1t be soon. mamma:" asked |
the sobbing child II want to go, for
! know they would like to see me-
Willie especially"
Hereupon Mrs. Evelyn scolded her
and though gently done, as a placid
woman should, yet she checked the
natural current of the little ones feel
ings by talking to her of that which
she could not cOmprehend-resign
ton; and so, afraid to be seen crying.
this little girl Of nine grew so staid
before her mother and walked so
gravely by her side, that all the aged
in that rural spot said
What a sweet, well drought up child
Alice Evelyn is! rake pattern by her"
Thus the poor dispirited old child
grew a bugbear to all the neighboring
children, and when in her walks with
her nurse she met them, her appear
ance hushed their mirth, and they
passed her grayely by, little dreaming
how her heart went with them in
longing. And how may we know the
transmigrating power Of our spirits?
We know not whence they come or
wander, and perhaps in pity, when the
weary child laid down her head and
slept on her nurses knee beneath a
beech-tree, some fairy enticed her spir-
1t into a butterfly, which hovered
about those children in their play,
sporting with them.
Mrs. Evelyn was feign to admit at
LAST that Alinn w1o 1nnLtDO Ill. Chn
grew long, thin and transparent, like
flower-steln unhealthiIy grown. She |
required genial heat Amongst the
neighboring families was one Mrs.