Middletown transcript., 1897-09-04

who come to our country-and 1t may
be so, but know that you cannot lie.
What you tell me 1 will believe. What
of the great tabid, Major Sahib 2"
The servants understood only frag.
ments of the strange language, there
fore they could not know what
the Sahib told the child SO TO calm and
please him. He repeated the old story
of the Prince of Peace in the grave
language in which it was the child's
custom to speak, but simply, as he had
told it to that other and dearer child in
the solemn hour of death.
"Tell me more of him, Sahib," he
eDtreated, in the first pause of the
story; lis he also great and power
full ?"
''He has beautiful kingdom far
away where he rules over thousands
and thousands of happy ones who serve
him with perfect love. But he hears
and answers the prayers of all, and
heals the sorrows of all who ask him;
but some he takes to his kingdom to
live and reign with him forever when
they havesgrown weary of this pain
of this world"
"A more glorious kingdom than
mine, Sahib?n
"Yes, little one, even more beauti-
full than yours"
''But could not go to his country.
would tell him that am prince of
a powerful nation, and he would then
certainly release me for the good of all
my people. Tell me how may COM
mune with him, Sahib."
II had a little son who grew weary
like you, little Prince, and none could
be found to heal his distress; but at
last be heard Of this great tabid, this
sage and master of all mysteries and
prayed for help; but it pleased the
Gracious One first TO take him to his
heavenly kingdom where he healed him
forever"
HAS he returned to tell you of the
King?"
mo, beloved. No one in all the
world ever wished to return from that
happy land, and I would not ask it;
for there is no desire of the heart that
the King would not grant his people. "
''Ah! Think you, Sahib, that the
Wise One would also heal me tho l am
not of his people2 l am weary and
have prayed so long in vain. If my
father should send rich gifts, would he
not heal me also?"
Nor for gold or presents. He is
wiser and holier than all priests and
sages, and no one may offer gifts of
gold to him; but if you pray to him he
will hear and answer"
"But how can go to him when
am so weak and illP May not my
father send messengers2 He will
surely come to me when they tell him
I am Raja of Manipnri.''
"What is his name, Sahib?" lie
asked, gravely.
s'The Lord of Lords and King of
Heaven.n
s'Lord of Lords and King of HeaveD;"
he repeated slowly, and lapsed into
thoughtful silence, broken at half
stifled gasps of pain that cut Jeffries
to the heart like sword-thrusts.
81 will pray to him." he said pres.
emily, and lifted his tired voice in pa
thetic supplication. ''Lord Of Lords
and King of Heaven. the little Raja of
Imphale salutes thee. / beseech thee
most mercifnl sovereign, to heal my
distress, for my heart is faint with
great pain." He closed his eyes and
fell into slumber so light that his
servants thought him dead and sent in
haste to fetch his father. When the
old ruler reached his bedside, his son
opened his sweet dark eyes and smiled j,
stretching out bis slender brown hands
that flnttered weakly back to the gold
broidered cover.
"Ah, Father, dear one," he said, in
a faint, joyful little voice; "At last I
am freed from pain. Oh, it is sweet
to live againl Tell nay people that 1
am healed of my Distress"
His father bent over him. trembling
like leaf, and touched the small hand
tenderly as one would touch the most
sacred thing on earGh.
"Lord Of Lords and King of Heav-
en-, " he murmure d. with smile of in
effable sweetness and peace, upon
which Death set his holy seal:
A young and beautiful woman flung
back the heavily fringed curtains and
looked with intense, frightened gaze at
the pale, silent face among the pillows,
then, as the bitter truth suddenly con-
fronted her, she ran quickly forward
with sharp cry of stified agony fall
ing to her knees beside her child.
Soon a hundred walling voices took
up the dreary note Of mourning; but
the King of Heaven had healed the
little Raja foreyer.-The Independent.
TO Birmingham and Memphis.