Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-10-30

shook his head, and pressing the moth
, er's hand, withdrew. But in momen
} he returned and said, If there is any
thing l can do for you when she is gone
let me know and again disappeared
muttering to himself as he went, It's 1
! shame, downright crime, tha: any maj
should so treat his family-lounging il
! the tavern when his child is dying
r Towards noon, Mrs, Grant, with Har
ry, came to sit with Mrs. Wilson. John
ny was not in 4; he had heard what th
doctor said to his mother, and soon afte
slipped out unnoticed. And where d.
= you suppose he went? We have said b,
was brave, boy, and he proved it now
He thought to himself, Father mus
know what the doctor said !; he may bea
me again, but will go and tell him.
So, sobbing as he went, Johnny Wilson
run off towards the tavern. Reaching
the door, he saw his father within, stand
ing at the bar. With him were severa
other men, and all had glasses in their
hands. Johnny hesitated moment, then
walking up to his father, he said with a
trembling voice:
Mary is dying, father; won't you
come home ?
The fathers face blarched at these
simple words but strange look came
into bis eyes. Without a word, he suf-
fered Jobny to take him by the hand,
and the two walked away toward their
home.
1t was a strange sight which met Mrs.
Wilson's eyes when little while after
wards the door opened, and these two
father and son-entered the room.
Without a word, Thomas Wilson passed
to the bed, and leaned over to look into
his daughters face but she knew him
not again her mind wandered.
My pretty flower she was muitering
to herself, it was so sweet, but papa took
it, and l can never have another. What
will God do to him mother, for being SO
wicked?'
Then, changing her tone, she would
beg her father to give her back her flow
er, stretching out her little hands as if
she saw it right before her.
Tears filed the fathers eyes as he
listened to Mary's wandering prattle.
All his unkindness and neglect, all his
rough words and rougher acts, came like
a fash to his memory; and in that mo-
ment, when the past stood revealed be-
fore him, he felt how utterly unworthy
he was Of the name of father. He
thought of the day when little Mary was
born; how proud he was when the nurse
put her into his arms, her rosy little face
peeping out from a cloud of snowy mus
lin how he watched her for a year af-
with all fathers care how
he grew neglectful, and re-
paid his little daughters love with indif-
ference, often with cruel words and blows.
And now she was dying, and he could
not even ask her forgiveness
But after a while, the flush left Mary's
face a natural expression came into her
eyes, and she looked about with faint
smile Of recognition. Her mind was no
longer clouded by delirium; she knew
hem all; and upon her father her gaze
rested with peculiarly tender look.
Jesus, maybe, was teaching her how to
forgive.
Her mother met the gaze with look
Of inexpressible longing. So she spoke:
oh, papa she said, i have had such
A beautiful garden, and it was full of
lowers and brook ran right through it,
and little children-oh l can't tell how
playing under the trees,
,very one with bunch of flowers in his
land; and they all beckoned me to
,ome, but l couldn't, for my clothes were
oiled, and l thought maybe mother and
Johnny would want me home
The father sobbed with new anguish
IS little Mary told them thus of her fe-
-er dreams, but he said, You must get
veil, dear, and you shall have a garden '
f your own
She looked at him with pleased face, |
'ut, for time she did not speak. Then {
he said, No, papa, l think Jesus wants 1
ne; l dreamed of him last night, and
omething told me must go to him after t
said good bye to you and mother ]
After this she did not speak for some i
ime. Then, suddenly raising herself in /
er bed, she cried, There see him, he i
calling me. See how he smiles; and i
old the angels are singing, and there {
a great light falling from the sky. }
Kiss me, mamma; tell baby I'm going. il
lie is calling me-oh, let me goP And }