American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-11-28

face looked pale and anxious as he rode

face looked pale and anxious as he rode
away.
There was no one to visit us, nc
friendly face to look in upon our loneli-
ness, and to me the days dragged heav-
lily, though tried to make them cheer
full for the children. That was not hard
at first, for they were full of anticipation
and delighted with everything that
seemed like preparing for our removal
Long before it was possible for their
father to return they were watching for
him and any glimpse of horseman OF
wagon on the road was sufficient to draw
the whole party to the window. On the
first day that we could reasonably expect
him, do not think there was a single
half hour that bright eyes were not scan
ming the road. But, amid all my hope
fulness at thought of his coming, my
heart ached to hear how constantly the
childish voices linked the name of papa
with the words something to eat;' for
our daily allow ance had been growing
smaller and smaller, until these healthy
young appetites rebelled, and longing
eyes were often turned from the scant
table with the question, No more?' The
long hours wore away, but all the watch
ing was useless. The sun went down,
the darkness gathered, and we were still
alone.
Give US little more supper to- night
because he will be sure to come to-mOr-
row, you know, and then we shall have
plenty pleaded the children. But l
dared not.
"Another day and another passed and
Robert did not come. The children
grew sad and complained bitterly of the
hope so long deferred, and my own
heart was sick with fear and doubt.
Then there came a morning when we
made no pretense of breakfast; there
was literally nothing in the house to eat.
The younger ones cried and fretted some,
but Rob, the eldest, only stood by the
window looking out in strangely grave,
silent way. By and by, when few flakes
of snow began to fall from the clouded
sky, he turned to me.
- Mother, haven't you little money
left?'
"'Only two shillings,' I answered.
"Well, guess you'd better let me
take it and go to town, he said thought
fully. Il know the way, and jimmie
and Bessie must have something TO eat.
Besides, if we wait and the snow gets
deep then can't CO.
Il had thought of that. He had been
several times with his father, and though
l dreaded to let him go on foot and alone
l could see no other way. So l gave
him the few pence that remained, and
then with sudden thought added the old
silver cup. 1t was pure and heavy; he
surely could sell it for something A
manly, courageous little fellow was
Rob. After the brave blue eyes smiled
their good-by from the doorway he never
once turned or looked back, but pushed
rapidly forward on his dreary walk. 1t
would be late in the day ere he could
return at best, but the little ones began
to count the hours before he was fairly
out of sight.
1.-THE day grew darker and darker
long before noon they wondered if it
were nearly highland the snow fell
in steady, binding shower. had not
storm, and watched the sky anxiOusly,
but in vain, for some rift in the clouds
that should promise fair weather.
Thicker and faster still the snow came
whirling down, and then a cold, sweep
ing wind arose and blew it into long
drifts. So the night settled down upon
upon us, and shut us ina wild, stormy
night. Robbie could not come knew
it even while 1 strained my eyes peering
every lull of the wind, for his step at the
door. The hungry children slept at last,
but could not. l paced restlessly to
and fro, thinking, thinking. Oh, girls,
what a torture thought can become!
An interminable night it seemed, yet
it did end, and with the early morning
little Bessie awoke moaning. So many
days of insufficient nOurishment, followed
by this long fasting, told fearfully upon
the delicate child. She was very i'll, and
nearly all the day held her in my arms.
In the afternoon the storm abated; but
knew not where to go for assistance,
I hav laft I
did not even think of it then; the keen
agony had passed away. l was too be-
numbed to frame a prayer, but some
sweet, old words, whose full significance
had never known before, kept saying
themselves over and over dreamily:
They shall hunger no more, neither
thirst any more; tor the Lamb which is
in the midst of the throne shall feed
Them
Another night came, strange night,
when l sat alone, wondering vaguely
what life-power kept the heart of the old
clock beating so loudly; gazing at the fit
wall by the freight, and stealing now
and then to the bedside, not knowing
hoped for or feared the change
that might have passed over the pale face
on the pillow. When the gray dawn
came drew up the curtains, and looked
out upon it with half-formed thought
that should never see the daylight grow
again.
Suddenly voice called, 'Motherr
there was a sound of hurrying feet, then
the door was pushed open, and Rob,
eager and anxious, but alive and well,
stood before me. The first glimpse of his
face, the clasp of his arms about me,
brought me back to life and the world.
90 I'm all right, mother; you see l am!
And l lost the way, for all L thought l
knew it so welln he explained, too excited
to talk connectedly. But it was good
thing did, for Imet man that had been
off to mill; and we both got caught in
the storm, SO he took me to an old hut he
knew about, and we staid till it stopped.
He gave me nearly all the nice dinner he
brought from home. I've had something
to eat-I really have; and when told
him about you here, he put part of his
meal into this little bag for me, and he
take cent. Just see! The
children shan't starve now. o mother!
we gathered about that bag of meal,
all but poor little Bessie, and Jimmy
fairly Rugged it. As 1 opened it, and
saw the silver cup in the sacks mouth
it recalled the old story of Benjamin;
and the thought of how that troubled
day had ended in the restoring of the
lost, and the leaving of land of famine
for peace and plenty, brought hope and
with it. All! well, l never sat
down to any table loaded with luxuries
that was as truly a Thanksgiving feast as
our dinner that day. Cruel, given care
fully, slowly revived little Bessie Food
was, after all, the only medicine she