Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-12-18

tangled hair, and she knelt down and
kissed Daisy, and went two miles q foot
up the meadows and got flowers and put
them in the little blue hands, and-there's
where we laid her, Cap-up there, where
you see them white pickets."
For some time the poor fellow could
say no more, but sat with his face buried
in his hands.
"And Joe?" / asked.
"Hush," he said, pointing to the saloon,
"Joe's in there; his sands about PANIED
down-shot, night afore last in row.
Joes a-passing in his checks, sure You
see Joe went to the bad. He sat by the
old foot log, melancholy like, and wan.
dered up and down the creek, and no one
could do anything with him, and he took
to drink again; and the cussed temper
come back. and he got to quarreling with
everybody. Night afore last he got in a
row with Portegee John, in poker
game; they both drawed; but John was
too quick for him, and Joe's bad hurt.
The doctor says he Amt got no living
show. May be you'd like to see him,
Cap"
We went together into the room where
the wounded man lay The broken win
dows were darkened with blankets, and
on rough pallet we found the poor fell
low, breathing heavily, and two of the
boys tanning him tenderly, as a mother
would have done. The ashy face and
heavy drops of sweat that had gathered
| on the forehead told the unspeakable ago.
ny of the sufferer, and showed that, sure
| enough, Joe's sand was nearly run out,
and he beyond all human leechcraft. We
had not meant to disturb him, but his
ear, quickened by pain, caught our
stealthy footsteps, and, turning round he
recognized me-
80, Cap" he said, "you have come at
last. knew she would send some one to
talk to me, as she used TOTO tell me
| about that blessed land where Christ lives
Him that she just made me understand
little when she left us. And pray for
me, Cap, and ask Daisy to forgive me for
letting the devil come back, and for for
gettin' all that she taught me. She told
me, if / would only believe all she said,
that would go to glorious land that
was away beyond the stars. She's gone
there, Cap, and believe every word of ii
now. Oh, can you pray9 She taught me,
but I've most forgot how"
II ever felt like praying it was then.
If ever felt able to ask forgiveness for a
poor, hayward, shattered soul, trembling
on the brink of the unknown, about to be
weighed in the balance of the Eternal, ii
was at that moment. Soon there was ST.
lence, unbroken, save by few smothered
sobs among the bystanders; but quiet,
peaceful light rested upon poor Joe's
face. "Come close" he said, in low
tone. 81 feel better now; know that Pm
goin' to where she is, and somehow /
don't feel so much pain. Tell the boys to
lay me beside her. there's room enough,
and then / can find the way where she Is.
And, Cap" he whispered, as he reached
his hand under the pillow and drew out
the pictures, "put these on my heart, for
they belong there; poor old mother and
her-the only two that ever knew how to
reach it. Write to mother how it was,
and that if l did forget her, / never will
again. When I'm gone, whisper to Daisy
that believe it all, every word of it; that
| found the road at last, and am comm.
Yes, Cap, I'm goin' to Da-."
Poor joel the blessed seeds of light
sown by the little Daisy had taken root at
last, and an unruly and turbulent spirit
was at rest forever and foreyermore.--
Overland MonthLy