The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-03-13

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of which very few but very nice little leaves lay
curled in fragrant exclusiveness and concentra-
ton, the glad father thought the matter over.
While the torpid little leaves warmed into in
eVitable expansion by the heated flood, the glad
father continued to think it over.
| You look tired father; have you worked
hard to days.?
Not very, daughter
Why, you are pale father; you are sick, l
know
1t is we'll that the girl dropped the plate from
her hand though it went down with crackle
into fragments, tor the old man was Keeling out
of his chair. She was just in time to save him
Without a word the daughter held him a mo-
ment, till she could glance into his face, and
then with a strength which she could always
command when aroused. bore him to the near
est bed and laid him there.
Father Father!'
Not word nor a sigh of consciousness. Jen-
ME bathed his temples with water, rubbed his
arms, his hands, his chest, called on him, kissed
him, and wept His lips moved,
What is it father {? and the daughters ear is
close by the trembling lips.
have heard'-faintly- '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 y n chatting
of hands, no bathing of that calm, snow -frlnged
brow will ever bring back the soul now freed at
last from its cheerless imprisonment Of eighty
years.
Straighten the stiffening limbs lone daughter
close tighter the eyelids he is gone. And the
secret hidden in that unfinished sentence-it,
too, is gone, and vainly will you try to fathom
its import. The blow was terrible one. Not
alone that this was her stay and companion, but
her only support and her only friend Now she
was alone. Alone!
When all hope of restoration was gone, Jen-
nie stood erect little way from the bed, her
head buried in her hands, and let the tide of
loss and loneliness sweep over her. IN that in
slant of time 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,
seit-conscOus woman she had ever been. She
was even stronger and more calm.
A quick step upon the stairs and careless
rap at the door. It was the bright faced lad
with bundle
Mr.. Brewer says IS how this Is nicer work,
ami You may send back the other bundle, said
the little fellow, bOy-ke, as ne came abruptly
into the room. his face beaned with pleasure
into awe stricken quiet as he 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, different sep was
heard upon the stair case, and a careful knock
at the door. Mr.. Brewer entered without n
word, gave his hand, and sat down. Then gen
tly abiding to her loss, asking TO look on the
features OF her father, noticing her plants in the
window, he skilifully led the conversation into
appropriate channels, and, without single pro-
fegsion, made Jennie feel that there was true
aud appreciative friend.
Gradually the talk receded from the sad top
les of the chamber Of death to more general sub
ects--to such thoughts as We find written III
books, and such conclusions as we reach in long
medtatiuns and careful analyzings. In this,
her visitor was struck with the clearneas and
stretch of thought OF the humble girl at his side
And she found herself reused and quickened by
the outdrawing influence Of superior but con-
genial mind.
Thence the conversation was brought gently
to personal affairs, where, at length point was
gained at when Mr.. Brewer ventured to ask,
Have you no other friends but this !?
None in all the world, except perhaps,
brother
Mr.. Brewer could scarcely ask further ques
ton.
Breaking the silence, Jennie SAID
MY younger brother, Robert, left uq three
years ago-he was only fifteen then-in the
rush to California ; thinking that, though only
a boy he might bring back gold enough to make
his father comfortable for life. We heard of his
arrival and promising beginning, but nothing
since. Two years ago We came to live at tins
end of the city. and possibly at that time he
changed his location. At any rate his letters
have never reached US, nor have ours reached
him. The other day, when father came home he
had received tidings from him, for he said so
just rs he was dying but the news itself died
on his lips, and / have no clew whatever to its
nature. Bother Robert was noble boy, sir
the bravest and the best boy l ever knew
just here the tears would start, and long
silence followed.
Mr.. Brewer had brought purss with little
gold in it, thinking to slip it into the hand of
the girl whose trials had so touched his sympa-
Thy but when he rose to 90 the act seemed
impossible he did not dare to do it he could
Only ask, with the deepest respect,
Can l be of any service to you?'
Il thank you very much for your call, Mr..
BreweE-very much. There is only one thing
you do for me--employ me, If my WORK
plesses you
No need to follow the plain boarded coffin
rough cask ct for such father; TO its place among
faded shawl chung close to the poor girls form,
chilled BY the autumn wind, dropping teara up
on the turf alone by the poor mans grave, under
it beat as warm daughters heart and lived
az rich a woman's nature, rs ever moved gay
and proud in choicer and happier scenes,
Jennie could not and would not leave the
dear old ROOM hallowed now by a memory Of
sainted father She lived there alone. There
was no objection to it now, for only young and
elastic tread walked the creakings IN the long
fight of old stairs.
The bright faced boy came and went every
day with a bundle The work was very nice,
and the pay was so much better as TO give
new chintz to deep brown with tiny white
figure. Mr. Brewer came occasionally. He slid
quietly into the place of friend, brought books
for Jennie to read and then discussed their con-
tents with her.
There were many points upon which they jif-
fered. Both loved very well to differ for Jennie
found pleasure in arousing his deep, earnest
strength of expression, and he was never weary
of a., akening that fash Ct her large brown eyes
and easy dignity Of talking Which served TO dis
tinguishsher from AL s1ber at Ms TRENDS.
Mr.. Brewers calls were nUt frequent but
they never failed during the many months in
which she sat and sewed in the humble attic
room.
Alas for the struggling, tossed, brave and
weary girl. These visits, so comforting at nfst'
were coming to be source of pain-ln iact,aad
especially IN prospect.
He came and went as kind disinterested
friend, always considerate and appreciative but
always self poised. Knowing and trusting him
as true friend, she knew nothing OF the man
bat what she saw of him in her own house He
never talked of himself. The lad who came and
went With the bundles had once or twice spoken
of father in a manner which convinced her
that Mr. Brewer was husband, and this his
son. That was all but it was decisive. And
yet, though settled on this from the first, as
time wore on, the companionsbip and sympathy
of her one visitor grew into need ana then q
NO self condemnation even, could stay the
growth OF that giant presence by which at last
she was covered and overpowered. In vain
Jennie flashed Indignation on herself that she
should love the loved of another woman's heart
"a husband and father. In vain she wept,
oF,.s