Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-05-23


From What Next.
The M.y-Day.
By HELEN sTANNARD,
Only few moments before, the
stars were brightly reflected in the clear
waters of u little inland LIKE, but now
their light had paled and q huge fiery
ball was slowly rising from the very
bosom of the waves. Round about it
thousands ofripples danced merrlly, and
across tho eastern sky . rosy glow shot
upward and outward to the north and
south. Upon the bank gentle breeze
stirred lightly among the dewy grasses,
buds and blossoms, filling the ART
with fragrance, while over head the
tender foliage OF the trees quivered i'm
patiently, till every leaf turning 70 the
sunlight caught upon its edge golden
tlnge.
For it was mornlngl glorious morn
ing! and already the birds aud insects
were waking to greet the new May
day. High up in the branches of a
stately old elm Mamma Downywing
carefully brooded over her three little
birdlings. Peeping from the edge Of
its cosy nest, she nodded cheerily to
papa Downywing, who, perched watch
fully on twig close by, was rufling
his feathers for q grand toilet.
"Twit, twit, tweet," said he, and
''twit, twit, twit," said all the birds
around, and simultaneously they burst
into grand chorus of song till the
whole grove rang with their music.
While the concert of feathered song
sters were at it's heights bundle, which
had been calmly reposing at the foot of
the elm tree, began to unrou itself.
First one little arm dew out, a leg
stretched itself leisurely, then there was
Il good old fashioned yawn; after which
small boy-pretty in spite Of his
rags and mourntul face-scrambled to
his feet. "Wby, where am l." he
murmured affrighte,1ly. "Oh yes see
il the grove "Ive slept here all
night ami Mrs. Smith won't get me
very soon again; not very soon," he
added almost fercely. "It's pleasant
here but I'm SO awful hungry. She
didn't give me q bit of dinner nor sup
per all day yesterday"
"Sobs choked the child's uttetance
and tears rolled down his wan cheeks.
But gradually the quiet loneliness
about him soothed the tnmult in his
heart. Then the sparkling stones upon
the beach entlced him thlther, aud he
flung them far out, singly, and by the
handful, INTO the water ut times laugh
ing gleefully, with boyish abandon.
But what was he going to do; where
could he go9 This thought struck
home to his heart in the midst of his
play, and walking slowly back to the
elm tree he sat down beside it to
think.
He was only poor little bound boy
whom nobody loved but God. He was
everywhere, for she had said so, and
the last words she ever spoke were,
''God will be father to my orphan
child" He could never forget these
words, though he was now only ten
years old, and three years had passed
since her dying lips uttered them.
How neart this seems to Heaven and
mother" whispered the child. per
haps she sees me now, and is sorry that
am hungry up there. She told me
mustn't forget Our Father but !
couldn't say it at Mrs. Smiths, she
beat me too bad, and hated her go
now I'll try"
Kneeling and with clasped hands,
the little boy prayed, his heart growing
lighter with every word, and when he
said, amen, there was . trustful look
upon his face. All this time the sur
was rising higher and higher. in The
bright blue sky, which smilingly crown
ed lovely day, fit for festival of SONG
and flowers.
A curious rumbling sound now made
itself audible to the child. It seemed
to come from the other side of the
grove and was probably a wagon .,
wagons upon the road Just beyond it
Hark! that was surely the laughter o.
children. It must be the Nav partv b.
heard about down to the village. api
they were coming to this very grove
They couldn't get the big wagon
through to where he was, but of cours<
they would come on foot to the lake, *
lie must hide quick or they would sc,
him and send HIM back to Mrs. Smith,
and he would rather die.
The frightened boy crept into
clump of bushes near the elm, ant
pcering anxiously through his leaf,
screen waited the approach of the part,
whose merry shouts and laughter her
aided their coming. All! there the,
are now, singly, in couples and groups
gentlemen, ladies and children, tn,
boys acting as advance guard and Skin
mishers, tearing through the bushes
and tossing each others hats high i,
air. Nearly all of the party carriet
baskets, the sight of which made tn,
famished child's mouth water, bu
speedily they we're deposited togethe,
for safe keeping; and then began tn,
sport in earnest. Two swings were pu
up, and game succeeded game will
wonderful rapidity.
And so the day wore on; the it'll,
boy safe i'll his hiding place-in spite
OF hunger and his keen sense Of hi,
friendless condition-could not but h.
amused by the comical pranks and an
ties Of the gay little picnickers, A,
one time f he only dared he could hav,
pulled the dress of little girl who ra1
lump against the bushes-iust to se,
what size would have done, of course
tie resisted this temptation, but whe,
"A fat chubby boy, in endeavoring tt
show how far he could jump from a 10.
lost his balance, turnad ! complete an(
and unexpected somersault, and cam,
up standing with just the queerest l0ol
on his funny round face, he forgot him
self and laughed out merrily with tn,
rest. The sound of his voice friohten
cd him, but subdued giggles continue,
to lssuc from the clump of bushes nea
III" elm. Fortunately they were I'M
heard in the general tumult, and Ii
yet remained undiscovered.
The sun was rapidly getting into tn,
west and 1t was full two hous past mid
dag, when-;e grand hustle OF prepare
tl"n announced that lunch would 500
he ready. There was rushing To an,
fro from the lake with pals of water
Snowy table cloths were spread on til
grass, the contents of the basket place.
thereon, light puffy biscuits, sand
wlches, delicious looking cakes, tarts
pies, turkey, ham, chickens, ETC., max
ing mosl tempting array of goodies
Then all was ready and waiting for tn
blessing, which dear old gentlema
asked reverently. II guess yon ar
not hun Try. Missy" murmured tn
child rs Watching the party with hi
keen dark eyes, he saw u little girl re
ct IT. biscuit, lisdainfnlly. A boy toss
ri away half picked chi ken bone
''Ah! there will be plenty left for tn
birds and me-" thought the hungr