Year: 1860




There was once child, and he strolled


about a good deal and thought of num-


Der of things. He had sister, who was


child too, and his constant companion


These two used to wonder all day long


They wondered at the beauty of the fOw-


ers; they wondered at the height and blue


ness of the sky; they wondered at the depth
of the bright water; they wondered at the
goodness and the power of God, who made
the lovely world.


They used to say to one another some
times, "SuPpOsing all the children on the
earth were to die, would all the flowers
and the water and the sky be sorry?"-
They believed they would be sorry. For,
said they, the buds are the children of the
flowers, and the little playful streams that
gambOl down the hill-sides, are the child
ren of the water; and the smallest bright
specks playing at hide and seek in the sky
all night, must surely be children of the
stars and they would all be grieved to see
their playmates, the children of men, no
more.


There was one clear shining star that
used to come out in the sky before the rest,
near the church spire, above the graves
1t was larger and more beautiful, they
thought than all the others, and every night
they watched for it. standing hand in hand
at the window. Who ever saw it first cried
out, 81 see the star!'' And often they cried
out both together, knowing so well when
it would rise and where. So they grew to
be such friends with it, that, before lying
down in their beds, they always looked out
once again, to bid it good night; and when
they were turning round to sleep they
would say, "God bless the starl"


But while she was still yOung-Oh very.
very yOung-the sister drOoped. and came
to be SO weak that she could no longer
stand in the window at night. and then the
child looked sadly out by himself, and when
be saw the star, turned round and said to
the patient pale face on the bed, 81 see the
starl" and then a smile would come upon
the face, and little weak voice used to
say, 'God bless my brother and the star"


And 50 the time came, all too soon, when
he child looked out alone, and when there
was no face on the bed; and when there
was little grave among the graves not
there before; and when the star made long
rays down toward him, he saw it through
MS tears


Now these rays were 60 bright, and they
seemed to make such shining way from
9arth to heaven, that when the child went
to his solitary bed, he dreamed about the
tar; and dreamed that lying where he was,
lie saw train of people taken up that
parkling road by angels. And the star,
'pening, showed him great world of light.
where many more such angels awaited to
eceive them.


All these angels, who were waiting. turn
d their beaming eyes upon the people who
Vere carried up into the star; and some
anne out from the long rows in which they
TODD, and fell upon the peoples necks, and
,issed them tenderly, and went away with
hem down avenues of light. and were SO
apPy in their company, that lying in his
ed, he wept for joy.


But there we're many angels who did
Ot 60 with them, and among them one he
new. The patient face that once had laid l
pom the bed was glorifed and radiant,
ut his heart found out his sister among I
II the host


His sisters angel fingered near the en-
rance of the star, and said to the leader S
mOng those who had brought the people
aither-


"Is my brother Gomez"


And ha caid ssNo +,