The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-19
THE BABE ExxHRINED.

teD0 SuUo8y SCHOOL, DOL VcSoooS ivy
must, but because they want TO.
--=
THE BABE ENsHRINED.
A weeping mother was hidden dry her
tears because thousands before her had
lost their babes. What consolation b
that to me." she asked: Il had but the
one Poor. foolish mother: had she tven-
u. the loss Of that one would have brought
n keen . sorrow. The others would grow
mp to be men and women. stirring new
emotions in the maternal heart. but TIL
she went down to the grave herself there
would be enshrfned In her memory one
that was always her babe
When such . grief enters the home all
the expefsence Of past ages DOS not serve
% sssuags the pain-the heart-breakfng.
despairing agony which win not be COM
forted. Even weil-meant sympathy serves
no purpose. The heart ID torn. and it,
ness y not always the result Of selfish
pleasure. The arm Of . father may ache
with shs bur<3sa Of . child. yet 1t thrills
his heart and the pain become . pleasure.
o. music floats upon the cadence Of the
piaintivs minor chords The maternal in
sfinct nnds an exquisite Joy In the pangs
which almost make her scream. how soon
the memory Of them fades away and the
toys OF maternity MI her life
When most Losses fall upon men they
seek sympathy and are glad of aid: but
the irreparabie loss of . little girl or
promising boy resents the utterly made
auate Offering Of human coincidence. In
Rama was there . voice heard. lanenta-
ton and weeping and great mourning.
Rachel weeping for her children and
would not BE comforted because they are
not"
why" q Grecian philosopher was
asked, "why do you weep for the death Of
your SON, since the sorrow IL in vainT'
because the sorrow is in vain" he re-
Piled. Grief finds relief IN tears for many
sorrows, but the silenced life Of child
hardens the heart. dries up the channels
through which the emotions find vent. and
makes for itself a tomb deep down In the
unspoken affections.
Philosophers say that the loss Of chill
dren seems 10 be one of those necessary
bitters thrown into the cup OF humanity.
II no deaths took place 1t might be that
endearing cares and hopes and fears would
he endangered by the sense Of security.
II there be design tn this 1t is well con-
ceived; for Death seems to come at the
most unexpected times and to ruthlessly
swing his scyths In the most unlikely
places.
Orphaned. abandoned. malformed. dis
eased, unloved offspring Of ill-mated par
ents or the accidental consequences of UNI
guarded propinquity run scatheless by the
reaper: loved little ones. pledges Of a pure
and well-ordered love- bearers Of divine
message to humanity of glorious mysteries
yet to be unfoided--these cherished ones
are snatched from beneath the protecting
wings of father and mother. and pass
away into those realms which imagination
peoples with angels. The lesson may be
there: but since neither care nor affection
avails more than neglect, the justice OF its
application Is not felt. Those who can
anaIyze the tenderest emotions and dis
sect the human soul say that the death OF
little children often means their salvation
from the miseries of a world for which
they are too pure and from contact with
a humanity for which they are too fragile
This may not be the cause, but It is the
best balm for the bruised heart.
What becomes of all the pretty children
when they grow up?" has been asked.
among the men and women of the world
what becomes Of all the little children
whose artIess ways and bright minds
promise so much to the generation OF
their maturity? They so out into the
world. where the peachbioom of innocence
is soon rubbed on and before their fathers
and mothers have realized that they have
become independent citizens of that world
they are intent upon those self-same joys
and sorrows. looking into the eyes Of
new generation of cheruhs, and living
over again In their turn the hopes and
fears which gathered around their own
cradles.
But the darling, the little one whose soft
fingers and pink toes. whose saucy eyes
and nsping audacities. who owned more
than was owned by those who claimed
con,rol-the tiny life which seemed to
round out so full period. but which was
so evanescent-that Is the child whose
identity IL with the immortal. Wherever
or whatever that kingdom Of heaven may
be of which the Chiidren's Shepherd spoke.
such are the gentle spirits that must In.
habit It.