Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-05-27
gales 3 shftfbrs.
THE GIRL CRIPPLE;
or, how n Dream came True.
By MRS. MARY A. ..DENNIsoN.

| leaves.
pity, pity cried the childish voice.
| Mrs. Winfield, the minister's wife, stoot
at the door in a cool, white wrapper, hold
ing back a beautiful, eager child,
'Shall she come in, George, are yo,
through p
Yes; come here, Rosebud, aud kis
away papa's headache
Tell papa he mus. walk out and let th,
wind kiss it away said the clergyman's
wife. "a.
The little thing repeated her mothers
words in baby language.
You should go out, George, Mrs. Win.
field reiterated, go to the running brooks
aud stones, or some of your poor parishion'
ers, and let them talk to you. You know
that always does you good and there's
little Bessie
oh, little Bessie had almost forgotten
the child haven't been there for week
and the good little tailor he will think we
have neglected him.-One more hug, pet,
and pick up the rose leaves goodbye,
wife > and leaving n kiss on two pairs OF
lips, he put on his hat and went out.
THOMAS CLEARf, TAILOR.
That was what the bit of sign said oyer
on small scale there-Thomas, his CHEEKY
wife, and the brown shanty by courtesy
called a cottage.
The clergyman entered, not without stop
We'll, Th )mes. stitching away vet l
suppose you get tired sometimes, this hot
weather.
AS he spoke, he laid his hat upon the
white pine table, and sat down near the
tailor whose legs were crossed under hisn. =.
The window was open, for it was fine
day. From n wee pot of heliotrope faint
sweet breath of periumcd air stole now and
then into the room. The shop was charm
ingly clean the walls. though cracked,
were neatly whitewashed. Beyond, in the
parlor and bedroom combined, could be
seen square rag carpet aud a few pine
chairs.
Thomas looked up with a smile;
Yes, sir; I'm stitching yet !; a little
wearisome, but it brings the bread and pays
Bessie's doctor bill. It's not like the gar
dening L did when lad but then the
Lord makes me thankful. He gives me
plenty to do.'
What your side aches;' the tailor had
made sudden motion of pain.
We'll, there's bit of an ache there,
sometimes said Thomas, his face clearing
up, and the happy smile beaming again.
Its sharp, uncanny stitch too, but it
only stays for minute, and so I'd ought
to be thankful. L wouldn't like to feel it
long at n time though
No, Thomas, don't like you to feel it
all ) said the minister with serious face.
'llow is Bessie this morning?'
The darling is weak, sir, very weak !;
the doctor said yesterday must get her
bottle of the best wine. That costs extra,
so | work at odd times to get it, | did some
whitewashng yesterday, got up just at
daylight, and had the work done, and
money in my hand by the time sat down
to the coat. Three mornings work like
lhat VIII soon bring money enough for the
wine. 1t mayn't be long we'll keep her,
and she shall have what She needs please
Eoe, II have to work my fingers TO the
bone.'
You shan't do that, Thomas see here,
one OF your kind friends and mine, gave
me money for just such a purpose there
is enough for the medicine don't get ap
at daylight tomorrow, Thomas
The mans lips Quivered as his pastor
put the money on his knee.
I'm not above taking such helps as that
nc said, lifting his tear-tiled eyes from his
pastors gentle face to the heavens that
smiled benignly down. God bless you.'
Does the doctor give any hope for Bes-
sc = asked the minister with pause.
Not while she stays in this close city
air, sir, though it's incest sort of place
compared with some. lie says could we
take her into the country, sir, 'twould save
her. But here's the work, sir, and here, L
suppose, is the duty. That was what he
said yesterday nothing but the country
air. | felt bad over it last night, so did
Mary her heart is bound up in the child,
l thought what bit 20 country air aud
sunshine would do for her, and we SO poor
we couldn't afford that little. ] don't COM
plain, sir it only come to me like. Wife
and prayed over it, and it seemed almost
as II the dear Lord answered us in a dream
In dream, Thomas p
'Ah, sir, the sweetest dream that mortal
ever had. think il made me a happier
man; L do, indeed, sir. There was Bessie
on the grass, and the flowers growing all
around her. Some were high over her
pretty checks such q light in her blue
eyes, ana such ring in her voice as she
cried out
oh, father, Gods blessed, beautiful
country =
For there's where we were in our dream,
sir and then l heard wiie's voice, and
there she stood, sure enough, in the door
way Ofa little cottage. | can see il now
the prettiest picture ! with bit of white
curtain blowing out OF the open window,
ana all about were trees, aud grass and
flowers. And | thought 90 myself, my
woman won't have TO slave her life out
over the gashtub.' IL made me so light o.
heart that the wiio said she laid and listen
ed 10 me laughing in my Sleep
Il wish yOnr dream might come true
Thomas, have you iaith to believe that II
will p
God is able, said Thomas, softly, stitch
ipg away, I'm certain il would be just
Ike Him. And il he don't see III, you
know, ought 10 feel thankful for the
dream itsolf, barring that Mary cried when
| .old her, aud said maybe II meant that
wee Bessie would soon be put under tho
daisies, There's bessie's tap, he added,
Tho dear child leth me know when she
wakes will you 20 imp
Tho tailor leaned over aud lltted up the
latch OF rude door that led into u closet
like room, Tho eellipg was very law,
Ihais WAS one large window, aud Close "
that .he elcan white bed of the sick child
WAS drawn, A smlle, sweet and glad,
crossed the pale, Wan lace, ilcF hand beet
lod e0nlidlnFly n bis,
'Mell, ihsaio, ho asked, " the paln
gone y