Year: 1866




he would come 2


The little sufferer who spoke was a
girl apparently about twelve years OF
age She lay gasping for breath on a
comfortless pallet, whose scanty cover
ing seemed altogether insufficient to
protect her from the cold of a December
afternoon. Large drops of perspiration
stood on her forehead, while bright
crimson spot burned on her sunken
cheeks, and her large, dark eyes had now
an unnatural lustre. The little room In
which she lay, though scrrpulousiy neat
and clean, had a bare and poverty
stricken aspect


A small fire burned in the narrow CRATE,
scarcely sufficient to make any change
in the raw, damp atmosphere, or to I'M
part cheerful glow to the darkening
chamber. The scanty curtain had been
drawn aside from the window, but re-
vealed only the gray, leaden sky, unre-
lieyed by the faintest streak OF blue. Far
and wide were innumerable roofs and
gables, with their fantastic stacks of
chimneys and wreaths of smoke. Beyond
these in dim distance, when the hazy
atmosphere permitted, you might discern,
here and there, the flowing, mighty
Thames. On and on it flows, through
rich pastures and shady woodlands past
Quiet hamlets and busy citizens, bearing
on its waters the untold wealth and
mighty commerce of nations.


"But to the little girl who lay there on
her last bed of suffering, the river had
only whispered of green fields and sunny
banks, where in days gone. by she had
loved to wander, aud which she could
now only picture to herselfin her pent-up
city home. All she would see the How
ers on its brink no more On earth, for she
was on the brink OF a darker river, but
beyond there were glimpses Of ineilable
glory, unchanging light, and love and
blessedness and, like weary dove; she
longed to flee away and be at rest


Mother, will the minister Gomez she
repeated feebly, as, throwing of shawl
and bonnet and sitting a sigh the poor
mother sat down by her suffering child.


"Yes, darling, he will come soon, she
replied but the tears would no longer
be forced back, and covering her face
with her hands, she wept bitterly.


Mother, dear Mother, said Elsie
family, "be comforted.


90, it is hard to lose you, Elsie i
could bear hard labor and want but thus
it is too much.


Mother, God will comfort you | am
sure of it. 1t is HIS will to take me, and
il must be right Dear mother, meet me
in the blessed land where We shall have
no more parting nor sorrow.


Darling, l will try. ought not to
murmer. | will pray for resignation.


Thy will be done on earth as 1t is
in Heaven" said Elsie in low whisper.
But she could say no more. A change
had come over her, and the weeping
mother, starting up, looked on with awe
stricken face.


Just then the minister entered. Elsie
opened her eyes, aud with faint smile
of recognition, greeted her beloved
pastor.


Dear child" said he, ARE you hap
py2 Is the sting of death entirely re-
moved ?"


The power Of Inference had failed;
yet an indescribable expression OF peace
rested on the wan face, as If no cloud
intercepted the glorious vision OF the
perfect day" Her hand rested on the
coverlet. ami with one trembling finger
she traced the words, " l love you; then,
with sigh, the freed spirit escaped from
its clay tenement to be " forever with the
Lord"


What change for Elsie From that
bare, cold chamber to the place of
angels and God" From want and sor.
row and poverty to fnllness OF JOY, and
pleasure for evermore. From pain and
suffering to immortal health aud peace
and blessednessl From the discords of
earth to the grand, full harmonies of
Heaven "They shall hunger no more,
neither thirst any more; neither shall
the sun light on them, nor any heat
For the Lamb which is in the midst OF the
throne shall feed them, and shall lead
them into living fountains of waters
and God shall wipe away all from their
eyes


Do you, like this Sunday scholar
Il" loye2"