Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-03-05

them, while their mothers went on
with the cares of the house. But
year by year the desire had grown
with her growth; and no heir to a
throne ever waited more impatiently
for his coronation than did Louisa
for her's--when she should hold the
trustees certificate in her hand, and
proceed to her classroom as Miss
Mccoy, ready to love and control.
and teach the least of the little ones.
She studied hard, and nobody sus-
pected under what difficulties. Con.
stantly she was interrupted by father,
mother, and 1.-The children" as she
called her brothers aud sisters. Some
times her brave heart sunk, when,
after repeated efforts, she had to 60
to school with lessons only half pro.
pared but with indomitable energy
she would seize the first moments of
leisure, and study back, to make up
for lost time. Lately fear had come
over her. Her uncle John -Louisa's
old man of the sea--had been there,
and had said to her mother: 49,.
"Why don't you keep Louisa home
from school? She knows enough for
workingman's daughter. And, II
she goes on, you'll spoil her for
worklng-man's wife. She's got too
many fine-lady notions, as she is."
And her mother had said:
John, "Louisa's as good a girl as
you'll find between here and Boston.
She'sset her heart on being teacher;
and though she'd be a help to me,
I'LL not stand In her llght.n
YOU'RE going to do a simple thing,
If that's what you're aiming at, I" said
Uncle john "and I'll speak to
Mccoy" -. ...
Louisa rebelled inwardly against
Uncle John, but said nothing. He
did speak to her father. who replied
that he left all such matters to Mary
Jane; and that was the end of 1t.
30 tho year wore itself out; days
drifted by, and weeks, and months,
till the year was over, and eSpmina-
tion day came. With flushed checks
and beating hearts the girls and boys
entered the school room on the event
ful morning, Louisa came Off with
flying colors; and during vacation
she sent her application, and was
duly appointed to the position for
which she had longed.
Never days went SO slowly as did
those vacation days. All the McCoys
rejoiced In Louisa's expected promo
ton. I'm, and Kate took on little
airs In consequences; and Johnnie,
the scapegrace, who was, notwith-
standing his naughtiness, his elder
sisters pet, boasted OF It among the
boys, and had more than ono fight
with fellows who could not appreci-
ate his enthusiasm. In family con-
clave the moderate salary was talked
over and spent I'm anticipation. And
Mrs. Mccoy went without several
needed things herself, that Louisa
might have new dresses and a
supply of fine linen cuffs and collars
ere she entered on her new vocation.
Mr.. Mccoy was man of few words /;
but he showed his pride and satlsfac-
ton by. frequently laying his broad
hand on his daughters head, and
circulating profound! profound!"
The last week came. One night
Der mother went to bed feeling un-
well and the little ones were sent up
stairs earlier than usual. Louisa
took Fred in her own bed, and croo. a.
cd over him softly till he fell as,.eep
and 80 did she. In her drean4s she
was I'm her favorite school room, ant
had just come Off victorio.os with
refractory scholar, wien q heayJ
hand was laid upoa her shoulder
She woke to see l4er father standing
by her bedside, with a white scarce
face, and to near him say ID hoars,
voice, that sounded like somebod,
elye:
"Louisa, come down as quick a
you can and call all the rest; w
tnink mother Is DYING
/ With rapid fingers that did thei
work, though they trembled exceed
ingly, the young girl dressed herself
summoned the others, and wen
down stairs.
There lay her mother, paile and still
her pale face paler than ever agains
the pillows, and on her arm, the III
tie new born babe for which her lif
was to be given. Louisa did nc
notice the baby at oil. There wer
people In the room, but she did nc
see them. She saw only her mothe
her mother who was going away
. Somehow, Mrs. Mccoy looked differ
ent. In that supreme hour Of ever
mothers life--when she feels th
breath Of the newborn babe. "life {
, life, love of love, moan of moan.
) her own little one safe here, after lib
suffering and the trial--what room
there for sorrow? Surely 1t IL for th
moment the pure. unmixed joy {
, womanhood; even though 1t be bu
for moment, and the next the shae
, ows Of death may darken.
} Every hard, querulous line SCENE
smoothed out of that face all til
complaining, dissatisfied cxpressio
was gone; and I'm its place look I
peace had come, which awed th
/. husband and children, aud checke