The Flower Fadeth


DEAR CHILDREN: The Lord in his righteous

providence has seen fit that our darling Ellen,

aged 13 years, should be taken from your number

by death. From the commencement of your

little paper she has loved and shared with you

its monthly visits. She always received it with

joy, and not only read but learned all the lessons

it contained. She loved to read your letters

and once she wrote to you. (Vol. VI, No. 11.)

Now she sweetly sleeps in Jesus till the 

resurrection morn. When at a very early age she

was baptized, she came out of the water 

shouting the praises of God. I believe she will

 soon come shouting forth from the grave where

 we have laid her.

The last day she was with us (Jan. 23d) she

seemed unusually cheerful and happy, busying

herself in preparing little tokens of love to one

and another, and in acts of kindness to us all.

In calling to mind as far as I am able every act

and word of the dear child through that day, I

cannot wish that anything had been different.

An aged sister was with us, and whenever she

wanted assistance in threading her needle, &c.,

Ellen was at her side. I noticed with pleasure

how watchful she was, though busily engaged

herself. She had commenced a book-mark for

me with the favorite text of her father (who

sleeps in Jesus) upon it, "Great peace have they

that love thy Law," &c. The first two words

were completed, when it being her usual time to

visit her little dog and chickens, she gathered up

her work, and put everything in its place, as

much as if she had known she was never to use

them again. She left the room laughing so

merrily at a remark made by one of her sisters

that I looked upon her with gratitude; as she

had often of late been depressed in spirit, and

shared the sorrows of others. And as she passed

down through the kitchen singing so happily,

another sister there felt, "How happy Ellen is

"and enquired where she was going. She

answered, "O, out," and her sister thought no

more of it. But when a short time after we

gathered around the supper table and no dear

Ellen was there, and the ringing of the bell long

and loud did not bring her, we became alarmed

and went in search of her.

Her brother went directly to the pond, near

the house, from which some ice had been cut a

few days before, but found no trace of her there.

We had encouraged her sliding on this pond, as

a healthy exercise; but she had not been there

before since the ice was cut, and probably never

thought of the open place. As her dog was not

untied we suppose she went directly to the pond,

and the first slide carried her to the fatal spot,

where she must have gone directly under the

ice. Perhaps some who read this can imagine

the agony of our feelings when in less than three

hours from the time she left us so happily, her

cold and lifeless body was brought by 

sympathizing neighbors into the house, 

nevermore to gladden our home and hearts by 

her sweet and winning ways. Never again shall 

we hear her simple, earnest prayer, ever offered

 in child-like faith. But I will not dwell upon this 

painful part. I would rather lead your tender 

minds to reflect upon the wonderful love and 

care that Jesus has for such as you. Yes, dear 

children, he is today the same kind, loving 

Saviour that he was when he said, "Suffer little

 children to come unto me." Some children think

 that religion will have a tendency to make them

 gloomy, and that they must lay aside all their 

childish amusements.

But do not let the enemy of all good

thus deceive you. If you wish to be truly happy

and greatly enjoy every daily blessing bestowed

by your heavenly Father, seek and obtain

the religion of Jesus. Not from a selfish desire

to be saved, O no. But let pure love to God be

the main spring of every action, and then you

will find sweet peace and great happiness in 

taking up your daily cross. In this way you will

glorify God, become a great blessing to your 

parents, and throw a sunshine on all around you.

And you will more than ever enjoy the society

of your little friends, because you will ever study

their happiness, and by so doing increase your

own. Ellen never enjoyed herself better than

when doing something for others. A sister

writes of her that "selfishness never found a

resting-place in her heart," and we all felt, how

true was the remark.

You will remember, dear children, that in the

letter which she wrote you, she spoke of an 

increased love for Jesus, and that she did not

 care any longer for story books, but loved to

 read her Bible more and more. She never lost

 this blessing; and in no case did she yield to the

 temptation to read anything that was light, 

though books were offered her, and I have seen

 by the expression of her countenance that it 

cost her a struggle to overcome. She was very

 faithful in secret prayer, and a few days before

 her death, she said with much feeling, as she

 shut her Bible, "O I do love the Bible a great 

deal better than I used to!" She had read it 

through in course once, and the New Testament

 twice, during the past year, besides often 

reading  some parts of it, and asking questions

 about what she did not understand. And often

 would she talk out her simple faith, her love to

 Jesus and her conflicts with the enemy, in such

 a way as made my heart rise in gratitude to God. 

Among other things she said, "I used to be afraid

 of death, but now I am not. It seems as if I 

should like to die if it was God's will, though I 

should not like to be sick." She often told me 

that whenever she was afraid of a dog, or was 

called after by a rude boy in the street, she 

prayed for protection, and immediately all fear

 would leave her.

What a comfort this has been to me since her

death; for I have felt that when she saw her

danger, she flew as it were to the arms of the

great and good Shepherd, who carried her safely

through the dark river of death. There was

no expression of fear on, her countenance, but

rather of peaceful trust.

Now, dear children, if by these lines any of

you should be encouraged to seek for that 

perfect love that casteth out fear, and strive

 more earnestly for holiness of heart, I shall have

 cause to thank God on your account, and feel 

that my dear child has not died in vain.

Your afflicted friend.





PHEBE R. CHAMBERLAIN.

Haspeth, N. H.