The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-07-27

tended the'Sabbath.school and led the
religious element OF the neighborhood,
stepped forward and said TO the crowd :
"Well, boys, II is oil right here, and
no suspicion and no need Of any cere-
mony let us take him home"
And then Joe took Willie in his arms
and held him closely with the little face
against his own, rs II he were still liy-
ing, and started for the cottage. Some
Of the people followed in o picturesque
procession, through the pasture lot and
down the bank and along by tho shore
Of the pond. When Walters house was
reached. few OF the women went in 10
soothe Mary and Joe and the doctor
went IN also, and the people clustered
about the door. s.I
In the course OF an hour II seemed
that oil had been done that could be
done for Walter and Mary, and the peo.
pie, except a few, who remained as
watchers and helpers, dispersed to their
homes. ~, .II ta
The three days that followed were
bright, sunny days. A strange stiffness
and unusual hush reigned in the neigh
borhood Of the cottage. The harsh,
grating sound Of the saw.mill was not
heard as at ether times, for the mill
was stopped in token Of respect for the
great sorrow. Only the softly flowing
stream was heard, mingiing It's susurrus
with the hum Of tho bees in the garden.
Now and then groups Of children,
dressed in their Sunday attire, would
come down the bank, and with hushed
voices and fearful looks steal up to-
ward the cottage door. Then kind Joe
would see them and would come out
and take them in to see Willie; and
after a 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 Z" 10 see the little boy
that was killed by o sheep" Some OF
the rough men manifested their sym
pathy by exhibiting vindictiye 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 tho ram that "did that " was
dead. 4
On being informed Of his execution,
they would say, That uiN DO" with
IN air that implied how much they
would have enjoyed II TO have had q
shot at him. Indeed, 1t appeared that
II the poor brute had been possessed Of
fifty or o hundred lives, so that each
irate hunter might have taken one, II
would have been great relief and sat
isfaction.
On the fourth day Willie was buried.
Mary continued inconsolable. All Of
the social influences which the neigh.
borhood 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 meet
ings were held aud pleasant little gath.
erings made for her. Wherever there
was enjoyment Mary must be. She
gratefully submitted herself to all their
kindness, and tried 10 please her
friends. But II 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 Of the frat opportunity, and re-
turned 10 their former home in New
the remains OF little Willie
have been forwarded in advance to a
cemetery there, with which they in
their early days had been familiar.