The Western advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1872-1874, 1874-07-11

"Well, boys, it is all right here, and no
suspicion and no need of any ceremony ;
<o1y l.;

| "Wel1, boys, it is all right here, and NJ
suspicion and no need of any ceremony
let us take him home"
And. then Joe took Willie in llls arm:
and held him closely with the little face
against his own, as if he were still living
and started for the cottage. Some Of thu
people followed in picturesque process
sion, through the pasture lot and dow1
the bank and along by the shore of tht
pond When Walters house was reached
a few of the women went in to sootht
Mary; and Joe and the doctor went
in also, and the people clustered about
the door.
In the course of an hour it seemed thai
all had been done that could be done fol
Walter and Mary, and the people, except
a few who remained as watchers and help
ers, dispersed to their homes.
The three days that followed were
bright, sunny days. A strange stiffness
borhood of the cottage. The harsh
heard as at other times, for the mill was
stopped in token of respect for the great
sorrow. Only the softly flowing stream
was heard, mingling it's s,su1rus with the
hum of the bees in the garden
| A>O" SSAN tICu SAOAlo VI
dressed in their Sunday attire, would
come down the bank, and with hushed
voices and fearful looks steal up toward
the cottage door. Then kind Joe would
see them and would come out and take
| them in to see Willie; and after few
moments they would issue forth again
and walk sadly homeward, and as they
went the sunlight dried their tears.
And farmers and hunters came from
many miles away g to see the little boy
that was killed by sheep" Some of
the rough men manifested their sympa-
thy 10y exhibiting vindictivc feelings
toward the ram. After going in and
viewing the bruised corpse they would
come out with dark, determined looks,
and grasping again the long rifles which
they had brought with them and "stood
up" by the door they would inquire of
any bystander, with fierce emphasis,
whether the ram that "did that was
dead. On being informed of his cxecu-
tion, they would say THAT will do,'
with an air that implied how much they
would have enjoyed it to have had a
shot at him. Indeed, it appeared that if
the poor brute had been possessed of
| fifty or a hundred lives, so that each irate
hunter might have taken one, it would
have been a great relief and satisfac-
ton.
On the fourth day Willie was buried
Mary continued inconsolable. All of the
social influences which the ncighborhood
could command were put in operation
from the time of the funeral onward, in
order to cheer her and bind up her
wounded spirit. Social meetings were
held and pleasant little gatherings made
for her. Wherever there was enjoyment
Mary must be. She gratefully submit
ted herself to all their kindness and
tried to please her friends. But it seemed
to do her little good. She remained pale,
weak and dispirited.
After a few months Walter and Mary
discovered that somehow they were not
suited with their farm. They sold the
place at the first opportunity and re-
turned to their former home in New
England, the remains of little Willie hav-
ing been forwarded in advance to cem-
etery there with which they in their
early days had been familiar.-Atlantic
NunfILu