The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-19

non that Could even now get money and be no
longer an expense TO my fatheTi 90 / uIS".su .S
upon selling the picture, and thls you see 10 tue
but who was the gentleman who bought IT."
his father asked. -, .t 6,
'Lord -, of NJ Park And wasn't a 1t
oarefnIly hacked TOO, in small wooden case
lined with tin OLD S. wouldn't tell me VINO
was INV grand patron for long time, put
coaxed the old fellow at last. SO now you've
got the whole story, and you are not dlspleaSeu,
mam1,a Si SAID he, suddenly throwing his arms
round NV neck and kissing me. ,
Far from t The tears were slowly rolling
aown INV cheeks in thankfulness that so carry
INV bows talent had been appreciated. his
fsiber got up aud looked out of the window.
Matter-offact Dick asked:-
"Dot, what are you going to do with all that
ut isn't mine,r lis brother replied; 'it is
mammals. l didn't bring her the picture, 0nu
she must buy something she will like win tne
money. What shall II be, mammaF ne asKeu,
putting his arm round my waist. go
"Oh, Dot, keep it, said. 'You will want it
"MOther. am not your boy If do. I'll have
And with that he threw it into my lap. The
money was carefully put away, and looked at,
will not say how many times, and the mothers
nride rose up and sW elled and inwardly chanted
The mothers song of her boy. All the future
was rose.tinted-a life of independence, OF fame,
casting its full radiance on all the family circle
The lairest flower which God ever gave was to
bloom through life in one rich perfume, forget
tine the Great Gardener who lends, not gives,
and when he claims the loan says, mot thlue;
but Nine" 1t is sad story thls' ana were wen
brought to an end, for the recollection has un-
fitted me 10 carry on the thread OF the tale In
its slow unwlnd1ng.
month saw my precious boy return to his
duties, and at the end OF the year he had SO lar
improyed and showed so much genius that he
had left the house of MIR. 81, with the consent
of the latter, and, with our approval, had taken
lodgings with young friend, an architect.
christmas came round once more, with all its
iovousness and with it Dot arrived. In an in
stant my glance dete cted suffering. 1t was of
no use putting it aside endeavorng to conceal
what was so visible 81 am overworked, that
is all; it's only little cold; now I'm home it
will be all right" And so the sickness was
pooh-poohed away. He certainly looked better
when the end of February came and with it
his return to London, for would not let him
90 before, and DR.. Vaughan had said there was
no danger, only little dellcacy OF constitution,
which he would soon get over. Not many letters
came from him after he left ''He was so busy
so engaged, was painting a, picture that he
e. hoped would get him the medal and then he
should be sent abroad to study the old masters.
He should spend next Christmas with us, and
then go TO Rome"
"He cannot be ill., argued, 'iG he writes
so hopefully,n and so l cheated myself with the
belief that all was well. In November we we're
startled by letter from his young friend,
stating that he thought him not quite right,
and as he himself was coming into the coun-
",
of waiting for Christmas; that, as Johns COM
petition picture was finished, there was no
longer any motive for remaining, and that they
would be back almost as soon % as the letter
reached us. Arthur thought all this was true;
but loving mother has a prophetic spirit. /
went so far the other way as to fancy j should
receive him all but corpse.
watched and waited in restless anxiety; then
wandered from one room TO another, and, as is
often the case, missed that which L most sought
for. | did not hear the travellers arrive, and
was coming down stars as Edith was seeking
me, excaming, Mamma, Johns come !" In
an instant knew how it was. Had my boy
been well he would have sought me, not his
sister. entered the room: there he l-y on the
sofa, wan and thin, but held out both his hands
1t was some moments before could recover
myself, for had nearly tainted as | kneeled by
the couch, and clasped him in my arms. 1t was
DR.. Vauehan's voice that first recalled my dead
ened senses Our thoughtful young fliend had
called at the doctors as they drove along; hence
"Now, now, this is nonsense The boy is only
tired. Cheer up Dot! What is the matter
You'll be all right by-and-by; only working
"That is all, DOCTOR" he said cheerfully, and
eowly raised himself upright. And if me- NINA
will only get me one of my cid drauShts which
liked so well, and let me talk little to my
father and you, shall be all right"
:. "There, girls, you hear? That's an order rom
headquarters. SO hustle about, and get your
brothers room comfortable, while mamma
hurry about it, said the doctor.
Bewildered and hesitatngly | quilted the
room; the girls followed me. What exact con
versation took place between the three cannot
describe, but the purport OF 1T was thls:-Tha1
in the previous summer, while playing a
cricket, he had been struck by the cricket b-ll
the blow had brought on a tumor, which Wd
neglected, and the result was the sickness which
had brought him home.
Many months he lay in this hopeless state
Consumption came on; even then we wece har,
to be persuaded that death was near. Furthe
advice was obtained, and never snail | forget
the moment when the physician said, "Beor
this day six weeks he will not be here"
Twas stunned, for, notwithstanding his illness
the blow was sudden. l grasped Tor suppor
blindly. Nowhere could | turn for comfort
Ny life-what was it Alas alas now see, bu
did not then, how all my so-called religion ha
shrivelled up like green leaf at the brst iroS
Cod how difficult II was TO lose my son!
had no resignation-no faith my soul was
rebellion, and the spirits turmoil stamped il
unrest upon my features. John was the first
see II. "My own mamma, how changed yo
are !" were his first words when he saw mt
"You must not grieye | know all, but | al
happy Pray with me, dearest mamma" an
his white thin hand twined itself in my curl
my child, / cannot,"I gasped, rather than SAT-
The suffering boy raised himself on his elboV
and looked at nae in astonshment. That loo
recalled me to myself. l shivered, and sal
20 that this cup might pass from meW /
clasped my hand tightly, and the tears sto
down his cheeks as he murmured,-
''Not so, not so; it is best as it is" And the
as if to himself, he gently spoke, 81 loved II
art better than all things-beter than even yo
dear mamma" and again he pressed my han
'There was no moderation in me. / need n
have worked so hard. / have thrown my Ii
away. little more resi-, little more time
food and this might not have been. Better nc
than later. God, pardon and keep my soul
TGitk +Loso ,,o.Je eIaa,, hin, n