Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-07-04

broken only by the blithe, sweet voice
Of the canary and tho purr ola Maltese.
cat. Presently Mrs. Potter came to-
wards me. and placed her hand softly
on my shou lder, saying, ELLA, my poor
child !" ! /"
But I ncyor moved, but ssat gazing
with wide opea eyes upon an aw full pic
ture. A cold, gray afternoon, "a pond,
little figure we'll known to me suddenly
disappearing through the trcacheroua ice,
down. down, the little hand grasping at
cruel weeds, the sweet mouth full of
water. And those wicked, sinful words
ringing through my ears-"I don't care
where you 60. SO long as you keep out
Of my sight" There was mist before
my eyes "a ringing in my ears, l re-
member leaving the house with a blind
feeling Of going where my Harry was
Then came horrible sense Of the earth
breaking away under nay feet, and l
kno W no more.
A pleasant feeling IT warmth. a lam
guild sense pervaded my whole system.
| opened my eyes and glared around
the room. A strange woman by the
fire: at the foot Of the bed my husband,
with his hands over his eyes. I tried to
think where l was and what had hap
pened, but in vain. Then my attention
was arrested by little figure in q red
flannel night dress euddled up in a big
chair-my Harry. Then it all flashed
across my mind. I sat up straight in
bed with a faint, "Why, what is it,"
said I, feebly.
"You mast not talk lie down. Oh!
darling!" and the strong man wept like
child. And the little figure came and
jumped on my neck, cried too. And
puzzled to know what it all meant, cried
also. The strange figure came and took
Harry away. saying:
"Be careful now, Mr.. Loring; every
thing depends upon quiet.
TELL me all now" said !; II must
know. I had such a horrible feeling.
Oh, Harold, l dreamed Harry was
drowned" H.;
His face grew white.
"Ho was near death. George Gray
got him out of the pond. Gray sent
down to the Office for me. [ went after
DR.. Hopper and came right up. There
was but spark Of life. but we succeed
ed at last"
Glow many days ago was it. Harrold?'
saidI.
"Seven weeks ago. yesterday ,"said he
smiling.
"Seven-weeks!'' said I +; Impossible p
'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 himself.
Last night DR.. Hopper says. The crisis is
at hand; if she lives through the nigh
she will get WE'LL Oh. Ella I am sc
thankful you are spared to me-
II have been weak and sinful, asaid I
and then told him all. not keeping back
anything.
lie heard me through, stroking my
hair in gentle fashion. When 1 had
finished he said: =,
1T has taught you a lesson, Ella,
dear" and that was all.
soon recovered. For q long time
l could not bear Harry out of my sight.
It seemed as if could not do half enough
to atone for my wicked conduct. The
thought makes me shudder now-if it
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. I have had three children
since and not one Of them has eyer re-
ceived a cross or hasty word from me
Oftentimes my patience is severely tried
but one thought of that horrible death to
which Harry came so near drives the
demon away. i.
Mothers bear patiently with those
little innocent ones. Are there not
many whose eyes. resting upon this
simple story, are filed with bitter tears
Of the recollections of the unkind, words,
and even blows, to little children laid
away forever-who would give all their
worldly posse ssions. yea, years Of their
lives, to recall those hasty words which
made their lips qu:ver pitifully, and the
eyes dim with tears? All you cannot
have them back. They are gone and
they are gone and your sin remains.