The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1871-03-10
disappointed look haunted

Suf Pttseus dsappo1need look haunte
me all the evening. 1 went off to sine
lng-school, and remember how hars
and discordant everything sounded {
me, and how heavy my heart was.
was glad when it was over. 1 did nc
stop to talk with any of the boys an
glrlss but ran home as fast as / could
Where's VIII, ;" said I, as soon as
got inside of the door. SsHe has Qon
up to bed, . replied my mother. 9H
doesn't seem to feel well tonight.
ooh J what If he should be sick an,
die, thought. 81 shonld. feel. like
murderer. I tried to prop myself III
\ in my anger by thinking of all the ugl'
things he had said to me, but at .th
lonely tribunal of my own conscienc
/ felt condemned, and convinced that
had been the most to blame. Khen-1
went up to OR room, Will was asleep
with traces of tears on his flushed face
which made me fell so miserably meal
that / could scarce resist the longing
which came over ITO wake him up
and tel him now sorry was for wha-
had said. As stood looking at hin
in this softened= mood, he stirred un
easily In his sleep. In moment tht
old animosity came back, and my hear
grew cold and unloving. So I laid
down by his side, with my mind agita.
ed between anger at him and
the tenderer brotherly feelings
which would assert themselves,
u=.il at last I fell asleep; and ]
dreamed that I had been away from
home for long time, and now / was
coming back. 1 was so happy in the
thought of seeing Mother and VIII that
l ran all the way up the village street.
As hastened along, kept thinking Of
VIII, and how bitter our feelings had
often been toward each other. 1 SAID
to myself: sPll make him love me now: /:
for know now what a warm, loving
heart lies underneath all his fun and
mischief. reached the house, and /
pushed open the front door Not a
sound was heard 1t seemed so strange
that no one should meet me The little
parlor-door stood open, and the sun flick
cred through the grapevines that shaded
the windows, and painted the futtering
leaves down on the gay rag-carpet.
I looked in. In the center of the
room was something covered with a
white cloth. Somebody was dead. Was
it mother7 Could it be Will? ] hur-
ried forward and raised the cover; and
there lay my only brother, rigid and
cold in the sleep of death. God had
taken me at my word, and VIII was
gone, without forgivingme for my cruel
words. / thought of all his pleasant
little ways; all the little impulsive,
generous things he had done; and I
how cold, distant and repel-
liant I had been. Obi how did feel.
[ prayed and prayed to God to let me
say one word to my brother, I beg
ged VIII to come back, and / would
never speak another unkind word
10 him. But while Iwrithed with agony,
and was crushed with despair,
be was still and cold while
knelt by his side, hopelessly beseech-
ing him to forgive me, he lay silent
and deaf to all my entreaties. At last
[ saw him open his eyes and smile low
ngly on me. With a scream of joy I
.lasped him in my arms; and I awoke,
10 find viii sitting up in bed looking
It me. Why, Peter, said he, you
nave been groaning and talking IN your
sleep, and I have been trying to wake
you up. Are you sick, Peterf Shall
-un down and tell mother z sOh,
KIl,' said i, crying as if my heart 1
would break, ] dreamed that you were !.
lead, and that we had not made upt
,ur quarrel And then / told him all
lbout it, and he cried, too. This is
1 said s'Letlrs get up and
God that we viii be good to
sach otherso long as welive; and then
perhaps it won't come true Hand IN 4
land we did take the vow, and after a
ong time we went to sleep-oh, so
happy and grateful that it was only a
lream.
evil and / lived long life togeth-
7 after that, but we never had another |
Ford of disagreement; end, when he I
anne to- die, the recollection of the
nifty of our lives softened the blow to
ne We shall not be separated long,
or my race is nearly run, and i know
hat when come to cross the river 1
ha find VIII waiting TO receive me
N the other side. My dear boys, it is
uch comfort to me now, when L go to |
isit his grave, to think that / never
gain said an impatient or cross word .
0 him. - - 4
While the old man was telling his /
tory, Charlie had crept close to Eddie, ]
nd had taken his hand in his and so 4
be two had listened with tears IN their
Just now Farmer Brown came
ut 70. greet Uncle Peter, and the
heery voice of Mrs. Brown an
ounced that tea was ready. The (
oys fingered moment. eddie p
aid Charlie, squeezing the hand /
e held, "I am going to be real good to /
on after this. @ss And I won't do any
lore things to plague you, either said
,ddie, with quiyering lip. ct don't /
ant you to die. ssWeli, there, there,n (
aid Charlie, Hdon't cry. rllmake you
splendid windmill tomorrow, and
With struggle) I'll lend you my jack
nife, too"
After this Charlie and Eddie were
wing brothers. True, they did not
ecome angelic all at once. But they
earned to !" bear and forbear, and to
pply the q Golden Rule;;n and so by
egrees, al inequalities of temper were
noothed away, and as long as they
we'd they never ceased to be grateful
II the lesson they learned from /" "Uncle
eter's Dream.
. - 80 =. ra. u