WAKING UP THE BABY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 411, 25 February 1881, Page 11

WAKING UP THE BABY.

Just at dusk the other dismal day three children, the eldest of whom did not seem to be over ten years old. were huddled together on the rickety steps of an old house on Beaubien street. A pedestrian peeped over their heads to read the number on the door, and the children looked so frightened that he asked :—: — " Children, where are your father and mother ? " " Father's been, gone way off for ever so long, and mother goes out to wash and has not got home yet," said the eldest, a girl. " And yon are all alone ? " " Yes, sir, but baby is in on the bed. He's been asleep an awful long time, and we can't wake him up. If we could we'd play hide and seek and let him find us." " Is the baby sick ? " inquired the man. "We don't know, sir ; but we can't wake him up. I touched him and touched him, and Charlie he tickled his feet, hut little Sandy never moved once. I guess he is awful sleepy. Don't you think you could wake him up." " I'll try," replied the man, as he went in, and when the girl had lighted the lamp he followed her into a bedroom where there was neither carpet nor furniture. Pushed back against the broken wall was a poor old tick and a single quilt. He benc over her to look at the child, and the first glance showed him that little Sandy was dead. On the window-sill were some pieces of bread and a cup of milk which the children intended to feed him. The dead child's hand clasped a rag doll marie of an old calico apron, and its thin little feet and pale face were evidences that it had known sickness and hunger throughout its brief life. While the children waited for him to open his eyes and romp with them and drive the gloom out of the house, the angels had whispered to him and his eyes had unclosed to behold the splendours of heaven. " Won't he wake up ? " asked one of the children, standing back in the shadow. " Children, you must not come in here until your mother comes !" he said as he left the room. " Won't he be afraid to wake up in the dark ?" they asked. " He will sleep a long time yet ! " he whispered, not daring to tell them the truth, and as he went out they put the light on the bedroom floor, that little Sandy might not find the darkness around him when bis sleep was ended. Poor things ! They knew not and they could not see the crown of glory on the dead cbild'B brow — a crown whose light all the shadows on earth can never darken in the least.— Detroit Free JPresi.