Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-11-28

to save him. Without word, the daughter
held him moment, till she could glance into
his face, aud then with a strength which she
could always command when aroused, bore
him to the nearest bed and laid him there.
Fatherl Fatherln
| Not word nor sigh of consciousness Jen.
ME rubbed his temples with water, rubbed his
arms, his chest, called on him, kissed him and
wept His lips move.
What is it, father?" and the daughters
ear is close by the trembling lips
| 81 have family" from-Robert''
fainter. Robert is-he is"-the voice is
too faint to be heard-the lips cease to move
the old man is dead. No cries of "Father,
dear father!" no chatting of hands, no bathing
of that calm, -frnged brow will ever bring
back the soul now freed at last from its cheer
{ less Imprisonment of eighty years
| Straighten the stiffening limbs, lone daugh-
ter; close tighter the eyelids he is gone.
And the secret hidden in that unfinished SEN
tence-it, too, is gone, and Vainly will you try
to fathom its import. The blow was terri.
BILE one. Not alone that this was her stay and
companion, but her only support and her only
friend. She was alone. Alone.
When all hope of restoration was gone,
Jennie stood erect little way from the bed,
her head buried in her hands, aud let the tide
! of loss and loneliness sweep over her. In that
instant she drank the full cup and tasted each
and every ingredient. This made her calm
Another nature might have sunk she was
/ lifted, strengthened All the energies of her
heart came into active life; and now, fearful
or quiet, busy or still, she was the same
strong, self conscious woman she had ever
been. She was even stronger aud more calm
A quick step upon the stairs and a careless
rap at the door. 1t was the bright-faced boy
with a bundle
Mr.. Brewer says as how this is nicer
work, and you may send back the other bun
de" said the little fellow, boy like as he came
abruptly into the room, his face beaming with
pleasure and exercise. ooh, Miss Dell!n and
the boy fell into awe-strcken quiet as be felt
the presence of death
The second day before the burial, when
with the aid of an old woman below, the body
had been carefully prepared, a different step
was heard upon the staircase and careful
knock at the door. Mr. Brewer entered with
out word gave his hand, and sat down
Then gently abiding to her loss, asked to
look on the features of her father, noticing her
plants in the window, he skifully led the con-
Versation into appropriate channels, and with
out single profession, made Jennie to feel
that ne was a true and apprecatiVe friend.
Gradually the talk receded from the sad top
les of the chamber of death to more general
Suhjects-to such thoughts as we find written
III books, and such conclusions as we reach in
long medItatlouS and careful analyZing. In
this, her visitor was struck with the clearness
and stretch of fOrethought Of the humble girl
at his side. And she found herself reused aOd
quickened by the outdrawings of superior
but congenial mind.
Thence the conversation was brought gent
ly to personal affairs, where, at length,
point was gained, at which Mr. Brewer ven
tured to ask
" Have you no other friend but this ~
None in all the world, except, perhaps, a
brother"
Mr.. Brewer could scarcely ask a further
question.
Breaking the silence, Jennie said:
" My younger brother left Us three years
ago-he was only fifteen then--in the rush to
California thinking that, tbough only boy,
he might bring back gold enough to make his
father comfortable for life We heard of his
arrival aud promising beginning, but moth
ing since. Two years ago we came to live at
this end of the city, and possibly at that time
he changed his location. At any rate bis let
ters have never reached us, nor have onrS
reached him. The other day when father
came home, he had received ,idings from him,
for he said SO Just as he was dying hut the
news itself died on his lips, aud have no clue
whatever to its nature. Brother Robert was
a noble boy, sir-the bravest and the best boy
| ever knew"
Just here the tears would start, and long
silence followed
Mr.. Brewer had brought purse with lit
tie gold in it, thinking to slip it into the hands
of the girl whose trials had so touched his
sympathy but when he arose to 60 the act
seemed impossible ; be did not dare TO do it
he could only ask, with the deepest respect.
Can | be of any service to you"
IL thank you very much for your call, Mr..
Brewer-very much. There is only one think
you can do for me-employ me, if my work
pleases you"
No aeed to follow the plain board coffin
rough casket for such father-to its place
among the silent poor in the great cemetry.
If the faded shawl clung close to the poor
girls form, chilled by the autumn wind, drip
ping tears upon the turf alone by the poor
mans grave under it beat as warm a daugh-
ter'S heart and lived as rich a wOman's nature
as ever moved gay and proud in choicer and
happier scenes.
Jennie could not and would not leave the
dear old room, halowed now by the memory
of a saintcd father She lived there alone
There was no objection to it now for only q
young and elastic tread walked the creakings in
the long fight of old stairs.
The bright faced boy came and went eve
ry day with bundle. The work was very
nice, and the pay was so much better as to