The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-13

and
"Hush, Eddie" said his mother, look.
ing at me fearfully; "here is Mrs, LOr-
ing"
There was great silence in the room,
broken only by the blithe, sweet voice OF
Q canary, and the purr OF a Maltese eat.
Presently Mrs. Potter came towards me,
and placed her hand softly on my shoul-
der saying, ELLA, my poor child"
But never moved, but sat gazing with
wide open eyes upon an awful picture.
A cold gray afternoon, a pond, and little
figure well known to me suddenly disap'
pearing through the treacherous ice, down,
down, the little hand grasping at the
treAclerous weeds, the sweet mouth full
of water. And those wicked, sinful words
ringing through my ears:-" | don't care
where you go, 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 blind feeling Of
going where my Harry was Then came
a horrible sense of the earth breaking
away at my feet, and knew no more.
A pleasant feeling of warmth, languid
sense pervaded my whole system. |
opened my eyes and glared around the
room. A strange woman by the fire; ut
the foot of the bed my husband, with his
hands over his eyes. | tried to think what
had happened, but in vain. Then my at
tention was arrested by little figure in
a red flannel night dress cuddled up in a
big chair-my Harry. Then 1t all flashed
across my mind. sat up straight in bed
with faint, "Why, what Is it1
"You must not talk; lie down. OH
darlingl" and the strong man wept like a
child. And tho little figure came and
jumped on my bed, and, putting his arms
around my neck, cried too. And /, puz.
zled to know what II all meant, cried also.
Tho strange figure came and took Harry
away, saying:-
BE careful now, Mr. Loring; every
thing depends upon quiet"
"fell me all now" said |; ~ don't
know. had such ahorrible feeling. oh,
Harold, | dreamed Harry was drowned"
Ills face grew white.
"Iie was near death. George Gray
got him out of pond. Gray sent down
to the office for me. went after DR.,
Hopper and came right Ap. There was
but spark of life, but we succeeded at
last" 1851 s
"IIow many days ago was it, Haroldl"
SAID |.
"seyen weeks ago, yesterday" said he
smiling. go
"seven weeksl" said |. Impossiblel' ~
You have been sick with the brain
fever, Ella. You were very near death ;
for days we despaired of ever seeing you
conscious. You would say, Harry is
drowned, and / made him drown himselfl
Last night DR.. Hopper said, The crisis is
ut hand; Il she lives through the night
she will get well.' Oh, Ellal am so
thankful you are spared to me-"
al have been weak and sinful, Harold,
said !, and then told him all, not keeping
back anything.
He heard me through, stroking my hair
in q gentle fashion. When / had finished
he said:
at has taught you lesson, Ella,
dear" And that was all.
] soon recovered. For long time |
could not bear Harry out of my sight
1t seemed as II could not do hall
enough to atone for my wicked conduct.
The thought makes me shudder now as II
1t had been that Harry had never come
back to me, and that the last words he
had heard from his mothers lips were SO
unkind. have had three children since,
and not one of them has ever received a
cross or hasty word from me. oftentimes
my patience Is severely tired, but one
thought of that horrible death to which
Harry came so near, drives the demon
away.
Mothers, bear patiently with those lit
tie innocent ones. Are there not many
whose eyes, resting upon this simple
story, are filled with tears at the recol-
lection of the unkind words, and even
blows, to little children laid away forever,
who would give all their worldly pos
sessions, yes, years of their lives, to recall
those hasty words which made their lips
quiver pitifnlly, and the clear eyes din
with tearsl Ali you cannot have them
back. They are gone, and your sin re-
mains.