The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-10-13


stand fell over, and the vase (gift from
my dead mother) was shattered.
GU naughty boy" | cried, angrily;
stTou deserve to be whipped. Pick up
those pieces instantly, and put them in
the coal-hod. = lie stopped, carefully
picked up the fragments, scratching his
little fingers as he did so against the
sharp edges. He carried them away and
was gone some time. When he return
ed it was with something clasped tightly
in his hand.
Coming = me he placed a FIVE cent
piece in my lap, saying timidiy- will
that buy you new vase mamma :?
What evil demon possessed me to take
the coin, his sacred|y cherished treasure,
Ia kind neighbor had given him for some
little office and throw it from me, know
not.
Harry picked it up with tears running
down his face. and sat down upon his
stool with his hands folded so maeklv.
Presently he said; MAY I go and play
with Eddie Potter?
1 don care where you go, said /,
Grossly, so you keep out Of my sight
Harry went TO the closet where his
coat and hat hung, put them on, and
came and stood by my side.
Mamma, Will you please forgive me
I'm SO sorry; and be put his lips up for
kiss. Oh, God forgive me, [ pushed
the little fellow away. He stood by the
door a moment, looking pitifully at me !;
1t IS twenty-five years ago to-day since he
stood there, but | can see him with his
blue coat ana red and grey worsted skat-
ing cap, and the little red mittens, as if
It were but yesterday. But | looked
eoldly at him, the door opened and shut,
tie little feet went slowly down the stairs.
| heard him go out {; unfasten the gate.
Looking out of the window, [ saw the
little fellow lift his face with a smile as
he saw me, which gave place to a pitiful
culver OF the lips, as he saw | took no
notice Of him. | watched the darling
down the street with strange, undefned
feeling, till the little coat and red mittcns
were no longer visible Twice sudden
impulse moved me to call him back, but
j crushed il down. Oh, would to God
had Well, [ sewed all through the af-
ternooR. At four o'clock [ put down my
work, and sat by the window. Conscience
began to reproach r,e for my conduct.
& don't care, " said !, my beautiful
vase is a ruin ''What Is the value Of
all the vases in the world compared with
your child? Have you not spoken cross
10 that dear little Harry, who IS always
20 cheerful and obedient? And this is
not the first time, neither, and you call
ing yourself Il Christian mother, too
Suppose Harry should be suddenly taken
from you. Wouldn't your cruel words
haunt you forever p
could bear this no longer. I rose,
and picked up the stray litter about the
room to give it more tidy appearance.
Then | went up to the window, peeHug
anxiously through the gloom, and seeing
nothing of my boy. Ny heart became
terribly heavy; this suspense was I'M
bearabIe. Hastily throwing a shawl over
my head, / ran into Mrs. Potters'. Have
you seen Eddie % was the question be-
tore | entered the room. Have YOU
seen Harry" ''He was over here at
half past two; he and Eddie went over
70 Josie Gray 5. [ think"
What she thought | never knew, for
at that moment Eddie rushed in breath
less. screaming, Mother, dotherl Har-
y Loring is drowned! We were Sliding
on the mill-pond and there was hole in
the Ice wish snow on it, and Harry didn' t
see it, and"
Hush. Eddie !" said his mother
looking at me tearfully. ''Here is Mrs.
Loring -
There was great silence in the room.
broken only by the blithe. sweet voice of
a canary, and the purr Of a Maltese cat.
Presently Mrs. Potter came toward me,
and placed her hand softly upon my
shoulder, saying, Ella. my poor childl
I never moved, bat sat with wide open
eyes upon an awful picture. 4 cold,
gray afternoon, 4 pond, little boys play
ing upon it, one little figure, well known
TO me, suddenly disappearing through
the treacherous ice, down, down, the lit
tie hands grasping at cruel weeds, the
sweet mouth full of water. And those
wicked sinful words ringing through my
ears, L don care where you 90, so
long as you keep out Of my sight" There
was mist before my eyes, a ringing in
my ears. ! remember leaving the house
with a blind feeling of going where my
Harry was. TIen came a horrible sense
OF the earth giving way under my feet,
and [ knew no more.
4 pleasant feeling of warmth, a languid
sense prevailing my system. | onened
my eyes and glanced around the room.
\ strange woman by the fire; at the foot
OF the bed, my husband with his hand
over his eyes. | tried to think where [
was, and what had happened, but in vain.
Then my attention was arrested hv lit
tie fiure in red flannel night dress. cud-
died up in big chair-my Harry Then
it all flashed across my mind. | sat up
STRAIGHT IN bed with faint why -
''tEh hat IS it p said I, feebly.
You must not talk; lie down. Oh.
darling, darlingl' and the strong man
wept like child. And the little figure
came and jumped on nay bed, and put
ting his arms around my neck, cried too.
And l,puzzled to know whatit all meant,
cried also. The strange figure came for
ward and took Harry away, saying. "Be
careful, Mr.. Loring, everything now de-
ponds apon quiet
Tell me all now, said I. ''I must
know | had such a horrible feeling.
Oh, Harold | dreamed Harry was
drowned -
His face grew white. tile was near
death; George Gray got him out of the
pond; Gray seut down to the Office for
me; | went after Dr. Hooper. and came
right up. There was but a spark of life
left. but we succeeded at last"
How many days ago was it, Harold?"
Seven weeks ago yesterday" said he
smiling
=, Seven e, weeks!" said L "Impos-
You have been very sick with brain
fever. Ella. lou were very near death
tor days We despaired of ever seeing YOU
conscious again. You would say, ''Iar-
Try Is crowned; and | made him drown
himself Last night DIR. Hooper said the
i