The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-10

haius before her face. He tried to re.
move them but he could not. and s3i
;hcre. holding her hands and sobbins.
until ut last she looked up with Il
smile and promised Fin that she
would stay AS long as God would let
her.
! Tho birds sing again In the spring
thought Little Nell as she leaned u,
her easement window that evening
Spring: y beautiful aud happy tine.
III she gricvcd. she never murmureG
nor complained with Quiet min
ana manner quite unultcrcd, save that
every day She b.cninc more gentle
and moro grateful, she faded like the
tender light Of Il long summer even
Ing.
Whei. they knew at last that tho end
was drawing ncur. they were all abput
her. In the earlier part of the night
they ic;,d and talked 10 her. but us
the hours crcpt on, She sank to sleep.
They could tell. by what she family
uttered In her dreams. that they were
OF llc. juurncyinss with the old man.
, They were OF no painful scenes, but
VI those who had helped and used them
kindly.
Waking. she never wandered in her
mind but once, and that was when
she spoke Of beautiful music which
she said was I'm the air. God knows,
II may have been.
Opening her eyes from very quiet
sleep. she begged that they would
kiss her once again. That done she
turned TO the old man with Il smile
upon he: facc--such. they said as they
never had seen ana never could forget
and chung with both her arms around
his neck. They did not know that she
was dead nj irst.
Sic WAS dead. Upon her little bed
NJ. tris- al. r
and calm. so free from trace of pain,
so fair TO look upon She seemed .
creature fresh fon the hand OF God,
and waiting for the breath or life.
not one who had lived, ana suffered
death.
Her little bird--a poor slight thing
the pressure of finger would have
crushcd--wns stirring nmby in its
cage; and the strong heart of It's child
mistress was mute and motionlcss for
ever.
Where were The traces Of her carly
cares. her suncringg aid futigues?
All gone. Sorrow was dead indeed In
her. but peace ard perfect happiness
were born, imagcd In her TRANQUIL
beauty and profound rcposc. So shall
We know tho angels in their ma jcs,s.
after death.
They dressed her couch with some
winter berries and green leaves, gath
cred in spot she had been used 10
favor when ! die" she had said
nut near me something that has loved
the light, and had the sky above Il
always"
The child that had been her friend
came early in the morning wiki dric0
flowers that he begged them To lay or
her breast. lie had been under her
window overnight. for they saw in the
snow the traces Of small feet: and ha
50 la tNuI, ~ -
had a fancy they had left her alone.
and he could nor bear the thought
Soon the bcli--that she had heard So.
often ana listened to with solemn
pleasure az II II We're a living voice
rang it's rcmorsclcss toll foH her, sc
young. so beautiful, so good
Along the crowded path they bore
her. pure MS the new-fullcn SNOW that
covered IL; whose day on earth hac
been AS ncctinS. Under the porch
whore she sat SO often she passed
again: and the old church received her
into its quiet shade
They carried her TO on. old nook
where she had sat many and many d
timcA and laid their burden aoftiy ou
the pavement Tho light strenmcd or
IL through the colorcd window. With
every breath Of air that stirred outside.
some trembling. changing light would
fail upon her grave.
Earth TO cHrin, HShcS 10 ashes, dust
| 10 dust Many "a young hand dropped
is wreath; many stincd sob was
heard.
The service done. the inourncrs
stood apart and the Villagers closed
! around to look into the grave bcfore
the stone should he replaced. One
called 10 mind how he had seen her
sitting in that very spot. and how her
| book had fallen on her lap, ana she
WAS gazing with u peusivo face 'ntu
tho sky. Another told how he had
wondered much that one SO delicate
| .is she, should he 50 bold; how she
had never feared 10 enter the church,
alone at night, but had loved To linscr
| there when all was quiet.
| a whisper wen, about among the old
est there that she had seen and talked
with angels; and when they called 10
| mind how she had looked, and spoken.
| and her carly death. some thought It
| might he so, indeed.
They saw tho vault covered and the
| stone fixed down. Then. when tho
! dusk IF evening had come on, and not
Il sound disturbed tho sacred stiffness
of the placc--whcn the moon poured
| her light on tomb aud monument, on
pillar. wall and arch, and most OF
| OF seemed TO thcmD upon her quiet
sravc--thon thcr turned away and left
| the child with God.
(Copyright, 1911, by j. W. Muller.)
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