The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-11-28
PROVIDENCE.

1t was Saturday afternoon! The
midsummer sunlight lay warm and
bright on all the green New Eng
land hills, and crept in waves of
l-glimmering gold over the white,
sanded floor of Deborah Hunters
kitchen. Debbie herself sat Just be-
yond the doorway, with a huge
basket Of newly-ironed clothes be
side her, from which she was assort-
ing a variety Of little garments,
pausing now and then to darn a
hole, or sew on a button, and sing
ing softly to herself all the while;
for she was happy wife and mother,
and her smile was bright and her
heart cheerful, despite the endless
duties that kept her willing hands
forever busy.
Out in the garden, under the
shadow of the el1n-trees, where the
Haunting tulips and sun-fowers
bloomed, and the bees made honey
music, Mark and Totty were playing
and chattering like a pair of par
rots.
And presently there came todding
in Mark, leading his chubby little
sister by the hand.
"Bfother," he said, "may we go
down by the wood and gather some
Strawberries? Father likes 'em with
cream, you know! Please let US
mother? I'll put Totty's shoes on,
so the briars can't scratch her feet,
and III take good care of her,
Mother, may we go?'
Debbie smiled and nodded, ana
Mark ran off for Totty's shoes, and,
after considerable grunting and tug
ging, succeeded in getting them on
her chubby feet. Then he Chamber
ed upon the dresser, and got a little
tin kettle, and of they started hand
in hand.
'.Now, Mark, take good care Of
your sister" called his mother, "and
don't go near the pond; and come
back soon, for l think We shall have
rain before night"
eyes, mothorr'
Totty looked back, her white sun
bonnet tapping in the breeze, and
disclosing her dimpled cheeks and
tangled, golden hair.
"Mother," she lisped, "touldn't
you dive us one te intake, for We
does-does one, motherP'
And Debbie put aside her needle, |
and going TO the cupboard produced |
the coveted cream-cakes and put
them in the chubby, little hands.-
Then she came back to her work,
and resumed her song.
And the midsummer afternoon
waned slowly. The sunshine danced
and glimmered amid the green elm
branches, the bees hummed about
their hives, and the hens scratched
lazily in the barn yard; and the
breeze growing stronger, tossed the
purple lilac boughs until the air was
heavy with their sweet perfume,
Debbie worked on, singing softly to
herself; and the sunlight crept steal
across the sanded floor and
disappeared at last beyond the door
sill. Her work was done; all the
little garments ready for the coming
Sabbath. She rose and put her bas-
let aside.
''Tis time the children were com
ing back she said, going to the
door and glsncing out.
The west was one mass Of black
with lurid, brassy
edges; and even while she stood
there, there came s distant rumble,
prophetic of what was coming.
"We'Te going to have a thunder
Storm she thought, her heart thrill
ling with fear; ''surely Mark will
hasten home"
She set about her evening prepar-
atoms, eager to get them over be- R
fore the rain. Half an hour went
by and the children had not come.
"What can make them stay sop
She thought looking out again and :
inding the sky well nigh overcast / !
md the great black thunder cloud !
'oIling rapidly up before the rising .
Wind.
The poor mother, now thoroughly ]
caught up a shawl, and,
hrowing it over her head, closed
Ter door and ran down towards the s
7ocd, calling her children as she
an. But there came no answer
10 sound but the roar Of the gather
ng storm, and the angry booming
f the thunder.
She searched and called in vain
hev we're nowhere to be seen; and
oIf frantic with anxiety she ran