St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-05-29
"GOOd.Night, Papa"

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the stairs, Goodnight, papa; Jessie see
you in the morning"
1t came to be settled thing, and every
evening, as the mother slipped the white
night-gown over the plump shoulders,
the little one stopped on the stairs and
sang out, Goodnight papa" and as the
father heard the silvery accents of the
child, he came, and taking the cherub
in his arms kissed her tenderly, while
the mothers eyes filled, and a swift
prayer went up, for, strange to say, this
man, who loved his child with all the
warmth Of his great noble nature, had
one fault to mar his manliness. From his
youth he loved the wine cup. Genial in
spirit, and with fascination OF manner
that won him friends, he could not resist
when surrounded by his boon compan-
ions. Thus his home was darkened, the
heart Of his wife bruised and bleeding,
the future of his child Swallowed.
Three years had the winsome prattle
OF the baby crept into the avenues of the
fathers heart, keeping him closer to his
home, but still the fatal cup was in his
hand. Alas for fral humanity, insensi-
BILE to the calls of love! With unutter-
able tenderness God saw there was no
other way; this father was dear to Him,
the purchase Of His Son; He could not
see him perish, and, calling swift mes
senger, He said, Speed thee to earth
and bring the babe"
Goodnight, papa" sounded from the
stairs. What was there in the voice?
Was it the echo Of the mandate, Bring
me the babe Pa silvery plaintive sound
a lingering music that touched the IA
theirs heart, as when a cloud crosses the
sun. Goodnight, my darling" but
his lip quivered and his broad brow
grew pale. as Jessie sick, mother?
Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes have
a strange light"
"Not sick" and the mother stopped to
kiss the flushed brow; "she may have
played too much Pet is not sick? ?"
Jessie tired, mamma; goodnight,
papa; Jessie see you in the morning"
THAT is all, she is only tired" said the
mother as she took the small hand.
Another kiss and the father turned away;
but his heart was not satisfied.
Sweet lullabies were sung; but Jessie
was restless and could not sleep. Tell
me story, mamma" and the mother
told of the blessed babe that Mary era.
died, following along the story till the
child had grown to walk and play. The
blue, wide open eyes filled with strange
light, as though she saw and compre-
heuded more than the mother knew.
That night the father did not visit the
saloon; tossing on his bed, starting from
feverish sleep and bending over the
crib, the long weary hours passed.
Morning revealed the truth-Jessie was
smitten with the fever.
keep her quiet" the doctor said; "a
few days OF good nursing, and she will
be all right"
Words easy said; but the father saw
look on the sweet face such as he had
seen before. He knew the messenger was
at the door.
Night came. Jessie is sick; can't say
goodnight, papa" and the little clasp
ing fingers chung to the fathers hand.
20 God, spare her l cannot, cannot
bear it" was wrung from his suffering
heart.
Days passed; the mother was tireless
in her watching, With her babe Graded
in her arms her heart was slow to take
in the truth, doing her best to solace the
fathers heart; "a light case! the doctor
says Pet will be soon be we'll"
Calmly as one who knows his doom,
the father laid his hand upon the hot
brow, looked into the eyes then covered
with the film OF death, and with all the
strength of his manhood cried, "Spare
her, o God spare my child, and l will
follow Thee"
With last painful effort the parched
lips opened: 'Jessie's too sick; can't say
goodnight, papa - in the morning"
There was a convulsive shudder, and the
clasping fingers relaxed their hold; the
messenger had taken the child.
Months have passed. .Jessie's crib
stands by the side of her fathers couch;
her blue embroidered dress and whitehat
hang in his closet her boots with the
print of her feet just as she had last worn
them, as sacred in his eyes as they are in
the mothers. Not dead, but merely
risen to a higher life; while, sounding
down from the upper stairs, Goodnight
papa, Jessie see you in the morning." has
been the means of winning to a better
way one who had shown himself deaf to
every former CALL Exchange.