IN HEAVEN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9491, 3 January 1919, Page 8

IN HEAVEN.

';•'.■''■ The Angel's'-:eyes'.fell on n'amall. sort! that had \ shrunk , away dejectedly—in; i ■ siKoificanti; till he looked 'move ; closely, and,then he became conscious of a dimy j | elusive, radiance. '■■:';"■:<.'' ■■;''' ,;';• f-/'--.":-.'''| h !" Asvfor you— —'"' he began kindly, 1 aJid paused.-' ■■'"■-. '■■■'• •" '■•;.".' - -.■■;;-;■.■■- ..,-. j ,; " It's all right !" : .-,' said the . little j soul, anxious. "Co reassure. this clearly | compassionate-Angel.". " Whatever it is. "I-'deseiTe.it.! I've never once made my 'life what I might have .'-'made;it I It has only been a putting on, like margarine instead of butter IV V •■•/ Oh, -well, after, ( : all/! said : tlie Angel, V"you loved your hasband arid 'children." • ' ■ ■■.'■■- •'■.'■•.■'i--' '- '<■.:■'■'■ ';-.-'.-"■,' "I thought I did !" sighed.the soul. "But I see now how selfish 1 was. Then I lost my temper so often, though they were as good as gold.; And I ' promised to make a; gown for; Meg,! my j eldest girl, put, of a sweet pink remfnant, arid I never got it, done. There f was cleaning: arid then measles;: but■-. I I niiglxt have sat: up later 1 Now she'll go, into black, and next year the stuff, will be out* of fashion.'? - ; : : " But," pleaded the- ■ An^el, "you , save theni the best of everything, arid J kept the worst for yourself.- .When there, weren't enough strawberries, you pretended you'd eaten your share; be- | forehand !?'''■ .■.."■■ ■';;'-;■>'■'. ' , '.-"';; '" X-'v*""

"Why, any mother, any wife;!" exclaimed' the/little soul indignantly.^ v " But whpn your"friends, oiv enemies, were ill, you went arid mirsed them^ !?' "I'm riot a good nurse !" said the" soul."I never had proper training. | I'ye not a trained mind either; and! ouscht' to have' thoiight and read rnpre, and been a better companion to- my husband and children.. Everything 1:1 did wias makesMft !"■ . . V . ■"! Never .mind !''/■ said the/ Angel". "No w. come arid ha ye si good long' rest .in 'Heaven '!'.'•■■■".'•."...'•■ ■.':'.'■•'■/■.•„ '■■'■'- ''.- ': •■■■ ■'. :•,'■ , "Heaven ?" she returned incrodu-. oiisly. " How good of you ! 5Te in; Heaven ! I su)}pbse^—]j. could never -et otit.iust to;tell them where-1 am.7^ I db hate 1 the thought of tlieir missing me!" . -;;. ■.■■"■:.•■;■■..■ ■'.-; ■■■■■•■.■ :-"-v;.'.: " It is. not .usual,"' replied tlie Angel. But. let me seew-you" hav6 oply just Icomef"- ■'„ .-': '.' . ■ >'r: i.-'i. .:\/.W'- ; He rang, up the •.■Earth, and madecertain inquiries. Then he turned to the little soul;. . ••; \ .■.•;.' ::■';•';. ': ':■" Yovi may go back to your hoine ; for some years," he said, "if you wish to do so. But, they will be years■ of great strain, because, you have exhausted your; .reserves-' of physical strength. It would be far wiser to. go straight to Hoii.vori and rest." . ' ..'■•. ,-'•"■•.• ; "But I'm rested .just with* dying;!"', said the soul tremulously.•■'■' "Its a won-dei-ful experience: I v feel quite young and light. I would love to go to Heaven; Wt ,:I■'-, do think, if you'll let me. I'll put on. a little longer. That' -.:■; pink .. .remnant i. . ."■■'. '• ;: She was gone. ,i"-';V , :' ; '■.'•■.■''■'."'' -^-MiK.. in." " Shturday' 'Westminster;: ■(JtiKette;.^ •.•;•■ ',:-f- ■ : r-'-^y.. , l : :- \'.-':>::\ '[ "':;: