Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-09-22

. wien
Mr.. Nash fell victim to the fever and
side.
Mrs. Nash kept Nelly with her of course.
She had too high regard for public opin-
ion to do otherwise, but she made the Or
phan pay many times over, in hard toll. for
her morsel of food and her bed in the at.
TIC. Was an errand to be done. Nelly was
summoned. Nelly made the beds. Nelly
washed the dishes, and then, at night. Mel
( ly sobbed herself to sleep in her comfort
less attic, with prayer that she might die
before morning and go to her mother.
Eut this part Of the story no one knew.
but One above.
She had passed a weary Christmas. for
this was the third Christmas day since her
mother died. The first one, the snow
pressed heavily on a new made grave, and
covered up the inscription on a white
tomb stone, Sarah Nash, wife Of Stephen
Nash, aged 81" The second Christmas
was but few weeks after her father
brought his wife home and on this. the
third, he too, was gone, and his child was
alone on the desOlate earth.
Nelly had worked all day she was very
tired-but now she must clear off the ta-
ble which had grOaned under weight of
good cheer, round which Mrs. Nash had
gathered her relations. Nelly must not
20 to bed till the last dish was washed:
she knew that She got high chair, and
set II before the closed door leading into
the parlor. Then climbing up on it, she
looked through the glass over the door.
into the cheerful room. Oh, how warm
and bright it was, Her stepmother sat.
with her friends, before the fire. Her gai-
~ dressed children were gathered round
her. There was warmth and Iight and
mirth for The living but there was no ono
to speak )ving word to her. Could the
dead see from under the grave mounds?
She came hack aud looked a.ain 1t the IA
bic She sighed. and said oroe more. IN
her low, sad voice, oh, dear, there arc
so many That was all. Then she be-
gan her task, and did not pause until it
was all done-the INST dish was pu, away,
and the tahlcpushed back against the wall.
IL was only nine o'clock, but she did not
20 into the parlor. They had nothing for
her-she had nothing for them. She took
her candle and climbed YEARLY up stairs
to bed.
Soon sleep closed her eyelids and brought
with it pleasant dreams. At first they
were pleasant ones. Her mother seemed
with her again, and life was bright and
hopeful. But even in her sleep, trouble
followed after the JOY. She lived over
agmn her wrongs, her oppression, her long
sorrow. Then voice seemed to speak 10
her. 1t reused her from her slumbcr.
She thought it was her mothers tones.
They told her that the heart underneath
the grave sod was troubled. If she went
there, She thought her mother could hear
her moan-her mother, who seemed call .
ing her again to her bosom.
Come come, come I" called the far-off
voice. The child started up wildly. She
rose from her bed-she hurried noiSelessly
down stairs. She opencd the outside door
just as the clock struck the hour Of mid
night. The house was still. No one heard
the light footsteps. She closed the door
bchi9d her and hurried on. The winds
swept tin ough and through her thin night
lrcSs-the hard earth cut and goaded her
bare. tender feet. But she was insensible
10 cold or pain. She hurried oil. Only
)ne thought was in her heart-her mother
la1 called-she was going to her.
Across the fields she sped-into the
gaie-on, to those two graves
beneath the willOws-On, until she pressed
ler feyered brow upon the bare sol above
Ter mothers heart. And then the mcrci-
ess snow began 10 fall. 1t covered up the
etters on the head stone, which the poor
hild had been tracing blindly with her
.nEers. Ii folded over the two graves its
ghIte man:leof peace. 1t lay like asnOwy
ell over that young victims brow. 1t
lothed like a garment her shining limbs.
{ was more merciiUl to herthan the world,
mt she needed not its ministry. !
All her senses were locked save one.
-eagerly-breathless wild.
Y. She listened for her mothers voice. (
M, was it fancy? Out OF that grave sweet
0w tones seemed to rise. She thought
may have been only the snow-Hakes- !
ut she thought soft hand rested upon ,
Ter hair; she felt spirit-kiss upon her ,
orehead. She lay on the cold bare earth ,
10 lonCeI-her head was lifted to a soft. ,
owing bosom. She had found rest at last. ,
nd she lnurmured, as she had so many ,
lines done at her mothers knee, ''God
eep little Nelly, and take her to Heaven ,
rhen she dies and gently, gently fell !
he snow-Over the two graves-over the
leeping child.
They called in vain tolittlc Nelly in the /
corning. She was not in the kitchen ,
he was not in the yard; she was not in I
er little bed in the attic. The clothes {
he had worn the day before, hung across !
he foot Of he bed. Her shawl and :
onnet hung in the passage, but where !
as Nelly?
All, hurrying feet of Mrs. Nash What !
.nngc terror, what late awakened instinct f
ads You across the fields into the church .
ard gate? Your face is white my lady |
ut YOU shall see something there winter y
al. Az, kneel nOw--let those tardy q
sars have free course. They will not melt q
ne shroud Of snow from off that dead
lild's face. Your voice cannot awaken La
er, be its tone ever so tender now. The a
IN may rise, and care and sorrow and 4
N 20 on. weaving the web Of life as be- II
shall toll no more The weary =.