Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-03-02

up to heaven, and then we shall see each other
again, and never be apart There is no dying
there"
said that would be good, and that would
go with her right away if she wished it.
"No, Nat, you can't go with me now; but
some day you will come. And now go down
and tell mother to come up. Good-by dear Nat"
and she kissed me again.
"Why do you say good-by, Nettie! Shan't
see you again before you go!"
81 don't know, Nat; but 60 now and tell
mother"
went down and told mother that Nettie
wanted to see her, and she went up stairs
went out and stood upon the bluff on which our
house was built, land looked beneath the fragrant
cedar-trees, out upon the broad bright river
thought Of what Nettie had told me- thought
of heaven; and my little heart, which had then
only beaten within my breast four summers,
could not conceive of anything more beautiful
than earth. thought that if heaven were only
half so pretty Id be satisfied to live there al
ways provided could be with Nettie. turn
and there above it were the bluebirds, as busy
as ever, singing, and working while they sang.
And wondered if they ever went TO heaven
when they flew away up into the sky. felt
like asking them; but | knew that they could
not understand my talk. And then | looked in
at the window, and saw my mother walking up
and down, with her handkerchief to her face !;
and knew that she was crying. | went into
the house, and as ! was going up the stairs
met one of the servants who told me to walk
lightly.
ais Nette asleep!" asked.
"Yes."
And then saw that she was crying too.
went up the stairs and opened the door softly,
and slid quietly into the room on tip-toe My
mother was not walking up and down, but was
leaning over the bed, and had her arms around
Nettie. crept up close to her, and when she
saw me she drew Nettie closer to her, and cried
harder still | stood there and wondered why
did not hear Nette cry. Presently mother
leaned down and put her arms around me, and
then we both knelt down, and mother prayed.
do not remember all that she said, but rec
collect that she asked God to leave her her son,
since he had taken the daughter. And when she
said this knew that Nettie was dead, and
prayed, "No, God take me too"
We got up from our knees, and saw Nettie
lying upon the bed, and her eyes were closed
and there was white cloth bound under her
chin. Mother helped me up, and kissed Net
tie, and when did so | started-her lips were so
cold. The tears came into my eyes, and drops
fell down upon Nettie's face.
Mother took me away, and we both left the
room crying. did not see Nettie again until
next day, and then | stole up into the room with
handful of violets. found her in coffin, and
the room was darkened. She was dressed in
white, with her hands folded upon her breast
and put the violets there too Then leaned
over her and kissed her, and wished that she
could kiss me in return. After a little while
my mother came in, and when she saw the vio
let's upon Nettie's breast she looked at me, anC
| saw the tears gathering in her eyes; and ther
she threw her arms about me and said, "Dea
Nat, shall love you more now than have
DONE"
That same evening four men carried Netlie il
her coffin down into the garden, and know they
buried her, but could not see, for the tears
filled my eyes. heard the cods falling upoI
the coffin lid, and felt as though would have
given anything for the privilege of lying ther
in the dark grave dead - and with Nettie
A few days afterward man came and placed
at the head of Nettie's grave smooth whit
stone, which had carved upon its face littl
white hand-so like Nettie's hand when she wa
lying in the coffin in the darkened room--and
finger oft pointed ever upward. Twas so ga'
that the man had carved the hand there; 70
? now, that Nette could not speak, that hand 81
I like her own told me where she was.
When the man had gone away went and du!
up some violets, and took them and planted
them on the grave. And | used to go ever.
Y morning while the dew was yet upon the flow
D ers, and I'd stand there at that grave and II
. look into the cups of the violets, and think o
e Nettie's eyes and tears as they were on the da
she died. And would go around to the mort
t side of the old house, and look up at the blue