The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1865-06-10
for the aittle folks.
THREE TINES A. DAY.
'Adela, my darling! AdeIar

'cuC Hos SchC Octs = !dtlPd.
Gone out! With whom! Has
she left me here alone with YOU, Ju-
lietta!'
Little Mary is hers, grandpa,
playing with the dog; and Mari
anne is in the kitchen, getting dinner
ready
This conversation was held be-
tween little girl about nine years
old, and the Baron ST. Andres, an
old man of eighty. He was knight
of the order of St. Louis, and had
received his knighthood and insign-
ia from the hands Of Louis the Six
teenth. King of France. He was
now. however, quite blind, and con-
sequently helpless. Little Mary, a
child OF six years of age, made the
third one of the party.
'Julietta,' resumed the OLD man al
ter a short silence, did your sister
say anything to you when she went
out!'
Yes. grandpa replied Julietta;
she said to me, Take care that lit
tie Mary doesn't trouble grandpa,
and if he wishes TO 90 into the gar
den, give him your hand, and take
care not TO let him stumble over any
thing, because he can't see, poor
grandpa! and God has given him TO
US. his children, to take care of him,
and to obey him, and 10 make him
as happy as we cam Oh, | know
it all by heart, grandpa. because Ad-
ella tells it to me three times a day;
every time before she goes OUT
'Ho! every time before she goes
outl Does she often go out' asked
the old man whose venerable brow
seemed ruffled by some painful
. thought.
Three times every day. answer
ed Julietta, in some surprise: 'three
times every day; once in the morn
ing, before You come down, from
seven TO nine O'Clock; another from
eleven 10 one; and the third from
three to five, when you are asleep.
You see! three times a day. Did
you think that | could no; reck-
on!'
what O'Clock is it now?' asked
the Ruron. rather with the hone of
finding some discrepancy in Juliet
ta's reckoning.
sit struck one, jus, now Juliet,a
answered. And here comes Adela;
hear the garden gate opening; and
she is speaking TO Mary and the
dog. They have come TO meet
her.
In a few moments Adela entered.
She was young and lovely girl; so
young, she seemed as if scarcely
emerged from childhood. and yet so
serious and so thoughtful was the
expression of her countenance, that
| the premature care Of life had, as
II were, blighted the flower OF
youth.
'Adelar said the old man, in a tone
50 sad and serious that it brought
the quick color to the young girls
face, whence come your and.
stretching forth his hand, he seized
that of Adela's which she had ex-
tended towards him. took il between
both his own, gently stroked il, and
at last said, in a mournful manner,
you are agitated. my child! you are
troubled! you trembIe! Whence
come your
The young girl did not reply.
obtaining no answer, the Baron
ST. Andres continued. and the slow,
solemn accent with which he utter
ed each word, showed the sad feel
ings of his heart. In 1914, was
a widower, Adela, and, of my num-
erous family, only one was left me,
my sain:ed daughter, Henrietta,
YOUR mother. Your ia
Their fell a: Waterloo; you were then
only twelve. Adela! Adelal what
can say! BY all my past miseries
by my unceasing grizzly my
gray hairs enireat you-teIl me,
whence come you! Whittier 60 you
three times every day!'
My father said Adela, Il am on
~ seventeen years old, it is true,
and yet, young as am. sorrow and
care have already left their impress
sion upon my brow. Three years
ago my mother died, vet the sad
scene is still ever present 10 my
mind, as wildly as if it had been
yesterday. l still hear the weak
voice,regaining momentary strength,
address me: .Adela, she said, Il leave
you two daughters; be mother TO
them. And my poor father en-
trust him to you. Guide the two
first in their course through HE;
show them its ,horns and dangers;
hide from the second everything that
would pain him. Such were her
words, and l have tried to obey
al 1o~v |