Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-05-16
free herself sufficiently from Willie's
clinging arms to speak.

Mother has gone over to Patrick
O'Donnahue's,' said Willie, seeming to
avoid an answer to the former question !;
little Milly is very sick, they thought
she couldn't live the day out, and Pat
rick's folks have been SO kind to us ever
since, that mother thought she must go.
See, Nelly is asleep here by my side
Little darling said Matte, imprinting
a sisterly kiss upon her rosy cheek,
'there, don't wake her-cver since what,
Willie, have Patrick's folks been kind;
tell me quick--father isn't dead
she was going to say.
Ever since got hurt answered
Willie, I'm little lame, you know, and
I've been sick with fever but then,
never mind, I'm better you see, and j
shall soon be quite well, now you've come.
O Matte, how have longed and longed
to see YOU and he threw his arms again
around her neck and fairly cried with JOY
and nervous excitement. Matte soothed
and caressed him in her old, motherly
way, and wisely forebore to question him
any more at present. After a little while
he said :.
- How surprised mother will be to see
you, Matte, but I have been expecting
you all day, isn't that queer? You see
l dreamed it all out last night
You always were great dreamer,
Willie
well, last night / thought was away
out on the barrens all alone. | had lost
my way, it was getting dark, and there
was great ditch that | couldn't cross;
was dreadfully tired and frightened, and
sat down on the ground to cry-and all
at once beautiful angel, with the sweet
est smile, came toward me, and there was
a crown on her head, made of sunbeams
thought, that made it light all around
and that was you, Matte, and 1 thought
you took me up and lifted me over the
ditch, and pretty soon We came to a beau
tiful place where there were flowers all
around and the birds were singing; and
on a little farther was lovely cottage in
grove, and that was to be our home
then the light grew brighter and brighter,
till it woke me.
And the sun was shining in your face,
wasn't it?' said Matte, and that was
what made you dream So
But Willie, who was strong in the
faith that his dream was shortly to be
verified. sunk to sleep with this thought
lighting up his pale face.
Matte now had leisure to look around
the room, and the old sickening feeling
came back as she observed the same indl-
cations of want and thriftlessness, of
which she had a too vivid recollection in
the past. How different from aunt Mary's
| home !! the floor was bare and dirty, the
furniture broken and rickety-there was
the same old dumb clock in the corner
all covered with dust-and her mother
had evidently been called away without
having cleared up the breakfast table. n
But the more desponding the prospect,
the more Mattie's brave, cheerful courage
seemed to rise-here was work enough
for hand and heart-and the loving little
daughter raised a silent prayer for bless
ings on her new mission.
Matte groped around in the twilight
and found an end of candle, which She
placed in tin candlestick, and had Just
succeeded in lighting it as Mrs. Grey
entered the room.
Surprised and gratifed at sight of her
long absent child, she gave her an ahec-
tionate embrace. Her feelings were yet
under the softening influence of the
scene she had just left, and there was at
once established, between her and Matte,
a sympathy which had never existed
before, and which to the mother brought
an unwonted sense of comfort and hope.
For hours they sat on the bedside,
Matte leaning her head on her mothers
bosom, talking of the friends she had
left and the kind messages sent Then
they touched upon the past, and finally,
when Matte adverted to the present, and
enquired tremblingly after her father, her
mother replied that he was getting worse
and worse, that sometimes he was gone
for days together, that things had gone
on dreadfully for the last few weeks and
she had been obliged to take in washing
to support herself and the younger
children-and ended by saying, that,
much as she wanted Mattie's presence
and assistance, she never could or would
have sent for her to leave aunt Mary, for
such home as this.
Then Matte summoned all her courage,
and in her delicate but child like way,
gradually unfolded to her mother all her
hopes and wishes with regard to winning
her father over to his home and family
if he only saw them striving to make
him happy. wouldn't he care more about
staying with them--and perhaps, after
while, they could coax him to sign the
Pledge-and then how Mattie's eyes
sparkled as she drew the picture of
happy home.
Her mother smiled at her childish
enthusiasm, but shook her head despond-
ingly, at the same time telling Matte to
manage everything as she pleased, and
they retired to rest.
With the first grey streak of light in
the morning came messenger for Mrs.
Grey. s. as.a
'Milly was going off into another fit.
and sure it wad be the death of her, the
y.