The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1864-01-02
for the ggittle 5olk,
MOTHERS DEAD.
ny VIRGINIA r. TOWNSEND.

dark, and awful; yet the sun is shin
ing just as bright as ever; and when
the wind blows the rosebriar at the
window, the shadows scamper across
the wall, just as though they were
playing runaway! bet somehow
can't laugh at them as used to.
went to the froa. door little while
ago. The bird IT,. made lis nest
up in our old rear-;ree was singing
just as it always does, but couldn't
bear to hear it, and just put my
hands in my ears, and walked away.
Charlie follows me round, and looks
al me such strange. wondering
look, and whispers when he speaks
10 me, and | whisper back when
answer him. Somehow can't speak
loud.
This morning, grandma looked so
sorrowful, when Charlie and went
down to breakfast. She didn't eat
anything, either, but as soon as we
had done she took each OF Us by the
hand, and led US into the parlor.-
The curtains were down, and the
glass carried away. Only papa
was in the room, and dark as it was
could see that his eyes were red,
jus, as if he had been crying. The
table stood in the middle of the
room, with long, strange looking
box on it. Grandma led US to il.
and papa took away white cloth,
and then lifted us up and there lay
mamma. knew her in a minute,
but, oh. how white and cold she
looked! Ii made me trelnble all ov-
er! Her eyes were closed tight, and
her hands folded together.
"Papa, what makes mamma look
so:" Charlie said; and then grandma
burst right out crying; and papa
said E
"My poor little motherIess chill
dren!" just as if he was choking; and
he kissed us both, and then said, We
ry quick, "There! taken them away
mother. | can't bear it!'
Grandma took US out; and then
Charlie and cried real nard-we
couldn't help it.
wonder what makes the neigh
bors look at US so grave, and shake
THAR heads! and Betty hasn't spok-
en- cross word to US to-day: and
when asked her to get my bonnet.
she said just as pleasant, "Yes, DEAR
instead Of "Get it yourself" as she
used 10. Everybody and everything
seems changed.
Grandma told Charlie and me-
that mamma had gone home TO God
and that we must be good children
and we would 60 to her; and though
they would bury her in the ground
where grandpa lies, under that grea
willow in the graveyard, still sh,
would have gone to Heaeeu.
wonder il she won't want 10 conn
back sometimes, aud see Charlie an,
me? ees
Somehow, can't believe "
shan't see mamma any more-tha
at night we shan't hear her comm.
on tI-loe into our Gambler; and tina
We won't spring up, and put on
arms round her neck, and kiss he
just rs we used TO; and when we'r
sick, as | was last winter, with III
fever, that she won't have Us lie il
her bed room all day, and look a
us SD loving and sorrowful whel
we have that nasty medicine 10 take
and lay her cool hand on our fore
heads. when they are hot. No
body's hand is so soft as mothers
And 10 think we shall never hea
her tell any pretty stories again, o
sing those dear little songs ever,
night as she used 10. And how
shall we say, "Our father" an,
snow I lay me-" and she not Their
10 iisieni s
And then, ! used to run straigIl
to her, when came home from
school to get kiss; and if the girl
had been cross, or | hadn't said m.
lesson good, Id put my arms roun'
her neck and lay my head on he
bosom, and cry; and then she'd sd,
SO sweetly, "What troubles my Ii,
tie NeIlie?" and I'd tell her all abou
it, and she would talk to me until
felt good again. Oh, dear, dear!
can't help crying when l think OF il
There! hear Chariic calling
"Where are you, sissy" O, dea
little fellow. iii never speak eros
10 him again, for he's only four, an,
am SIX; and he shall have my dol
whenever he wants it, now. linear
TO remember everything MANN;
told me, SO that can go TO her
sometime; but am sure Heaven i
great way of, for grandma say
we could not get any nearer BY
climbing 10 the top Of that big noun
tain can see from the kiichen-wi
dow Come, Charlie, take hold o
my hand, and we'll 60 TO that dark
closad -,,n ,.bamhev and cry fbara a