Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-02-21

uot oV 'CtmoSuut T'OWI uuIkcUcV HUI
forehead, and she asked, with sharp,
lisugreeublc note in her voice, like the
raw breath in the north. east wind
'Wa.all! | should like 10 know what
you want standing thc,el' .
'Please, ma'am, said the boy, in n
timid, cnlreatins voice, which ought 10
have found its way straight into any
heart, little sister and feel very tired,
for We have walked long wny.-Will
you let US sit down on the step and res,
little while?
mo, can't have children loa6ng
round on my premises said Miss S.eb.
bins, with the same vinegar sharpness Of
tone which had charsstorixed her pre-.
ced;ng reply. Moreover, the sight Of
any OF the miniature specimens Of her
race seemed always fated 10 arouse her
beliserent propcnsiiies. so just take
yourselves off; and the quicker, the bet.
ter twill be for you
Don't stay any Longer, Willy. am
afraid whispered tho little girl, with q
.remor .rippIing through her voice, as
she pulled signifca ntly at her brothers.
coat sleeve.
willy! Willy! That was your broth.
er's name; don't you remember the an.
gel bent down and whispered very soft.
ly in the harsh womnn's ear; and all the
time his hand was gliding down, down
in her heart, searching for that hidden
fountain. You must have beer just a.
bout that little girls age when you and
he used TO 60 trulsing down into the
meadows together 10 find sweet aagroo,.
And you used to keep tight hold Of his
hand, just as she does. Oh! how ti,e,l
you used to get! Dom, you remember
that old brown house, where nobody
lived but starved rats and swa,n oil
wasps, who made their nest there in the
summer time? And you used to sit down
on the step, which the wolms had eaten
in so many places, and rest there. How
he loved you! and careful he was ways
10 give you tho best seal and, then, he
never spoke one cross word to you, j
everybody else did. Now, il you should
let those children sit down and resi-, JUS
as you and Willy dil on the old brown
step, you couli keep a sharp eye on
them, to see they didn't get into any
mischief ....
The angel must have said all this in {
very little time, for the children had on
: ly reached the grave.walk again, wher
Miss S,cbbins called out TO them; and
this time, that spiteful little note in he
voice was not quite so prominent
Here, you may sit ri ght down on tha
! corner little while; but, mini you
dom, stir; for, ifyou do, you'll hove tt
5udge.'
Little sister, said the boy, in low
: tone, after they were seated, 'lay youl
head here and try 10 60 to Sleep
, TIE little girl laid her head, with it.
, shower Of golden bright curls, on he
, brothers. breast; but, the next moment
she raise it, saying
/. Il can't sleep, brother, I'm so thirsty.
Don't you remember that day yo,
. and Willy went into the woods alle
+. blackberres, and how you lost you
. way cropping in the twilight Of the for
, est?' again whispered the angel, with III
hand feeling all the time for the foun
b tain. you found all old lightning. blast
e ed tree, and you sat down on it, anil h
Q pu. his arm round you just so, and said
| TRY and 80 TO sleep, little sister, Blu
Q you couldn't, you were so thirsty; 10
l.. you had walked full three miles.-Wh
. knows but what those children have
+ too?'
1 There was little pause after the an
1 gel had said this, amp then Miss Stc5
g bins rose up and went into her pantr
=. where the shelves were all Of imlnacn
late whiteness, and she could see he
/. face in the brightly scourgel tin. .Sh
0 Brought out white pitcher, and, goin
Il into The garden, filled it at the spring
Q Returning, she poured eore Of the coo
c contents into cup which stood on tn
j, table, and carried it to the children; an
a she really held it 10 the little girls lip
. all the time she was drinking.
1, Farther AID farther down in the hear
|; of the woman crept the hand Of the an
!. gel; nearer and nearer to the fountain
d drew, ,i =; yog r.ice ara. 5 5rr.
j Miss Stebbins went back 10 her sew
ing, but, somehow, her. fingers did nc
t fly as nilnbly as usual. The .mcmorie
Q OF bygone years we're rising out Of thei
S moukly sepulchres; out all freshly the
+ came before her, with none Of The grave
d rust and ,dampness upon them. &.
!, That little boys eyes, when he thank
al edyou fof the water, lookel just as vii
g ly's used TO- once more. whispered III
n angel, bending down Close to Mis-
Stebbin's ear. And his hair looks lik
], WHY'S too, as he ;2tls there with tha
. sunbeam Frightening its gold, and hi
> arm thrown SO lovingly aroundlhis BIZ
y ter's waist. There! did you see ho'
h wistlnlly he looked up at the grape!
h whose purple sides are turned .owaf
g him as they hang over the portico? Ho'
b Willy used 10 love grapes! And ho'
,, sweet your bowls Of bread and milk Us
o ell to taste, after one Of your rambles in
. TO the woodsl IL those children hav
al walked ssfar ss you did--and don
v YOU see the little boys coat and the III
81 lie .eirl's faded dress are all covered wit
% tlsss?--they must be very hungry, "a
er we'll % tired and Thirsty. DoTt ayo
!. remembers that spple-pie yon baked thl
.. morningi ,Ilnsver saw pie done TO-
I'll finer brownsinmy lile.g Howtes sveet !;