The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-05-01
McGREGOR, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, MAY l, 1861

just as somebody and Fanny used to quar-.
rel; and they made up, and sat in the dark,
and wrote letters every day, and never were
happy ssundcr, and were always looking
out for one another, and pretending not to,
and were engaged at Christmas time, and
sat close to one another at the fire, and
were going to be married very soon-all
exactly like somebody won't mention and
Fanny
But the traveller lost them ono day, as
he had lost the rest of his friends, and after
calling to them to come back, which they
he went on for little while without seeing
any thing, until at last he came to middle.
aged & ntleman. So he said to the gentle.
man "What are you doing here ?" and his
answer was, ~ am always busy; come and
be- busy with me-" -. .. j
So he began to be very busy with that
gentleman, aud they went through the wood
together. The whole journey was through
q wood, only it had been open and green at
first, like wood in spring, and now began
to grow thick and dark, like wood IT.
SIMMER; sotno Of the little tire s that had
come out earliest were even turning brown
The gentleman was not alone. but had a
lady Of about the same age with him, whc
was his wife; and they had children, VIII
were with them, too. So they all went to
gether through the wood, cutting down tn
trees, and making path through tn
branches and fallen leaves, and carrying
burdens and working hard.
Sometimes they came to long green
avenue that opened into deeper woods.-
Then they would hear very little distant
voice crying, "Father, father, am another
child Stop for me!' And pesently they
would see very little figure. growing larger
MS it came along, running to join them. -
When it came up, they all crowded around
it, and kissed it and welcomed it; and they
all went down together.
Sometimes they came to several avenues
at once, and then they all stood still, and
one of the children said, "Father. I am 60.
ing to India;" and another, "Father, I am
going to seek my fortune wh're CAM" and
another, Father, am going to Heaven y
So, with many tears ut parting, they went
solitary down those avenues, each child
upon its way; and then the child who went
to Heaven rose into the golden air and van
ished.
Whenever these partings happened, the
traveller looked at the gentleman, and saw
him glance up at the sky above the trees,
where the day was beginning to decline and
the sunset to come on. He saw, too, that
his hair was turning grey. But they never
could rest long, for they had their journey
to perform, and it was necessary for then,
to be always busy. = ....
At last, there had been so many parting,
that there were no children loft, and only
the traveller, the gentleman, and the lady
went upon their way in company. And
now the wood was yellow. and now brown;
and the leaves, even, Of the forest trees be.
gan to fall.
So they came to an avenue that was dark
er than the rest, and was pressing forward
on their journey without looking down it.
when the lady stopped.
My husband said the lady, II am
called"
They listened, and they heard voice q
long way down the avenue, say, Mother
mother T.
1t was the voice Of the first-born who
had said, ~ am going to Heaven p and the
father said," II pray not yet. Sunset is very
near. pray not yet!'
But the voice cried, Mother, mother -
without minding him, though his hair was
now quite white, and tears were on hi,
face.
Then the mother, who was already drawr
into the shade Of the dark avenue and NOV
ing away with her arms around his neck
kissed him and said, MY dearest I am
summoned, and go!' And she was gone
And the traveller and he were left alone to.
gcther.
And they went on and on together, until
they came very near the end Of the wood;
so near that they could see the sunset shin.
ing red before them through the trees.
Yet, once more, while he broke his way
among the branches, the traveller lost his
friend. He called and called, but there
was no reply, and when he passed out OF
the wood and saw the peaceful sun going
down upon wide purple prospect, he came
to an old man sitting on fallen tree. SO
nc said, to the old man, "What do you ,lo
here." And the old man said, with calm
smile, ~ am always remembering; come
and remember with me-"
So the traveller sat down by the side Of
tn, old man, face to face with the serene
sunset; ami all his frenas came softly back
and stood around him--the beautiful child,
the handsome boy, the young man in love,
the father, mother and chiliren--every one
Of them was there, and he had lost nothing.
So he loved them all, and was kind and for
bearing with them all, and was always
pleased to watch th.m all, and they all hon
ored and loved h,n. And l think the
traveller must be yourself, dear grandfather,
because this is what you d.. to us, and what
We do to you.
WOoTyc or SrR ISAAc Nrwrnv ic