The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-06-21
A HAsTY WORD.

shattered.
"You naughty boy" 1 cried an
grily, 'you deserve to be whipped.
Pick up those pieces instantly and
put them in the coal hod." He stop
ped, carefully picked up the frag-
ments, carried them away and was
gone for some time. When he re-
turned it was with something tight
ly clasped in his hand.
Coming to me he placed a five
cent piece in my hand, saying tim
idly:
"Will that buy you a new vase,
mamma?
What evil genius possessed me to
take the coin, his sacredly cherish
ed treasure a neighbor had given
him, and throw it from me, l know
not.
Harry picked it up with tears run
ming, and sat dow on a stool with
his hands folded so meekly. Pres
emily he said:
"Mamma, may 1 go and play with
Eddy Potter?"
al don't care where you co." said
I Grossly, as long as you keep out of
my sight"
Harry went to the closet where
his coat and hat hung, put them on
and came and stood by my side.
Mamma, will you please forgive
me? Pm so sorry!" and he put up
his lips for kiss.
o! God forgive me. 1 pushed
the little fellow away. He stood at.
the door moment, looking pitifully
at me. 1t is twenty-five years ago
to-day since he stood there but
can see him, with his blue coat and
red and gray wOrsted seating cap as
| the little feet went slowly down the
stairs. l heard him go out and I'M
fasten the gate. Looking out of the
window l saw the little fellow lift
his face with a smile as he saw me,
which gave place to pitiful culver
of the lips as he saw took no no.
tice of him. I watched the darling
down the street with strange I'M
| defined feeling, till the little coat
| and red mittens were no longer WIS.,
ible. Twice sudden impulse NOV
| ed me to call him back, but crush
ed it down. Oh! would to God /
had. Well, l sewed all the winter
| afternoon. At four O'Clock / put
away my work and sat by the win
dow. Conscience begun to reproach
me for my conduct. 81 don't care"
said /, ''my beautiful vase is in
ruins"
What is the value of all the vases
in the world compared with your
child? Have you not spoken cross
| ly to that dear little Harry, who is
always so cheerful and obedient?
And this is not the first time either,
and you cali yourself christian
mother, too. Suppose Harry should
be suddenly taken away from you,
would not your cruel words haunt
you forever?
I could bear this no longer. 1
rose and picked up the stray litter
about the room to give it a more
tidy appearance.
Then went to the window, peer
ing anxiusly through the gloom,
but seeing nothing of my boy, my
heart became heavy; this suspense
was unbearable. Hastily throwing
shawl over my head, ran into
Mrs. Potter's.
"Have you seen Eddie 2" was the
question before entered the room.
"Have you seen Harry 2"
SHE was over here at half-past
two; he and Eddie went over to
Josie Gray's, think"
| What she thought l never knew,
for at that moment the door flew
open and Eddie rushed in breath
less, screaming
"Oh! mother, mother! Harry
Loring is drowned! We were slid
ing ON the mill pond, and there was
a hole in the ice, with snow on it,
and Harry didn't see it, and"
"Hush, Eddie, said his mother,
looking at me fearfully; "here is
Mrs. Loring."
| There was a great silence in the |
room, broken only by the blithe,
sweet voice of the canary and the
purr of Maltese. cat. Presently
Mrs. Potter came toward me, and
PLACED her hand softly on nv shoul-
der, saying, CELIA, my poor child "
But never moved, but sat gaZ-
ing with wide open eyes upon an
awful picture. A cold, gray after
noon, a pond, a little figure well
known to me suddenly disappear
ing through the treacherous ice,
down, down, the little hand grasp
ing at cruel weeds, the sweet
mouth full of water. And those
| W1ChCu HOEuS tuEO
my ears-"I 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. l
remember leaving the house with
blind feeling of going where my
Harry was. Then came horrible
under my feet, and 1 knew no
more.
A pleasant feeling of warmth,
languid sense prevailed my whole
system. 1 opened my eyes and
glanced around the room. A strange
woman by the fire; at the foot of
my bed my husband with his hands
over his eyes. ] tried to think
where / was and what had happen
T ed, but in vain. Then my attention
was arrested by little figure in
q red flannel night dress cuddled up
in big chair-my Harry. Then it
all flashed across my mind. I sat
up in bed with faint "Why, what
is it 2" said /, feebly.
"You must not talk; lie down.
Obi darlingw and the strong man
went like q child. And the little
figure came and jumped on my bed,
and putting his arms around 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; ev-
( erything depends upon quiet"
e "Tell me all now, said / ST must
= know; / had such a horrible feeling.
Oh, Harold, dreamed Harry was
drowned"
His face grew white.
s "He was near death. George
s Gray got him out of the pond.
, Gray sent down to the Office for me.
: 1 went after DR.. Hooper and came
right up. There was but a spark of
! like, but we succeeded at last"
"How many days was it, Harold p
said I.
! "Seyen weeks ago, yesterday y
= said he, smiling.
: "Seven weeksl" said l, ''impossi-
blew
"You have been sick with the
brain fever, Ella. You were very
near death for days we despaired
q of ever seeing you conscious. You
: would say, Harry is drowned, and
have made him drown himself.
Last night DIR. Hooper says, THE
d crisis is at hand; if she lives till
= morning she will get we'll oh,
, Ellal l am SO thankful you are
t spared to me-"
/. ST have been weak and sinful,
I said I. and then / told him all, moi