The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-07-19
A SKETCH FROM LIFE's VOLUME.
ny MRS. L. JAN : FROST.

And all day had Minnie sat there, close
beside the bed, sometimes sleeping, some
times talking in low whhper to her sick
mother then again, she would forget Il ct
she must be silent, and sing some simple
song. But now twas almost evening, and
the long, dim shadows began to creep silent
ly into each corner, and under the low table,
and behind the chair. Minnie saw them.
and, though too young to know fear. yet she
felt lonesome, and drew nearer and nearer to
the bedside. II was a long time since her
mother had spoken, and Minnie knew she
was. asleep SO she crept on che bed and
kissed her mother gently, lest sfe should wa
ken her. Minnie thought her mothers face
felt cold, SO she drew the old thin guilt cloler
about her, then laid hereself down beside her,
and soon she, too, slept. 80.
When the first sunbeam of morning kiss
ed the rosy lips Of the little watcher, she
awoke, and said, Mother" but 70 answer
came, again she called loudly, but no one
spoke ; she sprang up and gazed about her
q moment and then down at her side where
lay'the one she called for.
"Oh pithougt Minnie, " Mother has not
walked yet" so she bent down and kissed
the pale cheek ]; but the touch made her
shudder, and she thought her mothtr must
feel very cold. Then she tried 10 awaken
her, but she could not make her speak at
last, discouraged with her fruitless Efforts,
she got down from the bed, and sat down in
her ht,le broken chair and wept. She cried
a long time, but, at last, she thought she
would go down stairs, and out into the street,
and get some one TO come and wake her
mother SO taking little bowl of water
down from shelf, which she reached by
stepping in a chair, she washed her face and
hands, then brushed back, as well as she was
able. hsE curly. golden hair, for she remem-
bered her mother always did so before TAX
ing her into the street. Then down she
went as fast as her tiny feet would carry her :
she stopre1 soon as she reach the corner Of
the street, and looked wistfuliy up into the
faces Of the passers by she had thought she
would ask the first one she met to go home
with her but they all hastened on without
i'oticing her, and there seemed something
about them that made her afraid to speak
But now a young man was passing, AMI as
he reached the spot where Minnie stood, with
the tears just peeping from her great blue
eyes, he paused a moment, and smiled kind
1y sn her, then passed on but that smile
gave to the tmid child courage, and she ran
after him, and catching hold Of his hand,
said,
40, sir pleas wake my mother
"And where is your mother, pretty one ?'
said the stranger, as he gazed with admira
tion on the wondrous beauty of the child.
AT home, on the bed," said Minnie, as
she led him through the narrow alley, then
up the broken stairs into the miserable
room.
One glance at the pale features Of The
mother sufiiced to tell him that she did in.
deed sleep but it was the sleep that knows
no waking. How could he tell this to the
hopeful child that stood looking so earnestly,
first at him then her mother But why that
pal or that steals over his features as he stands
there in silence, gazing at the dead is it
only sympathy for the poor orphan, or has he
met with the pale sleeper before On the
9oung mothers features still fingered traces
of eGt'beauty, beauty tina sorrow had mar
red. but failed to blot out.
At last the stranger turned to answer the
eager inquiry of the child, as she eagerly
asked, "why he did not wake her mother
up"
Not yet" he answered and gently ta-
king the child in his arms, he seated himself
on the only unbroken chair the room con-
tanned for moment he gazed at the beau
tfdl Minnie, who looked so trustingly at him
I'd return, that he dreaded more and more to
TIL her the whole truth. He asked her hel
name and age she said,
Minnie Waters and guess | am four
years DID,"
Well was it that she was too young to ro.e
tha oh tLof L r.
told her naAe to him, or she might have been
frightened. All, yes J.! Walter Wilmont had
heard that name before bat he was calm
and kissing her soft cheek he said, gent.
ly,
" Minnie, / cannot wake your mother; she
will never wake again"
A look of great surprise passed over the
face of Minnie she had never seen sleeps
twin brother, and knew not that his name
was death.
6 And can't anybody wake her up ant
will she always lay there Just so still anc
cid, and will she never speak to me again y
asked Minnie, as the tears began to fall, on,
by one, on the smooth, white hand of tn,
stranger. For a long time he talked to her
te!ling her not 10 cry, that he would take car
e' her and carry her to new home bu
lie said she did not want 10 90 away ant
leave her mother and so she wept on. A
] st, however, she fell asleep, exhausted b
Ter violent griet. Then he carefully laid tn
tiny form upon enc corner of the bed, an
stood gazing at them with folded arms. Yes
at his child, and the once happy being VIII
should have called him my hmsJana A col
sweat gathered on his forehead, and he groan
I'd aloud as he murmured.
" Yes, once happy Minnie Waters, 20
ale forever gone and have done all this
fool that was to let pride keep me from dc
ing my duty; what if she was poor and
wealthy All why did treat that faithfr
love with scorn But, Minnie, my Minnie
shall be my care-I will shield her from a
harm.''