The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-02-27

"A Drlght WOOD 1re blaZed cheerIuiiy IN the
wide chimney, while, the steaming tea-kettlt
was announcing, as loudly as possible, tina
the hour for supper was approaching. BY
the bright but fitful light, one young gir
sat reading; another stood at the window
watching the cows as they walked demure
ly from the yard to the stable, while boy
of eleven summers was seated on a cricket
in front Of the fire gazing steadily at the
flames as they shot upward, but with an alb
straction indicating that his mind was else.
| where.
Softly Ellen advanced from the window,
and, touching her sister Ruth to call her
attention, whispered: "Just look at Tho.
mas! He's in brown study, as the tea
cher said this afternoon do wonder what
he's thinking off"
ASK him." responded Ruth, glancng a,
her brother, and then turning to her book
again.
I Thomas" called Ellen, "What makes
you look so sober tonight? Did you miss
at SCHOOL,"
The boy heaved a deep sigh, and then
turned to his sister with smile, saying
80, Ellen, you can help me if you will you
mus, promise not to tell any one"
Ellen promised, and Thomas led her to
the further corner Of the room, as his moth
| er had come in, where he made known to
her his plan.
Last light said he, after you and Ruth
had goue TO bed, | heard father and mother
I talking. 1t made me feel 40 bad could not
sleep. She had been bringing in clothes,
and kept coughing, as she always does when
she works hard. Father told her she must
go 10 taking that doctors stuff that did her
I so much good last winter. At first she did
not answer; but pretty soon | saw her put
| up her hand and brush away a tear. There
! are so many things to be bought for the
/ children" she said after while, that
don't like to spend money for medicine. L
don't often cough SO much"
/ Il know that too, replied father; Z" but
! you must attend to your health. What
I should We all do without vou:"
Isometimes think, said mother, - that
NV work is almost DONE and If IL is God )
/ will to call me away, he will provide for you
| and our dear children"
| - couldn't stay TO hear more for | had
| to run into the entry TO keep from sobbinS :
I aloud o, Eller, what could we all DO with
I out nother.'
/ The young turned around and gave her
+ mother a piercing glance, as if TO satisfy
/ herself that her brother had cause Tor his
! solicitude, and then asked, But what can
/ you or both of US do to help her 2"
II mean somehow to buy bottle OF tina;
medicine for her" exclaimed Thomas i'm
( pressively, " But how to do it is the ques-
| ton: DR. Jones had load of wood carted
{ to-day, and he wants a man 10 sew it.. |
viii 20 tomorrow afternoon and ask h!m 10
give me the jon, and the medicine for pay,
only father wants his wood pi ed up to-mor-
row, before the snow CONES
/ l.
/ brothers gaze, ;hen sad eagerly, Ruth
! and viii pile it ior Tou. Wen get up very
I carly, and do our task before breakfast, and
then we shall have the whole afternoon"
Thomas joyfuiIy accepted this offer and
readily obtained the kind physician Before
! night he had piled the two cords in the shed
..us, sawed nearly a quarter of it,
Well, my little man" said the dos.or,
! driving into the yard as Thomas was hang
| ing up the saw preparatory to leaving, 'how
much have you earnsd this afternoon: :"
A bright thought flashed through the
boys naind and in true Yankee style he an
swered the question by asking, Doctor,
how much bottle vas the cough medicine
YOU gave mother last winter: ?"
Half dollar, thiak is she sick again"
! The boy tqen communicated his wishes, and
with flushed face inquired Of be doctor if
he would be willing to let him have one bot
tie to carry home with him.
The good man was evidently moved by
this unexpected proposal. lie made no re-
piy except 20 invite the boy into his office
when he talked more freely ard ended by
giving him small powder for his mother
with directions fox making it, in addition to
tAe desired cough medicine, and promised
to call himself the next day.
An hour later, Thomas sat with his Sis
tcrs by the fire, and communicated to them
the joyful results Of ais afternoons labor
They then proposed to give their medicine to
their mother as token of affection from
her three children, for" urged Thomas,
81 could not have done it, if you had not
helped me-"
TO say that Mrs. Grant was gratified woe
be but seebly expressing her emotion when
the love token was placed in her hands
with moistened eyes she gave each Of them
kiss. and then added in a subdued voice,
God will reward you, my dear ones. The
blessing affixed to the fifth commandment
will be yours for you have indeed houOred
your mother"
God did bless them in rendering the med
icine effectsal in restoring the health OF their
mother, whose life He prolonged for ysars.
She saw her children grow up useful, happy
and respected by all who knew them
Youths Cabinet.