Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-10-18

kept rlRht there In the path. But pres |
emily yellow butterfly few by-one, two. |
three-a cloud of yellow butterflies, all |
goirg one way. 1t was too much for
Freddy.
They be veal gold,l guess" he cried,
looking after them longingly. Me get
some for mamma-wear In her ears-say
Tank zoo, Fredd.'"
30 the little tired shert legs, set In mo-
tion again by the longing 10 please NAM
ma, started on once more, this time right
eway from the path, In and out among
the trees and the butterflies fitted on
before, ss If blown by wayward wind,
here and there, here and there, but always
away from the path. And In half an hour
only the wind. and the butterflies, and
the Heavenly Father looking down, knew
where was Freddy.
The girls thought that II was not more
than fifteen minutes when they turned to
look for him; but then the rhododendron
blossoms were pink, and the sky was
bright, and a bird with q golden throat
sang To them and ali the while Freddy was
stumbling on right away from the path.
Oracle was the first To think Of him.
Why, where is Freddy I" she asked
with startled face.
Oh, he's all right enough 70 Kitty
answered, "trudglng along on the path
like little snail. Well go back for him
presently. Just see this kalmia. We
must get little for your mother"
Grace yielded-to yield WAS the fatal
weakness Of her character. She gathered
a splendid bunch OF kalmia then some
cardinal flowers burning at her feet
attracted her and then, at last, she
turned resolutely 7
Now must find Freddy. Poor little
fellow | shouldn't wonder If he was
crying. We've been away from him as
much as twenty minutes"
Kitty glanced at the western sky, and
saw the sun hanging low, a great rcd ball
on the misty horison. She made no re-
monstrance now against looking for
Freddy. She was more frightened her.
self than she would have cared to own.
Back along the path they flew, Oracle
In advance. AT last she looked round,
her face white with terror.
" II was here we left him, Kitty-just
by these blue flags. We started on for
the rhododendrons. you know. Oh where
Is he, whereis he I" Freddy Freddy
Fred I"
But no little piping treble made answer.
Would that voice ever answer her again
And, IL It didn't, what was the use of
living And she had thought she was
tired of him
The two girls made frantic little rushes
from the path in every direction, mot going
far either wRy,for on every side the woods
shut In around them, and already the
twilight was coming fast. At last Kitty
said -
" Il is of no use, and we are wasting
time. 1t Is growing dark, and our besl
way Is just to hurry home, and send
aoms one to look for him who can find
him quicker than we can"
Well, then, you go but / must stay
here aud look. I've got to find him, you
know-he is my brother"
"All very well, If you could" Kitty
said, dryly. 81 don't see how you'd help
matters, though, by getting lost yourself,
and giving the men two 10 look after
instead of one"
Oracle had not courage enough to resist
this argument, which, indeed, had its
drm base In a self-evldent fact so the
Ro girls hurried homeward breathlessly.
Once there, Kitty stopped outside to tell
the story TO her father, while Oracle
burst into the room where her mother
was.
"You may do anything to me mamma,
anything. If you should Kill me, |
deserve it. And don't thiuk should
care. I'm not tit to live"
"Then certainly you are not tit to die;"
and Mrs. Medford laid her hand on Gra-
cie's throbblng forehead. "But what is
the matnrl Why should do anything
to you and where 10 Freddy 2"
"Thst's what I've done, mamma-lost
him %
'Lost my baby Wherel
''In the woods, mother. He stayed be-
hind, when thought he was coming, and
go lost"
"My baby, my poor little fellow-all
alone in the lonesome woods, and night
coming on"
AS long as Oracle Medford lives, she
will never forget her mothers face at
that moment. She had never seen such
look before. Sue began 70 cry, but no
one noticed her. Needless of white gown
and thin slippers, or head, every throb OF
which had been torture all that long
afternoon, the mother sprang through
the adjoining room, and was out of doors,
and on the path towards the pods, be-
fore Oracle had drawn half dozen Sob
bing breaths.
Mr.. Smith saw her, and tried To stop
her.
''Don't CO." he said "we have goi
lanterns, and l am going now with both
my men,"
i'Thank you, but am going too. DO
you think ! could sit in doors, with my
haby all alone in those cruel woods !"
SO they all hurried forward, and Gra-
Gle came out of the house, still sobbing
and she and Kitty clasped sorrowiuI
hands, and went on more slowly aftel
the Others.
An hour 7 Assed before a low, eager cry
came from Mrs Medford's lips;
"Come here. James !"
So she had 70 und him. 5he had taker
one of the lanterns, and her mother'i
instinct had led her on 10 the right plac'
at last. Mr.. Smith stepped to her side
the light from their two lanterns shonl
on what looked like the statue of littl
boy. The long curled lashes droppei
down upon his cheeks. His face gleame'
like marble In the dim light, and In on
careless hand was a great bunch OF th
purple polson-berries the deadly night
shade bears.
"see those berries," the mother whis
pered. James, is he dead ~
} Mr.. Smith bent over the child an
looked at him closely.
No there Is no stain upon his face
He has not tasted them and he breathe
! as quietly as II he was in his bed u
home"
Then Mrs. Medford caught MP her bo
, in her arms. She had not dared befor
! lest she should clasp despair. Her en-
! brace awoke him and still, II seemed, ri
/ ~
I butterflies.
4 /" Me tied TO get 90 some for oor ear
= mamma, they did shine 30 bright bt
they all ruined away, and then could
{ fnd Oracle"
d " Weren't you frightened, darling
Z 90 Not frightened so much as me hui
). CRY. Then me find booful berries. See
a and before did eat any, something lai
me down 10 sleep"
!. II Was Gods angel, surely, the MOTH
( thouEht, who had hushsd her little one
a his slumbers just in time, Just in time
0 She drew tina purple poison.berri'
( from his fingers.
IS ''They would not be good for Freddy,
Il she said, ,ooaxingly. "uncle James sh,
carry Freddy home, and then my boy
/; get some nice supper"
u On the way the little procession m
e Grace and Kitty. Little Freddy calf
1t out, joylullyi-
If " Nc 'iding See, Oracle Me n
le mean to run away. Me not bad boy \
lie ouly 'ty to get veal gold fly things
le mamma"
le It was too much for Oracle.
ID "Little angel !" she cried through h
tears. "Just see how he takes all 6
A." blame, and tries to excuse himself no
D. can | ever. ever HaY thanks eaough