Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-02-16

minutes comfort !" and going hastily to the bed
drew the clothes around the child and bade her
shut her eyes and 60 to sleep.
81 want q drink, mother; can't sleep am
SO thirsty"
The mother looked around there was neither
pitcher nor glass in the ROOM
"It's always just SO. never forget to bring
up water but you are sure to want some. Why
didn't you drink last night, when had whole
pitcher full for you'll"
81 wasn't thirsty last night. Do please give
me drink, and I'll go right to sleep"
81 am not going to run down stairs tonight
so just turn over and shut your eyes"
And she sat down again to her novel, leaving
the thirsty child to its thoughts or dreams as the
case may be.
Lizzie, as she said, wanted a drink very much'
and so she turned and tossed and tried to think
about every thing but water, while that was all
she could think of.
"If had only one little swallow" murmured
she to herself, 81 guess could get along till
morning" But she might as we'll have wanted
Il pailfu; there was no prospect of getting any
BY and by she spied upon the stove hearth tin
cup. "The baby's milk" said she Perhaps
that would be as water wonder if mother
would let me have it." She looked toward the
parent. She was absorbed in her book; her
her very being seemed bound up in it. The child
knew too much to disturb her.
But perhaps she could get it without disturb
ing her mother, and she did want drink so
much. She hesitated awhile, then crept silent
y out of bed, stole to the cup, seized it eagerly
and took swallow. But it tasted better than
she thought it would, and her thirst was such
that she drained it, Alarmed at what she had
done, she was in such haste to put it back that
it slipped from her trembling hand, bounding
against the stove, falling on the hearth, and roll
ing thence on the carpet
"Why, Lizzie Lee!" screamed the mother,
dropping her book and running to the child
81 should like to know what you've been about,
split all the babys milk I'll warrant; as she took
up the empty cup. Then seeing the carpet was
quite dry, she seized Lizzie by the shoulder, ex-
claiming in an angry voice, "what have you
done with the milk, you little plague! Tell me
this minute, what's become of it!
81 was so thirsty, mother" answered the child
in pleading voice, tears starting to her eyes,
6 could not 60 to sleep, and So"
$50 you drank it, did you! you naughty girl," !"
continued Mrs. Lee with increased vehemence
of tone f" drank it, and havn't another drop of
milk in the house. I'll teach you to do such
thngs;" and her hand came down heavily upon
the shrinking shoulder, one two! three times
A wild scream Of pain burst from the child's
lips. Another, and another, and angry and ex-
cited as the mother was, they pierced her heart
as with deep arrows.
The noise startled another child who slept in
the same bed with Lizzy. Frightened from its
sound slumbers it shriekcd in alarm, when the
babe, waking at the same moment joined its
voice with the others, not in harmony, but in
discords, which echo so often in the nursery
stunning the ear and bewidering the brain.
With quick steps, quick hands, and soften
ed tone, Mrs. Lee strovc to calm the tempest
she had raised. Lizzie's cries soon merged into
piteous sobs, but Willie and the babe continued
their loud screams, till the mother, in her per
plexity, would fain have wrung her hands ant
sat down and wept with them. She ran from
one to the other, soothing, singing, and caress
ing. But they would not hush in The least, til
as last resource she took the babe in one arm
Willie in the other, and thus burthencd pace(
the chamber. Her limbs ached with the effort
her voice grew plaintive, her heart sad and sor'
with the upbraidings of a conscience which sh
had strove too long to stife. She breathet
sweet music in the ears Of the little sobbin!
creatures who struggled in her arms, but not
word Of anger escaped from her pale lips Sh
felt she was the guilty cause of all her trouble
A little forethought a little selfdenial, litt
discipline of temper, and all had been well.
1t was long time ere she ventured to 81
down and rock the children, and they did no
, soon close their eyes in sleep. They woul'
start and scream, then draw back such Ion!
, sighs, that the tears which trembed in the moth
er's eyes would flood her cheeks.
When, at last, they rested in sweet, cain
slumber, she was at loss how to put them dow
Il oil ,~s.I -