Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-08-03

Boy Lost.
From the Waverly Magasine.

| HHoiH VIC "afefiy HAaS"bHe'
He had black eyes, with long lashes, red
cheeks, and hair almost black and almost
curly. He wore crimson plaid jacket, with
full trousers, buttoned on. He had habit
of whistling and liked to ask questions.-
Was accompanied by small black dog. II
is Il long while now since he disappeared
have very pleasant house and much com,
pany. My guests say, /" All it is pleasan,
here! Everything has such an orderly, put.
away look-nothing about under foot, no
dirt" 7 snsN.arga -'asr stf.at
But my eyes are aching for the sight oi
whittlngs and cut paper upon the floor; OF
tumble-down card houses; of wooden sheep
| and cattle; Of pop-guns, bows and arrows,
whips tops, go-carts, blocks and trumpery.
want to see crumbles on the carpet, and
paste split on the kitchen table. want to
see the chairs and tables turned the wrong
way about; / want to see candy making and
corn-poping; and to find iack-knives and fish
hooks among my muslins; yet these things
used to fret me once. .-f o.. ,...e....., ,,.s a
They say" How quiet you are here; ah
one here may settle his brains and beat peace
But my ears are aching for the pattering OF
little feet; for HEARTY shout, shrill whis-
tea gay ira la la, for the, crack of little
whips, for the noise of drums, flies and tin
trunpets yet these things made me ner-
vous once. f.sH ~ .4#aH ,-
They say-"Ah! you have leisure-noth-
ing to disturb you; what heaps of sewing
you have time for" But long to be asked
for a bit of string or an old newspaper; for
a cent to buy slate pencil or peanuts l
want to be coaXed for q piece of new cloth
for jbs or main. sails, and then to hem the
same; | want to make little flags, and bags
| to hold marbles. want to be followed by
little feet all over the house; teased for bil
of dough for a little cake, or to bake a pie in
a saucer. Yet these things used to idget
me once. ..
They say" All! you are not tied al
homc' How delightful to be always at liber.
ty to 60 to concerts, lectures, and parties
no confinement for YOU" .a.5:-l,.. Eaa.. us
But want confinement; | want to listen
| for the school bell mornings; to give the last
hasty wash and brush, and then to watch
| from the window, nimble feet bounding t.
school. want frequent rents to mend, and
to replace lost buttons l want to obliterate
mud stains, fruit stains, molasses stains, and
paints of all colors. l want to be Sitting by
little crib of evenings, when weary little
feet are at rest, and prattling voices are hush
cd, that mothers may sing their lullabies
and tell over the oft repeated stories. They
don't know their happiness thcn--those
mothers. All these things called confine-
ment once. - e. y =
| A manly figure stands before me now
FIe is taller than I, has thick black whiskers
and wears a frock coat, bosomed shirt and
crayat. lie has just come from college. Ii,
brings Latin and Greek in his countenance
and busts of the old philosophers for the sit
ting room. He calls me mother, but I am
rather unwilling to own him. 3.ldgaat} -
He stoutly declares that he is my boy
and says he will prove it. He brings me a
small pair of white trousers, with gay stripes
at the sides, and asks if I didn't make then,
for him when he jorleG the boys militia? p
He says he is the very boy, too, that made
the bonfire near the barn, so that we came
very near having a fire in earnest lie brings
his little boat to show the red stripe on the
sail it was the end of the piece) and the
name on the STERN" Lucy Low littlt
girl Of our neighborhood, who, because O
her long curls and pretty round face, was the
chosen favorite of my little boy. Her curl
were long since cut off, and she has grown
to be a tall, handsome girl. How the rec
comes to his face when he shows me thu
name on the boat. Oh! see it all as plnr
as if it were written ina book. My little boy
is lost, and my big boy will soon be. Oh
| wish he were little tired boy in long
white night gown, lying in his crib, with mt
sitting by, holding his hand in mine, push
ing the curls back from his forehead, watch
ing his eyelids droop, and listening to hi
deep breathing m
If only had my little boy again, how pa.
tient would be! How much would bear
and how little would fret and scold | car
never have him back again; but there are
still many mothers who haven't yet lost their
| little boys wonder if they know they are
living their very best days; that now is the
time to really enjoy their children! think
if had been more to my little boy might
now be more to my grown up one. ...,.