The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-07-07
MISCELLANEOUS,
BREAD UPON THE WATERS
BY HELEN FOREST GRAVES

1t was gloomy room, in a crowded
tenement house. low, narrow, and un-
wholesome ; and pale faced child was
its only inmate. She was confirmed
inyalid-you might trace that in her
hollow cheeks and the strange unnatu-
raj lustre of her large blue eyes-the
fame OF life ives burning low on the al
tar of her childish being; yet here she
was alone. The old arm chair in which
she reclined, with one or two pillows,
and rude pine box, was the on " sup
por. of her tiny. blue veined feet
There was no carpet on the mouldering
floor, and in more than one place, door
and window had yielded to the remorse-
less hand of decay, and presented a
most dilapidated aspect. Yet all the
scanty furniture was arranged as neatly
as possible, and there was even some
faint attempts at taste, as, in bit of
gaily colored chintz spread over the
child's foot-s.ool, and solitary flower
placed in the window seat. where the
sun beams could touch its emerald
leaves.
That flower; it had been poor Katy's s
companion long. Its royal beauty and
luxuriance seemed strangely out of
place in the squalid, low ceiled room
and yet it grew and fourished as if in
the velvet sod of Bendemeer's stream.
And little Katy lay back in the com
fortress chair, and looked at the splendid
rose which quivered like ruby drop
among the leaves, and watched the sun
light writing It's golden message on the
crimson folds Of the blossom with a
vague feeling of wonder.
1t was strange that the radiant sun,
whose glory lay on marble pillars and
stately dwellings far away. should
come to peep into her lonely, lonely
room.
"Is that you, Jamie ?" said she soft
ly, as the door opened, and boy of
twelve came in.
Yes. Do you feel better. Katy p
Are you tired of being left alone ?"-
And the boy looked tenderly into her
blue eyes, and parted the auburn
hair from her forehead, with loving
touch.
mot very, but there is such a weary
aching around my heart, and sometimes it
seems on fire. How cool your hands
feel, jamie -
ss'Never anind, Katy, Eve. been saving
wood, and earned whole quarter, and
am going to lay it out in apples and
oranges, 10 sell down town. I'll make
mint Of money. and then won't we
have good supper when mother comes
home from work ? | shouldn't Won
der if we had bit Of cake and a
bunch of grapes over and above the
medicine the dispensary doctor ordered
for you.
Katy smiled and shook her head, as
if deprecating this piece of extrava-
gance.
"Yes. we viii. Katy" resumed her
brother "tain't often we taste anything
but dry bread and cheese, and l havn't
forgotten that its your birthday, sis
you're ten years old to-day Besides
you need something to put shade Of
color into those cheeks; the doctor said
you must have something to tempt your
appetite"
He bent down to kiss the marble fore
head as he spoke.
"How lovely that rose is. to be sure !!
It's almost as good as company to you,
Katy, isn't it? Are you willing l
should leave you alone fora little while,
dear %
eyes, Jamie, don't mind it much"
she answered, with a deep, weary sigh,
"but bo back as soon as possible,
please"
And her wistful, hollow eyes watch
ed him from the room with that earnest,
startling look that we only find beneath
the very shadow Of death.