Year: 1860




"You can CO." replied the angel, with
q smile of ineffabe sweetness "you have
learned to read 7"


Yes, little"


Well tomorrow get your Bible, and
find very revercntly-for it is Gods most
holy book-thesc words of the Lord Jesus
d" But l say unto you, love your enemies
bless them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them that de-
spitefully use and pcrsccutc you."'


"Do all these, and you shall be the
child of your Father which is above"


Even if they beat Inc ~ murmured the
little bound boy with a quivoring lip.
A ray of hope flashed across the angels
face as he replied, "the more you forgive,
the nearer you will be to heaven"


In another moment the vision was gone,
but still the room was all blazing with un-
earthly radiance.


AS the little boy fell back upon the pill
low his wan face reflected the angels
smile, and he thought, ~ will forgive
. them, even though they should beat me-"


Suddenly a more musical voice than the
former fell upon his ear. This time he
was not afraid, but sitting up lin his miser-
able couch, he saw figure that seemed to
lift itself to the wall; ray of intense
brightness outlined all its form; its eyes
blazed, yet there was a mild beauty in
them every time they looked into his own.


Little one, AIN yoor father" said
the form, in melting accents.


&" l don't think you can be my father"
whispered the boy timidly. " My father
used to look very old indeed and he got
hurt and wore crutch, there were wrink-
les on his face, and all over his forehead,
and his hair was short and white ; not long
like yours And my father used to stoop
over and wear Il little black apron, and
put patches on shoes in \ little dark ROOM


" And what else ,"


" lie used to pray and sing very sweet
ly, but never hear any praying and sing
ing now,' sobbcd the child.


"Dont cry, dear little boy but listen to
me. l am your father, your immortal
father; that poor, lame body is gone now,
mingled with the dust in the grave yard.
As soon as the breath left that deformcd
body, was with the shining angels, hosts
and hosts of them bore me up to heaven !;
and the King of that glorious place clothed
me in these robes, white and stainless, and
gave me this tall, beautiful body, which
shall never feel corruption. And this was
the reason, dear little orphan, because |
loved Him., and my chief delight was in
praying to Him and talking about Him,
and altho | was very poor, trisd to be
honest, and many times went hungry rath-
er than do wrong


And you, you never forget to say yoar
little prayers that l taught you-if you
will keep God S holy commandments, and
trust in him always, you shall soon be with
me in my sweet heavenly home.'


Once more the child was left alone, but
still the raftcrs were golden, the walls
pcarly, the old floor studded with brill
lance, and the same soft mysterious sight
over all. 4 strain of holy music fell faint
ly upon his cnrapturcd senses; it grew
louder and came near to the head of his
little bed. And then voice--oh, far
sweetcr than either of the others, sang:


Ny child, my little earth child, look
upon me, am thy mother"


In moment what emotions swclled the
bosom of the lonely boy. lie thought of
her cherished tenderness to him long years
ago, of her soft arms round his neck, her
gentle lips pressing his forehcad-thcn
came up the crueltics of strangers, who,
after she had been put away in the deep
ground, treated him harshly.


lie turned towards her; oh, what a
glorious being; her eyes were like stars,
her hair like the most precious gold but
there was that in her face that none other
might so truly know.


He had doubtcd-if the first was his
brother, if the second was his father, but
not once did he doubt this beautiful being
was his own dear mother.



A little while he kept down his strong
feeling but the thought of the past and
the present overpowered him.
! go, mother, mother, motaer," he cried
stretching forth his hands, 'lct me come
to you, let me oIme there is nobody in
: this world like you; no one kisses me
, now, no one loves me oh, mother, mother
let me come" and the hot tears rained
, down his checks.