Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-04-12

lDto any heart, little sister and feel very tired,
for we have walked long way Won't you let
US sit down on the step, and rest little while!"
"No-l can't have children loafng about on
my premises" said Miss Stebbinr, with her ac-
customed vinegar sharpness of tone which had
characterized her preceding reply. Moreover,the
sight Of any Of the miniture specimens of her race
seemed always fated to arouse har bellgerant pro-
Pensities. $50 just take yourself off, and the
quicker the better twill be for you."
"Don't stay any longer, Willy, I'm afraid"
whispered the little girl with tremor in her
voice, as she pulled significantly at her brothers.
coat sleeve"
"Waiy! Willy! That was your brothers name;
don't you remember!" and the angel bent down
ond whispered very softly in the harsh woman's
ear, and all the time his hand was gliding down in
her heurt, searching for the hidden fountain.-
"You must have been just about that little girls
age when you and he used to 60 trudging down
into the meadows together to find sweet flag root.
And you used to keep tight hold of his hand
just as she does. Oh, how tired you use to get.
! Don't you remember that an old brown house
where nobody lived but starved rats and swarm
of wasps, who made their nest there in the sum-
mer time! And you used to sit down on the old
step, which the worms had eaten in SO many
places, and rest there. How he loved you and
how careful he was always to give you the best
seat; and, then, he never spoke one cross word to
you, if every body else did. Now, if yon should
let those children sit down and rest, just as you
and Willy did on the old brown step, you could
keep sharp eye on them, to see they didn't get
into any mischief" .... ..
The angel must have said all this in very lit
tie time, for the children had only reached the
gravel walk again, when Miss Stebbins call
ed out to them-and this time, that spteful little
note in her voice was not quite SO prominent
| "Here, you may sit down on that corner short
time; but dontyou stir; for ify ou do, you'll have
to bulge" ......g
"Little sister," said the boy in low tone, af-
ter they were seated, "lay your head here, and
try to sleep"
The little girl laid her head with its shower
Of golden, bright curls on her brothers. breast,
but, the next moment she raised it, saying
l. 81 can't sleep, brother, I'm so thirsty"
"Don't you remember that day you and Willy
went into the woods after bluckberres, and how
you lost your way cropping in the twilight of the
forest!" again whispered the angel; with his hand
feeling all the time for the fountain. ''You ioand
an old lightning blasted tree, ,and ou sat down on
it, and he put his arms around you just so, and
said, "try and go to sleep, sister" But you
couldn't-you were thirsty, for yon had walked
full three miles. Who knows but what them
children have, too!'
There was little pause after the angel had
said this, and then Miss Stebbins up and went
into her pantry, where the shelves were all of
immaculate whiteness, and she could see her face
in the brightly secured tin. She brought out
white pitcher, and going into the garden, filled it
at the spring. Returning, she poured some of the
cool contents into cup and carried it to the
children; and she really Held it to the little girls
lips whilst she was drinking.
Farther down into the heart of the woman crept
the hand of the angel, nearer to the fountain it
drew.
Miss Stebbns went back to her sewing, but
somehow, her fingers did not fly as nimbly as
usual. Memories Of by-gone years were rising
from their mouldcring sepulchres; but freshly
they came before her, with none of the graves
rust and dampness upon them.
"That little boys eyes, when he thanked you
for the water. looked, just as'Willys used to-"
once more whispered the angel, bending down to
Miss Stebbns' ear "And his hair looked like
his too as he sits there with that sunbeam bright
ening its gold, and his arm thrown 80 lovingly
around his sisters waist. There! did you see how
wistfully he looked up at the grapes, whose Pur-
pie sides are turned towards him, as they hang
over the portico! How Willy used to love grapes!
How sweet your bowls of bread and milk used to
taste after one of your rambles into the woods
fthose children have walked as far as you did
and don't you see the little boys coat and his
sisters faded dress are covered with dust! They
must be very hungry, as well as tired and thirsty.
Don't you remember that apple-pie you baked this
morning! never saw pie done to finer brown
in nv life How sweet it would taste to those
children if they could only get piece in the paror,
where the flies and sun wouldn't keep tormenting
them all the time" ra 81,
A moment after, Miss Stebbins had stolen with
noiseless step to her pantry, and cutting out two
generous slices from her apple pie, she placed
them in saucers, returned to the front door, and
and said to the children s.. .a..
"You may come in here and sit down on the
stools by the Fireplace and eat some pie; but you
must mind and not drop any crumbs on the floor"
It was very strange, but that old harsh tone
had almost left her voice. The large tempting
slices were placed in the little hands eagerly lift
ed up 10 receive them, and at that moment, out
from the lip of the fountain, out from the dust
which lay heavy on its seal, there came q single
drop, and it fell down on Miss Stebbins' heart.