Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-01-15

and honest eves, especially considering the
circumstances that had surrounded him all
his life.
] Mr.. Lane vas one of those who bad
great faith in the instincts Of childhood.
So smiling iudulgsntly upor Lily, and Civ
Ing her pro,ege kindly pat upon the head,
he left them to attend to his customers.
! Lily invited Dick to get up in the wagon. l..
She then spread a napkin over the seat of
IL, AMI began TO unload the contents Of her
basket. her sweet month dimpling with
smiles at the round eyed wonder in Dicks
face At :hs various good things that were
brought TO view.
{ Thnre were generous slices OF meat. and
bread and butter, great hunks OF ginger
bread. and wedges Of pie, TO say nothing
Of the cheese and biscuits.
Quite enough for a picnic as Lily
conhdsutialy informed her gue.t. "and
great deal nicer"
Dick agreed with her; Tor though he had
no idea what picnic was. he was very sure
that nothing could happen that was half so
nice.
Though Lily politely refraiaed from man.
ifss,ing 1t, she was not hrtle amused at
The amount that Dick contrived to stow
away uadsr his jacket; the remainder she
wrapped in paper Tor him to take away.
Then they laughed aud chailed, as chill.
dren will. until Mr.. Lanes rstuIn was the
signal for their separation, relating the ex-
perienccs thai differ ed 40 widely. bat which
seemed To !hc of absorbing interest TO both.
Thus 1t va every Thursday for some
weeks. Dick never failing to make bis ap-
pearauce. and Lily nsver forgetting 10
bring him some token Of her remembrance
/ Bnt at last. one Thursday in November.
Dick watched and waited vainIy for the
dear chi.d tina, had been To him such 4 nes-
sengcr OF peace and love.
Sac would never come again, for on her
tc,i IN darkcnrd chamber. little Lily eas
dying
Sac la been Knocked iowa by run
away yborss-remAinins senseIess until the
next day. when she revived, but oaiy 10
bid her sorrowing parents fare vail. and 10
bes thai they would not ciy tor her.
What day is it, papa!" she inquired.
suddenly arousins from the stupor iha, was
The precursor to the sleep OF death.
1t Is Thursday. larIirg."
Dick will be w4'ch,n. and waiiin. for
ms. Poor Dick hc has no home. aad no
body to care Tor him. Oh papa. mamma
let him come here when am gons. Don't
let him any longer bs nobody. chilli
y gasp, a fcw feeble futierings OF the
pulse. and I,ile Lily's mission was ended.
The next Thursday Mr.. Lane made his
usual Preparations to so to the city, as had
been his wont Tor years. cxcrptin. on the
day Lily died. Not a word hsd been said
bat Mrs Lane well knew that be would not
come back alone
So when the wagon stopped at the door
and she saw her husband Hitting out 4
knew hat it was the Dick whose name had
grown so familiar.
When Mr.. Lane led him into the cheerful
pleasant sittin. room. Dick knew that it
WA. Lily's home. and that the pale. sad
looking woman who sazed a, him earnestly
was the mother he hal 50 often spoken Of;
but he knew, too. that the sweet face. whose
smiles had shed upon his path all the sun
shine that had ever visited it, bad gone from
it ioreysr. and covering h.s face with his
kani., he sobJed as though his lilhe heart
would break
Perhaps 1t vas bis unfri med grlrl for her
los, darling ,ha; so touched the mot her 5
heart bat, a, she Irew h. head .lown upon
hsr bosom, min.lins her tears with bis,
Dick tel; ,sli he was no longer nobody =.
,bild
Hs could no. stand 90 them in ber ste ld--
there was place ia their hearts that Lily
anu 40 one but Lily could fll-but they
; loved him. first for her sake. and then ior
bi, own: and be grew to be Joy an,
) comfort to them both
Nearly every pIch'ant Sabbath Afternoon
+ man. holding a neatly dressed boy by ib,
hand. pause' by ihe m,uod beneath which
3 lays all hat could die Of tho dear child
Whose short l.fr had been 50 ful 81 love an
goodness II i. Mr. Lane and h:s adop,c,
son Richard
GENTLE UrTERAN a boy o
r fourteen, following a plough. drawn b,
oSer oar father said the Grs; day Of work
Let us see Who can ialkihc lowest 10 Bu.l