The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-10-15

have longcd for finer son. He grew
and thrived like June blossom, until
one morning Isabel remembered that it
was his birthday, and he was ten years
old. He had never given her a mo-
ment's sorrow in his life, except that,
when he was very little fellow, he
used to run to her from his play some
times, and say:
''Tommy S papa is going to take him
ride. Where is my papa, mother!''
At such moments life seemed very
bitter for little while. As the child
grew older, though, he ceased to ask
her such questions. He seemed to I'M
derstand it himself. And now Leon
was 10 years old, and she had heard no
word OF Mark Hascall since the day he
| kissed the child and went away.
That summer she took her boy and
went t. an obscure farmhouse in Maine
for the vacation. Though in Maine,
the settlement was as new and ''unfn-
ished,'' one might say, as any place in
the Western wilds. That was why she
chose it. She saw SO much art all the
year round that the very breath Of ma
ture rested and gladdened her life. They
had neither doctor nor minister in the
settlement. They didn't need any
doctor, they said, and no minister liked
so roueh living as theirs was.
The old lady at the farm house gave
Isabel her best bed, covered with the
delight of her eyes, her ''saw-tooth''
quilt, with calico teeth SO sharp and
fierce that they looked as if they might
have sawed your head off at any mo-
ment. Isabel liked it, because it was
old fashioned and countryish, and
somehow. as she grew older, countryish
things began to be beautiful to her
eyes. I think it is so with most of us.
Brave Leon was as full of childish hap
piness as his little body could hold. He
made acquaintance with the pigs, sheep
and COWS at once, and was soon
on excellent terms even with
the old mother hens. He watched
the nests in the morning. and
ever and anon came running mer-
rily in, holding up fresh laid egg, and
cackling to initiate the brown hen that
laid it. Isabel thought she was hap
pier than she had ever been before, glad
with the innocent, heartful happiness OF
childhood.
One day Leon fell into the little river,
and before they could rescue him the
bright, sweet, loving child
WAS DROWNED.
Isabel would have torn her heart out
to bring him to life again, and when that
would not do it she could have torn her
heart out with agony. The only joy,
only hope Of her lonely life was taken
away. She cursed the hour she was
born.
''If your husband was only alive tc
help you bear it, it wouldn't be sc
hard,'' said the mild. sweet-faced old
landlady. at appears like mans arm
is strong to help a woman through
troubles. I've had six children, and ]
buried four Of them when they were
little. 'Peared like it would have killed
me when lost them, only for my hus
band. He held me up. There is nc
friend so near to woman as good
husband. Forty years my old man anG
have held together, through good and
bad, and the older we get the more
good there is and the less bad, and in q
few years more, please God, it will be
all good, and no bad any more said
the old lady. reverently.
Isabel wept bitterly. 81 have nc
friend in the world, not one, now IN my
trouble" she said.
The old lady held up her hands ir
dismay. Don't take on like that,
she said.
Her son came in and whispered to
her. She arose and went out with him.
"Mother," said the young man
''there is not preacher within 20
miles of here. What shall We do for q
burial service
Again the old lady held up her hands
in dismay. ''To be surep' she ex
claimed. "Bu. there's the schoolmas
ter. John. He is a kind. Christian
man. and will say it as beautifully a:
any minister could.
HE OUGHT TO BE MINISTER
this day, and he's lesson to 'em as j
is. There never was so good and wise
a man in the settlement, John, or ont
the people loved so. Get the school
master, John"
They told Isabei. who was in such I
maze of grief. poor heart-broken, lone.
ly creature, that she scarcely knew
what they said. They had the child
funeral in the school house, and all thu
neighbors, good, kindly people, came t.
help her bury her dead. In the schoo
house Isabel covered her face, anc
scarcely saw the tall, pale man in black
who stepped timidly to the open spac'
beside her boys coffin. He read |
chapter which is very blessed to beref
| mourners.
"Suffer little children to come unit
me, and forbid them not, for of such il
the kingdom of heaven
Isabel heard that, even through tn
darkness of grief. Then the school
master sang hymn. Isabel started
when she heard it. For the voice
which sang was thrilling sweet, ricl
tenor voice. and the hymn was on