The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-03-27
NEXT TO MOTHER.

A little girl of six years old sat by era
die, where lay fretful baby; she rocked
it softly and sang a soothing lullaby, but
the great tears rolled down her cheeks,
and she looked pitifully out OF the open
window. 1t was lovely day in summer
time, and the sun shone bright and warm
upon the soft, waving grass, and upon
rich masses of beautiful flowers. The
birds sang sweetly seeming to say to her,
Come out, little one, come ont, and be
happy with. us! Leave your close
dark room, and come into the sunshine"
In the shrubbery two childrea were play.
inc; she could see them from the window,
fitting in and out among the lilac BUSH
es, laughing and shouting in their care
less happiness. Sometimes they would
leave Off a moment, and come running to
the window, to entreat her to come and
play with them. But she only shook her
head sorrowfully, while she seid, u can't
leave little brother" and then she rocked,
aud sang, and wept, as before. By
and-by her mother came in. Her sleeves
were rolled up, and her hands and arms
were white with -four; it was plain to see
that she was very busy.
What is the matter, Mary2" she asked,
wonderingly. seeing the pitiful picture Of
distress her little girl presented. "Wby
do you cry, my dearl"
"Oh. want to 60 and play with cous-
IN Olive and sister Kate" she sobbed out;
land can't go, l can't GO"
why, yes you can, my dear. Leave
Willie; it will not hurt him to cry lit
tie. and Twill take him by.and.by."
Mary only shook her head, and went
on with her rocking. ~ can't 90, mother,
unless you come and take him." she per-
sisted in saying. And her mother, know
ing how useless it was to attempt to turn
her aside from doing what she thought
TO be her duty, was compelled to leave
her alone again.
1t might have been an hour afterward
that having finished her work, she came
in and relieved the faithful little nurse.
But the sun was shining broad and hot in
the garden, and her cousin Olive and sis
ter Kate were tired of staying out of
doors; they wanted to come in and play
with their dolls. And thus the nice play
in the garden, which she enjoyed 20
much, was over for the day But fretful
Willie. was asleep, and there was smile
upon her mothers face as she kissed her
and called her good little nurse" 50
Mary went her ways happy and content
ed. and wondered why the birds seemed
10 sing sweeter and the sun to shine
brighter for her than it did for the 9th.
er little girls.
Years passed on, and more brothers
and sisters came with the years. There
always seemed cradle to be rocked al.
ways some little one who wanted care
and attention which only Mary could
give; and she gave it freely now-no
longer with tears-and the little ones
gave her all they had to givs-their
reverence and love.
1--WE love her next to MOTHER they
all said; Kate is good for q romp, and
Jenny tells MS funny stories; but when
we are sick, or in trouble, if we cannot
have mother, let us have sister Mary"
Mylittle readers, this is true story
am telling you, Sister Mary still lives
in beautiful home, not many hundred
miles away Her brothers and sisters
have gf6%nto manhood and womanhood
now, and have gone one by one from the
old homestead. Another generation u
growing mp around her, and che ksssu