The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-11-09

proved ne" gently and firmly.
On the other hand Mrs. Bragden
was very uneven in her treatment
Of Susie. At times she was almost
passionately demonstrative with
her, but she had not patience
enough to bear with any little child
ish outburst of temper which Susie
might exhibit. As Mr.. B. agden
lavished upon his daughter every
term of endearment that came to
his lips, so Mrs Bragden lavished
upon her all the elaborate clothing
and childish ornaments that her in
genious fancy could invent and
skillful fingers execute. AS the
heathens show their devotion to
their idols by decking them in
costly jewels, and laying at their
feet rare works of art and nature
so she showed her affection for her
child by -arraying her in puts and
rufles, feathers and laces until the
/ poor child looked more like a
French doll than a creature of real
flesh and blood.
AS the tea bell sounded, Mrs.
Bragden prepared to lay aside her
work until evening, but before she
had fairly don so, her husband en-
tered the room, bearing in his arms
little Susie, who lay with her head
thrown back on his shoulder in a
deep but unnatural sleep.
''What is the matter?" asked
Mrs. Bragden, in an anxious tone,
for she saw from her husbands
face that something was wrong.
81 have sent for the doctor" re-
piled her husband, "I think she is
going to be very ILL.,"
"Where did you find herY' asked
Mrs. Bragden, almost in a whisper,
her heart reproaching her for her
imparience to her child. what
has happened to herr"
81 don't know that anything has
happened that we could have pre-
vented" said Mr.. Bragden, helping
his wife to unfasten Susie's clothes,
for her trembling fingers would
hardly do her bidding. 81 found
her away up in the garret. She
had thrown herself down in front
of an open window and evidently
erie herself to sleep. She was
moaning and tossing her arms
about; but try hard as can, I can
not wake her.-Dont't be frighten-
ell dear, it may not be anything Sc
rious, after all. But l knew we
should both feel easier if the
doctor were here"
''Susie, darling" said Mrs. Brag-
den, bending over the still sleeping
but restless child, ''don't you hear
mamma calling? Wake up, dear"
Susie only threw her arms over
her head and moaned in a pitiful
tone that went straight to her moth
er's heart:
"Take me up, mamma, take me
up. I'm so tired"
Mrs. Bragden buried her head in
the pillow beside her child and
sobbed as if aer heart would break.
Her husband comforted her as well
as he could, but the sharp words
she had spoken that afternoon came
back to her with fearful distinct
ness, and she would have given all
she most valued in the world if
they could have been unuttered.
The doctor at last arrived, and
pronounced Susie's illness to be
what her father and mother had
both secretly feared, brain fever.
For days the little sufferer lay un-
conscious of all around her, and
who can describe the mental t, r
tare her mother endured as
she sat by her bedside? Some
times Su7ie called for her father in
frightened tones, as if separation
from him was the most dreadful
thing that could happen
to her. Mr.. Bragdea's voice al
ways soothe and quieted her for
a while, but the next moment she
would break forth in that heart
reE Ding cry, Fake me uP, mamma,
take me up mamma, take me up.
I'm so tired"
One night. when almost all hope ,
that their darling could recover /
had died out of the hearts of those |
two weary watchers, two angels un
seen and unheard entered that ST.
lent chamber, and stood behind the /:
child who lay in a sleep that was
either thatof returning strength OF
approaching death. For a moment |
they stool and looked at the sleep !
ing child, with serious, thoughtful |
faces, then turned and gazed upon |
the bowed heads on either side /
They seemed to hesitate, and whis-
per to each other awhile. Then
one, the younger Of the two, leaned /
forward and laid her finger on Su- ]
sizes forehead, and with upIifted, /
smiling faces, they both disappeared
At that moment from the heart /
Of the mother a prayer, that in the