Morning Star

FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN.

STORY FOR LITTLE CHILDREN

The little boy of whom I am about to tell you, was very affectionate to his parents and particularly fond of being in the company of his father. One day he sat upon his mother's lap, and she talked to him of that beautiful description of heaven, which you may read in the first five verses of the last chapter of Revelation. She asked him if he would not like to walk by that crystal river and under the shadow of those trees of life. He looked up in her face, and said he did not wish to go away from his father and mother. But in a few weeks he did go away from them, and he will never return to them more,

The fresh bloom of health was on his cheek and all the gladness of happy childhood shone in his full, expressive eye. Those who looked upon him, little thought how soon he was to lie down in the grave. But a sudden sickness came. He had been ill in the night, and his mother was holding him in her arms when the family assembled for morning prayer. He slipped from her lap and took his accustomed place in the little chair by his father's side. He read in his turn and then rested his languid head upon his father's knee. He never read the Bible again, never more bent his little knees in prayer. He was laid upon the bed; it was the bed of death. He was gentle and patient, he quietly swallowed the medicines that were brought him, and said his Heavenly Father had done right in making him sick. At one time when he had been lying very still with his eyes closed, he opened them and said to his mother in a soft, sweet voice, "I am thinking of my Heavenly Father." She did not talk to him then, for she wished him to rest. and hoped he would be better another day. Another day the dying struggle came. Her little son could speak to her no more; but she hoped the good Shepherd had taken the Lamb to his bosom.—Sabbath School Visiter.