him, and always do right, and speak the truth', because the eye of God is always upon me"-it seemed as if I should sink'; and when he laid his hand on my head again', and prayed for the blessing of God the Redeemer to rest upon me, 'soon to be a fatherless orphan',' I dared not look at him', I felt so guilty. Sobbing, I rushed from his bed-side', and thought that I wished I could die. They soon told me that he could not speak. Oh, how much would I have given to go in and tell him that I had told a lie', and ask him once more to lay his hand on my head and forgive me! I crept in once more, and heard the minister pray for the dying man.' Oh, how my heart ached! I snatched my hat, and ran to the apothecary's house', and got the medicine. I ran home with all my might, rushed in', and sprang to my father's bed-side to confess my sin', crying out', O here father' but I was hushed'; and I then saw that he was pale, and that all in the room were weeping. My dear father was dead! And the last thing I ever spoke to him was to tell him a lie! I sobbed as if my heart would break'; for his kindness', his tender looks', and my own sin', all rushed upon my mind. And as I gazed upon his cold, pale face', and saw his eyes shut and his lips closed', could I help thinking of his last words', 'My little boy will see his father suffer great pain for the want of that medicine" I could not know but he died for the want of it. "In a day or two, he was put into the ground and buried. There were several ministers at the funeral, and each spoke kindly to me', but could not comfort me. Alas! they knew not what a load of sorrow lay on my heart. They could not remove it. My father was buried', and the children all scattered abroad'; for my mother was too feeble to take care of them. "It was twelve years after this, while in college, THE TWIN BABES. 117 that I went alone to the grave of my father. It took me a good while to find it'; but there it was, with its humble tomb-stone'; and, as I stood over it, I seemed to be back at his bed-side', to see his pale face', and hear his voice. Oh! the thought of that sin and wickedness cut me to the heart. It seemed as though worlds would not be too much to give', could I then only have called loud enough to have him hear me ask his forgiveness. But it was too late. He had been in the grave twelve years'; and I must live and die', weeping over that ungrateful falsehood. May God forgive me.' LESSON LXIV. THE TWIN BABES. ""T was summer, and a Sabbath eve`, And balmy was the air`; I saw a sight which made me grieve'— Within a little coffin lay Two lifeless babes', as sweet as May. Like waxen dolls, which infants dress', A look of placid happiness Did on each face appear. A rose-bud, nearly closed', I found And many a pink was strewed around', And yet the flowers that round them lay Were not to me more fair than they. Their mother, as a lily pale', And, bending o'er them, told her tale', Yet oft she cried, amidst her pain', LESSON LXV. MOTHER, WHAT IS DEATH? MOTHER', how still the baby lies',- My little work I thought to bring', They say that he again will rise', That God will bless him in the skies'; "Daughter', do you remember, dear', I told you that Almighty Power Could break that withered shell', And show you, in a future hour', Something would please you well. THE STAR. Look at that empty shell, my love', And raise your wondering thoughts above' Oh yes', mamma'; how very gay Oh, mother', now I know full well, How beautiful must brother be', LESSON LXVI. THE STAR. EVER beaming, still I hang' In the boundless, azure dome Mortals', I unchanging view 119 Here I mark how soon it dies'; Wealth and splendor, pomp and pride', Fame, ambition, glory, power', Him, whose scepter swayed the world', Monarch's form and vassal's clay' When I've been from age to age, I've answered not; for soon, I knew', Mortals', since ye pass as dew, The righteous, says a page divine', And like the stars', when I and mine Are quenched to beam no more! |