Year: 1861

been, around which affections tendril.
had SO closely twined. 1t was their first
their only little Mary, and my heart ached
for the pale beautiful creature who bent
above that little couch, and gazed into the
half closed eyes of her who had so lately
learned the sweet mother. i
was almost over the pure young spirit
nearly liberated, yet still it fingered. All
was still and peaceful; not even sol
broke the hush that had fallen DER US
there; we were watching for the ias'
Jreatd, Reader, did you ever watch .fol
the last breath o! a beloved F.?


1t was a sweet little country home 10
which, in her hour of illness, they had
taken their little one, and the curtains OF
that little room were parted, the window
opened, and through it stole in long gold
en- CLEANS, the last rays Of the setting
sun. while the jasmine, rose, and honey
suckel vines waved 10 and fro with a soft
luIIing sound, yielded their delicate per-
fums to the fresh breeze that stirred them.
Yes, it was a very still and holy hour,
that in which baby went home--just
such an hour as I have often wished might
be my last.


glanced At the li,te one so near home;
her lips were quivering with the faint
breath-the soft golden curls were swept
back from the pale brow and lay damp
with the cold death dew around he beau
dful face-the tiny hands were conyul-
sively cIutchiug the crib cover, and the
beautiful azure eyes, which had so lately
looked in ours and smiled, were turning
their last glance Of affection upon the
loved iace iha. bent in agony over it.
Yes the sweet spirit so lately loaned
from Sod was posing for fight it had
hown-yes, in that moment the unseen
hand had borne away our household idol
Oh. how many hopes had twined around
that little IDOL. How much of loye-and
was /; in vain had been lavished on
that beautiful babe The frst-the on
ly 1t was a terrible trial, yet for the
best, else God had not thus taken the first
flower in its spring-time loyeliness from
our midst.


Silently we gaze upon the all that was
left Of our beloved; it was Deaths
first appearance in our midst, and we
scarcely knew bis meaning, his touch
Yes! it was over; passiyely lay the del
icately moulded hands upon the breast
that had risen and fallen for the last time
the pale lips had fallen apart the heavy
lashes were closed forever over the beau
tiful eyes-yes, the heart had ceased to
flutter, and the baby WAS at rest,


1t was iearfully beautiful sight, and
well might we pause in our life march in
silence, and watch with our spiritual Wis
ion the little one winging her fight home
ward. Why was she born Why was
she taken ? For what has she lived
Was it not all in vain ?-were thoughts
that could not stay, and restlessly they
swept my heart.


There were many gathered in that
room, from the silver haired and bowed
in age to the little baby that had SO lately
been a weIl-spring of loveliness and JOY
in our household. Some Of the hearts
were weary and well nigh broken by long
continued sorrows; gladly would they
have laid aside their working carb
for robes Of life eternal; gladly would
they have lain down to the peaceful sleep
of the grave, yet were they left with
their weary, aching hearts to journey on,
while she who might have made glad two
weary hearts was taken! Was it not
strange-hard to understand | thought
so, and l prayed to God to open my eyes
that l might behold the light. Myprayer
was answered; yes, that which had no
right to ask was given me for should /
not have rested content, with loving, child
like faith, knowing that whatsoever God
willeth is best? No that little life was
not in vain-God gave and God hath ta-
ken away, and all for His own good pur-
pose.


Brief was thy visit, but, sweet spirit,
that visit was not in vain The few
short months in which thy loveliness
cheered us are never TO be forgotten.-I
Their impress is with eternity. Like a
fair flower, thy beauty was too frail to
last, yet thou didst not live, and suffer,
and die in vain; the perfume-the men,
Ory of thy loveliness-is with US still.
Thou hast taught us how to live in inno-
cence and purity. Thou hast taught US
how to suffer in patience. Thou hast
taught US how to die in peaceful submis-
sion to that Divine will of which we are
rs ignorant as vast thou And. like the J