The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-07-15


best. Wi!lle's letter may have been miscar-
ried, and AZ to our dear little Nannette, will
send our good doctor along Immediately, and
please God she will be well in few days."
and so saying, he left the house.
The doctor pronounced Mamie very sick,
prepared medicine, enjoined good nursing and
quiet, and then withdrew.
"Any letters7"
'Not this time." answered the husband,
hopefully, 81 presume we shall have one to-
morrow"
Two days passed away, and Nannette was
sleeping her last sleep, her hands meek.y fold
ed across her bosom, and snow-white bios
SONS twined in her hair. "3rother Willie -
were the last words she said. As the mourn
ing parents stood by the little coffin, a letter
was placed in the mothers hand Hastily
glancing over its contents, her pale face grew
as white as the one before her, and with a
deep sigh she fell senseless to the arms of her
husband. The long expected letter filed their
cup Of sorrow to overaowing.
"Prepare yourself to lecture, mother" wrote
Willie, "althongh it will not do any good.
am going to sea. Our ship will sail in about
week. Such capital chance, ard I always
thought ] should like to 60. There's no use
fretting about it, for 60 I will may be
home in year or 20. Kiss Nannette for me:
goodbye"
Could this be Willie? Yes, sorrowing moth
er, the same Willie you so often Graded on
your breast, so innocent, so gentle then-and
now thou little knowest how changedi The
fether wrote Willie to come home immediate-
ly. Besought, nay, commanded him to aban-
don all idea Of q sailors life, unless he wished
to add more sorrow to their already heavy
burden.
81 have kissed Nannette for you,o wrote
the heart-broken mother, ssshe was sleeping,
but 1t did not wake her up-my little Mamie!
Oh, Willie! how can you break my hearth
Nannette is dead, Willie, dead. cut off this
curl as she lay in the coffin, and now send it
to you. II you love me, Willie, IL you love
the little one who died with your name on
her lips, beseech you not to CO."
Nannette dead? His little Mamie?
He had loved her better than any one else
on earth. Wille's tears were falling fast on
the sunny ringlet. He would go home.
"You're more Of fool than took you 20
be! Going homo because the baby took it in
to its head to 1ie, and the old woman feels
bad. Be a man! Come along, the ship will
set sail in less than an hour, ard you may
never have another such chance for seeing
little Of the world. You'll get over this in
day or two. Here, let me take your bundle,o -
and the unfeeIing wretch fairly dragged Will
lie to the docks.
Week after week passed away--no tidings
Of Willie. How the father and mother had
changed! Sorrow had traced deep furrows on
their brow, and strewed their hair with MANY
tn cad Of silver. The sunlight Of their
home had died ont. Nsnnette, their joyous,
merry-hearted Mamie, was sleeping in the
graveyard, and Willie was Speeding far away
over the blue waters.
"In slumbers Of midnight the sailor boy lay,
His hammock swung loose at the sport OF the wind,
And visions Of happiness danced DER his mind y
Nannett's death affected Willie deeply for
time. Thoughts Of bis sorrowing parents, and
the sight Of the little curl overwhelmed him
with torturing reproaches, but he determln'dssto
be man." and Danish all unpleasant refec-
tions. He had already learned to quaff the
deadly poison, and taught his tongue to take
his Makers name in vain; so in the reckless
habits Of the sailors life, he was steeling his
heart against the memories Of the pure and
good.
One night, as, when retiring to his ham,
mock, he looked ut the little ringlet for the
first time in long while, head peeped over
his shoulder, and a coarse voice said, "What's
this. hey?" and then snatching II from Willie,
he dangled the soft golden curl from his rough
fngers, exclaiming, s.See here, boys! see what
Bll's got; suppose we give this love-token
taste Of the salt water" /" and amidst the laugh
ter and jeers Of the sailors, il was thro wn in
the blue waves-dear Nannette's little curl
Willie's heart gave sudden bound, but he
joined in the laugh, and then sought his rest.
He slept At last, and dreamed be was at home,
and Nannette was playing with him in the
garden just as she used to do Ter bright curls
dancing over her white shoulders, and her
blue eyes sparkling with happiness. Sudden
ly she was transformed into an angel, robed
in white. with bright wings and glory sur
rounding her head; and slowly began to as
cend to heaven. As he looked after her, she
smiled and pointing upward, disappeared in
cloud.
"Come back, little Nannie!' he cried, and
then awoke to find the ship tossing from side
to side, . hesvy gale raging furiously, and con-
fusion reigning on deck.
".
II win arise and 60 unto my father, and say unto
him. Father have slnned against heaven and before
thee, and am no more worthy 70 be called thy son."
eJust five yaars ago tonight SINCE Nannette
died" said the father, in . tremulous voice, a.
he watched mis- wife make ready the evening
meal. She stopped and kissed her husband.
her tears failing on his head, only saying, "we
shall be with her soon," and then proceeded
to arrange the table.
"Why do you put on three platesf'' y asked
the husband. "Do you expect any one to
tea?o
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