Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-07
Finding Her Way to Heaven
BY Bessie Jackson Aged II Years. No. 50
South Twenty-third Street, Omaha,
Neh Red Side.

By Bessie Jackson Aged II Years. Nc. S25
South T~wenty-third Street, Omaha,
Neb. Red Side.
The large moon shons ON the soft white
snow and the birds left over winter were In
their nests. Nature and human beings
were asleep. No, not all human beings
were asleep, for q little girl was vending
her way in the painless snow. Bareheaded,
with scarcely enough clothing to keep her
warm, torn shoes were on her feet, which
were nearly frODsn alrsady. Presently she
stopped and sa4 down On the frozen ground
and huddled hSrBOt togSther closer than
ever. saying dreamtly, Z wonder how much
longer 1 win have to waIh-peOpls say 1t Is
a long way-L win have to hurry, for II I
don't I will never get there I wonder II
it's nice there" she reflected dreamily.
She sat on the frozen turf q long time.
saying she must hurry or she won't get
there, until she fell asleep. While she is
sleeping I will tell you her sad story.
Her name is Evangeline; she Is 0 years
old. Her father and mother died not long
aga and she was taken to stay with her
aunt and uncle. They were kind to her,
but still she was not content. Often her
aunt found her weeping silently in a dark
corner. and asking her the matter only re-
ceived this answer in bitter tones; ~ want
my mother"
But soon her sorrow wore ava as her
aunt thought 1t did, but It did not. She
kept thinking about her lost father and
mother. One day a stranger came to visit
her uncle When he saw the child he took
a great liking to her. She talked and
laughed with him in spite Of her sorrow.
Finally she broke out with the question:
where do people go when they der ITO
hnaxyan NHnN L. 20 AAArr nro
good" do you think mother and father
went there?" 1T believe So" rs 1t very
far?' YES. my dear, a long, long way
off, would 1t take long to get there?"
"You can't get there unless death, the
angel of darkness, takes you-he knows the
road"
She said no more. but after he was gone
she resolved to steal out by night and seek
the way to heaven. She is on her way now.
Suddenly Evangeline awoke with a start.
81 wonder how late it is" she said. For
the sun was peeping over the eastern slope.
ut must be very late. What a naughty
girl I was to go to Sleep and she gave
herself a smart slap on her face. Then she
stood up. saying: II feel so hungry, 1 won
der IL 1 can get anything to eat" She
walked on till she came TO a little cottage.
where she was given a good dinner. When
Sne told the good woman what Sno was up
to doing she looked doubtful. Nobody has
gone there unless the dead You will never
find your way; you will freeze to do death,
maybe then you will go there" The kind
woman gave her some provisions, telling
her to eat them while on her way home.
for the woman had explained to her that
when she grows older she VIII then meet
her father and mother-telling her also how
impossible it was for living people to reach
there, for there Is immortal Joy. Next
morning she started for home. but not
knowing her way very we'll soon lost her
self in a strange wood. 1t was growing
colder n colderi the little girl felt that
there was little Life In her now. When
she saw the dark wings Of death approach
ing a smile of JOY lit her face. for soon she
was to meet her dear father and mother.
Soon her soul floated away to the place 1t
longed to go.
Late that afternoon some woodmen found
a little lifeless form which they brought to
town and which belonged to an aunt and
uncle who had been searching for her
everywhere. Evangeline was buried near
her father and mother. The aunt cried. but
the uncle said: she has gone where her
soul longed to go. That Is to her father
and mother"