Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-10-23
A Story for Mothers
HE CHILDREN AND THE NOVEL.
ny MRS CAROLINE A. sorIe.

swell, there" mattered Mrs Lee. in some
what petulant tone, as she laid down her babe;
''thans fortune the last one is a-bed and asleep.
Now for little comfort
Carefully drawing the blanket around the tiny
form she rested one hand for few moments upon
the gentle heavng breast; stirred the cradle with
the other. singing all the while low lullaby.
Assured from its soft breathing and quiet
limbs that ii was indeed Sleep, she turned from
it quickly. drew her low rocker to the stand,
picked up the light. aud took from underneath
miscellaneous pile in her work basket, an uncut
novel.
.'Whai beautiful title!" said she. all traces
of WEAKNESS vanishing with electric rapidity,
from her colnenance. As her eyes glanced
over its pages, the du', look they had worn all
day disappeared. aud the light OF anticipated joy
flashed in It's stead.
IL know shall be pleased with it. lfeel thai
it viii be interesting" continued she.
What charming names tae author has chosen.
None Of volr Johns and iannahs, your Roberts
and harwa"cts--oa no. here is noble Rodrigo,
poetic Clarence, sweet Flofila, sanity Tnerese !;
why there is not an ordinary name in the book.
The writer must be one Of uHusul tastei"
Having hastily cnt the leaves. she shaded her
brow with one hand. grasped the charming book
with the other, as though ii were polished gold,
and she was a miser, and commenced. in the
phraze Of enthusiastic novel readers. to deyoar
the pages,
Rlpidly her ewes run over the first chapter
bat then--she turned her head with quick. i'm
patient movement Did she not hear noise in
the cradle: Yes a little hand was lifted from
beneath the cover.
s.Too bad: bell be awake all til, evening.
now - aud she g';dci with noiseless step to the
chla's SIDE.
But the eyelids were still closed--the measured
breath or sumber, stole gently from the half
parted lips and the offending hand, rested In quiet
baa1ty upon the soft cheek.
1t was fair sweet babe, whose little heart had
throbbed bat one short slnmer. As it lay there.
the spell OF sinless sleep upon its brow. seemed
the type Of all thiaes pure and hest. Elem. with
all its iov.n sss. never charmed the gaze o. Eve
T with sach q picture. Tae holier feelings OF the
mothers breast were touched as II by hand
! from Heaven. The ange, began to trouble the
deep waters of her soul. as she stool beside the
cradle bed and when. after vigil OF several
minutes. tie child still sleeping, she bent her
head and imprinted upon its lips the kiss OF love,
the healing wave flowed for Oh Instant then
ebaed for the novel was MOI yet read:
/ Resuming her seat, Ms Lee again took her
book. Bat the fiction seemed to have lost some
| OF it's fascination. For some time her glances
vaciilated between its finely printed pages and
her heapea up basket. she even put on thin
be and threaded needle. But moonlight
! scene where, in honey-suckle bower. the noble
lover draws trembling gtr to his bosom, ana
! pours into her ear the bewltching words of wild
courtshp, acted like magic on the readers mind
and she bee ,me absorbed in the glowing picture
! The second aud third chapters Were soon pc
pecusei. and she was entering with interest
upon the fourth. when a sweet voice from the
tue trandte bed called out mother, smother
mother, mother.'
she caught the sound. but it made no impres.
sion upon her mind till 1t had been repeated and
then turning quickly. in no very gentle voice. she
exclaimed, ..what do you want, Lizzie? thought
YOU was asleep an kolr ago
II have been asleep, mother.S answered tht
daughter, in timid tone. 81 walked up be.
cauSe"-
"Because you were naughty girl, and wanted
to plague me. Strange that | can't have MN.
u,e's comfort" and going hastily TO the bed, she
drew the clothes around the child, and bade kei
shut her eyes and go to sleep.
II want drink, mother; l can't sleep am 81
thirsty
The mother looked around =; there was nethe
p:,rner nor glass in the room. ..
|. ATS always Just 50. l never forgot to hrln:
water but what Won were sure to want some
Why didn't you drink las. night, when | haa
whole pitcher full for yong"
Il wasn't thirsty last night. Do please Civ
} me drink. and I'll 60 right to Sleep"
..I'm not going to run down stairs to night
) so Just turn over aud shut your eyes"
And she sat down again to her novel. leavin
the tniTStV CIiil io Va o. eA
. case might be.
Lizzie. as she said, wanted drink very much
, and so she turned and tossed. and tried to thin
of everything but water, while that was all sh
: could think Of
n "lf had only one very little swallow nnr
r INJURED she to herself. II thiak could get alon
$ till morning. Bat she might as well hav
y wanted pailful; there was no prospect OF get
: ting any. By-and-bv she spied upon the stove
: hearth a tin cup "rne baby's milk - said she
: perhaps that would be as good as water. :
0 wonder if mother would let me have it ?" Sh
: looked toward the parent.--She was absorbed |
!, her book; her very being seemed bound up in i
h The child knew too much to disturb her.
: But perhaps she could get it without disturb
!, ing her mother, and she did want drink :
n mich. She hestated while, then crept silen,l
IS ont of bed stole the cup, seized it eagerly, an
took a swallow. But it tasted better than sh
thought it would, and her thirst was such tn;
she drained it. Alarmed at what she had don
she was in such haste to PIT it back that it sliF
II ped from her trembling hand, bounding again
>, the stove, falling on the hearth, and rolling theme
H.