Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-16

book case, and commenced my search for
the needed volume. PauIa's voice occa-
sioually sounded from the innerroom, where
she was undressing the child. Then was
startled by the sweet, clear, little voice of
Wish herself:
"Mamma-I knowl"
"What do you know, darlingr
81 know it, | know who made the how-
ers--anG the birds--and the sky-and the
grsss.n
She stopped as if breathless, though she
had spoken slowly, as usual. There came
no answer from the mother. The silsnce
was again lightly stirred bY the chiid's
voice. ~
ssWhv did sou never tell me of Godl"-
s gain there was pause. "Klte asks God
to take care of her. and her mamma and
papa,.sa j viii too. . =
%; nos 4 - knees--6os taere!s ;.
g. ~ 6d1e noitsr
-aIs Il wrong-is Wish wrong, Is God
a wrong thing."
ssHush-hush! Nay, my own darling; it
is not wrong. Look up, lookup. MAMMA
can not bear TO see Wish cry."
But the passion of weeping, so rare in
the child, was not easily assuaged.
"Mamma ,-mamma! | thought you would
be glad. Wish was so glad''
For a long time listened to Paula, as
she strove to soothe and console her. Then
lsUent down, my book in my hand, and
waited ior her coming. She entered the
room with the leok on her face that was
prepa!edfo see-the look that had rot rest
ed there for many years. met her out
stretched hands, and answered the look;
and then she dropped by my side, and hid
her face.
sis she ssleep!" asked her.
"fes, Lewis Her little voice is ringing
in my ears now. Such a little, innocent
voice to utter words Ike those! Lewis.
Lewis! what does it meant"
''She has learned from Kate Lethby the
words she used. The idea is new TO her,
and she caught it at Gnce, like child
lsThat is ali.''
SAY. but it is not all. Lewis; it is not all.
1t seemed as if the thought had been sleep
ing in her mind, ay, before now. 1t is not
newly born; it is only awakened. And +
] must crush it back. | could do no more
than strike it away from her. And she
cried as she never cried before in all her
lite. Her tears rent NY heart"
IL know: can guess it. Paula.
"You can not; it is not in a mans soul
to tell the agony OF mine. am her mother;
and | have stabbed her W ith her first grief!
Never in all her little life before has she
shed tears like those"
+ at is-a good sign. Ii renews our hopes"
II said, with resolved cheerfulness. But my
wife turned from ne in bitterness.
A bright June day. went early on my
usual business. | said nothing to Paula
about the child, nor did ask if she was TO
20 a, ain to little Kate. Wish was her own
quiet, noiseless self again that morning =
Sig sat in her customary place, at that side
4he staels Nkaace syie coa.assia4s sszss;'
ltlIrough inc window On the earden. Her
j clear eye seldom left that outlook, and /
iancied her face Frightened, uomeally, in
the glory Of the sunshine that was flooding
Garth and sky SO graciousiv.
Her little footsteps followed me down
the garden path; her little hand detained
me at the gate. She lifted her face with
I the famiIiar gesture, and as | bent down to
.ftake.her in my arms and kiss her, she .sa i'd:
~Wish issglad--so glad.n
Why is she gladi''
81 don't known And the yearning rose
from the deeps OF her eyes She looked
round her. searchingly at radiant flowers,
trees, and sky, as ifseeking the mystery of
ltheir brightness,t then flung her arms around
my neck, and nestled her nepd in my bosom
."Wish is glad" shesaid again. q
Phai moved the child to this gladness, OF
to utter''ii in words on that especial morning
] Shall ever know!
j The remembrance OF her sweet lock, the
feeling OF her dear arms around my neck
| sunk d1wn into my heart. forgot not ling
of the briefepisode during the day. It fol-
lowed me into my usual avocationS; it made
the time beautiful to me. As went hums
/ | thought of it.
i | entered at the open door and passed in
, to the general silting-room. No one wa
there; but PAULA needlework was scatter
: ed on the tab e, aad buncFtot flowers ar
ranged aszWisb loved to arrange them OIL
ai the window sill stood in the recess o
n the bow-window for some time, till the rus
r tie Of robe sounded in the room, and Pau
,a's hand was laid upon my arm, and Pau
las voice:
"HusbandI Wish is ill., very ILL.
:. do not know what [ said, or how sh
: looked. only remember the sudden hor
r ror OF the shock, the heavy weight that fel
r. on nv heart. crushing 'alI quiet thought
/. away. | remember. too, that the sun ha
e burst through the declining clsuds, an
IS shone round and golden while the leve
): light, intense and absolute, glorifed tn
e landscape that had seemed bright before.
ID 1t was strange, and yet not strange
n that both Paula and from he first, had th'
r. same din, breathless terror of this Hines
that had suddenly smtten the child. Sh
a had dropped and sickened all within fe'
ID hours, they told me. AT first Dr. Lethb
ID himself was perplexed BY the singular natur
:. of the attack; but ultimately it resolved i
T. self into one of those dread fevers so subtil
pr and sometimes so fatal. Sometimes-onl
ii sometimes! | said this to myself day ATE
to day, TRY ing to keep upthe blow of hope. Br
Ia was hyPocrite. Through the long hour
: that watched by the little bed, where OF
10 darling tossed in restless delirium, thoue
vii watched as eagerly, as jealously, as if b
oG the keenness OF my vision, could fence G
i. all i'll that could come near her-stIl-
- knew.
no onthe ninth day, exhsusted,I.had bet
er compelled by DR.. Lethby to leave the sic
10 room for spsce. fell into heavy, torp
20 slet D, from which was aroused by a voic
-, Come it said, sat once. The child is sin
be ing. Nerve yourself for your wiie's SAX
,re She suffers more than you can do
es And ! rose and staggered to my feet, Ill
VI one in a dream, and followed him.
=. could not bear it. could not bear it.