Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1921-04-01
"AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL
LEAD THEM"

A<6hb AiEN.
"Most I go mama?" "No. Earn
est; stay with Minnie. I'll 20. and
II papa comes while l am gone, lust
hug baby close to- you, and say not
word. There. darling, is kiss for
mama's comforter"
The mother threw a shawl (thin
enough for the cold north wind that
was bringing with it heavy storm
OF snow over her head and hurried
out into the street to the bakers.
Tears filled her eyes as she thought
of her darling's hungry and cold
They will turn us out into the
street next month to freeze and die.
because we can not pny the rent. OH
God, help my little ones and save
them from such fate"
WIN this prayer Oh her lips, she
entered the store, bought two loavcs
Of bread. and hurried out again into
tho street, to reach home before her
husband; but she was just in time
20 see the inhuman father snatch
from the brothers. arms the babv
and kick it on the floor md D theyn,
stand ready, with out-stretched hand
to give the boy blow. when tho
mother, with wild shrek snatcbad
her baby from the floor and hupCed
It tightly to her bosom, fearing to
look ut its white face. lest she should
ma 1t dead. "You have killed her
earnest; you have killed her" on
God, help me! she moancd, rockin,
herseH to and fro, with face ne
white rs the chid's. 80
The husband, with blood-shot evos
ana unsteady step, staggered to fho
Dcd and sank down in a heavy slun,h-
en-, leaving his wife with their chill
pale, and Rugged to her bosom
She is not dead. mama darI;ng y
SAID Earnest in IL whisper. az tried
TO save her, but, oh. mama COLL
not" he sobbed 81 know dorl;na,
you did, and papa would be 50 sor, S,
II he was himself" said the mothaS
oven IN her bitter grief. irving r.,
teach her little ones to respect tbc;r
father, although he lay dead dr,nI.
~, IN inc bed. Minnie, mama's dnr.
ing. open your eyes," pleaded tho
ANXIOUS mother. kissing again and
again the pale still lips. The dark
eyes were opened, and then closed |
agn'h: rs II in pain. Tears fell thick |
anu last on the still little face. rs
payer aiter prayer was sent up
,,na TO God to spare her treas
Mrs. Graham was aged TWENTY
s SIX. TAU well formed, and we'll ed
Ieutea; She had Seen better davis
a ."a" , tnese' when she gave her hand
,una neIrt TO Earnest Graham she
was e'gnteen, and the third daurht-
I wealthy farmer. Earnest
Nraham was handsome. we'll cducot.
dr,n ana on good family, but he
fo iii, ana showing this. his wife's
But love answered, "You cnn IL, "Gu
nm good and noble" So. rerordi as
OF being disinherited and disownoJ !
she married him, hoping for his rcs
torati0h through her influence AMI
.or tnrec years he abstained and
tnen Tell again. and turned from tho
lender husband and father to thc
uruel zrute we now find him. They
were nearly in want, and not ever
70 save her little ones could tbo
neart-broken mother apply to bor
relations for her relief. but dotor
mined to trust in God. and st,1'roIo
on, she still loved her busbond e XII
~, no word of reproach escaped hn'.
lips toward him. "ei
The little one, so carefully u,t..h
eu over ny mother and son was aft
er a weeks illness, restored to its
u usual health. But oh, sorrows! the
nitle babe was scarcely testored
when Earnest, the little comforter
was stricken with fever, which ter,
minated in pneumonia, contractcdl
IRON exposure and want of suitable
clothing. The father, as usual. cane
nome drunk. kicked the poor cat out
OF doors. broke chair. and even
threatened to strike his wife. the
hrSt time in all his drunken fits
Poor little Earnest lay tossing
from side to side, now and then cry
ing out. :! tried to save her, mama.
but could not" then prayer spoli
en- soft and low. "God, make papa
good and don't let poor mama cry.
Bless Earnest and make him a goo