The Placer herald., 1874-08-01

II NUM- BER so

Ihrqush my post, and when did, from
sheer exhaustion, it WAS with tie convictisn
that little Bessie would cross the deep, dark
valley before many days. Oil the agony of
that thought A little grl-so innocent, 90
pretty, and so good to be carried away be-.
fore the infant bud that gave SC much
promise had blossomed into the woman!
would not have slept had | not been
obliged to, and rose as soon as awoke.
Little Bessie WAS deirious with fever.
and did not recognize me. Poor little Pep
per lay at her feet and whiped so dolefully
it made my heart ache. and anon he would
creep up to her head and lick the hot fever
sh hands that lay so passive upon the COW
erlid, and gaze into her face with an almost
human expression on his face and then
skulk unwillmgly back to his post Then
he would look into my face, as if asking for
ope, and the tears in great big drops would
fill his eyes, and he would way his tail and
whine, O.! 80 sorrowfullyl | don't think
any one will deem me not less man if I
say my tears came then, for | could not help
it and as | sat there beside her, with that
hot, thin little hand in mine, and gazed on
her sweet, chdlike features, and heard the
incolerent nutterings of those parched
lips. it seemed as though my heart had
overfowed
The physician came, apd after looking at
her moment, shook his head mysteriously,
AS physicians are wont to do, and said:
"Very delicate nature; completely worn
out; lucky il she stands it,. Much exposure
for such a constitution generally breaks
them down. | wondered she has stood it SO
long But while there's life there's hope"
1t was Il long, terrible night passed, and
| never left her bedside Along towards
morning she slept, and awoke somewhat
refreshed, and Immediately upon opening
her eyes / saw she was conscious again
Her face was very pale, though the fever
had not lett her, and she recognized me.
With faint, lnguid effort she turned to-
wards me, and knowing she wished to speak
| bent my head to hear.
cob, Mr.. Earnest, you have been so good
to me and so kind how can thank you? |
am going to mamma now; | saw her in my
dreams, and she looked SO, so pretty! You
are not sorry, are you, Enrnest Here
is - and she made faint effort towards
her neck, on which-'hrough the fears that
were now falling fast from my eyes-l saw
was locket suspended from a ribbon.
Take it, Il. rncst, aud keep it, it is--it is
mammals picture, and she-she put it there.
| am going to her now, and cannot take it
with me.
A long pause succeeded this, and the
silence was only broken by the low whine
Of Pepper, who was now lying near her face
She put one hand on his Iitle curly head
and caressns it Il momtnl, said
"You will care for him, won't you, Mr.
Earnest for he is II good her voice sunk
to a whisper" good-good little fellow, and
was my only-only- y-fiend once.
"Yes, dear, | will take care of Pepper;
but, darling, you are not going to leave me?
., no, | cannot part with you.
eyes, Earnest | am going now; Lean
hear the pretty-music; and mamma, 0, |
can see her I'm coning-l'm coming"
She raised herself from the pillow, and
caught her in my arms. The tears and sobs,
rs if pent up before, came nov from my
eyes like rain. She looked upward mo-
ment, and the expression of her countenance
was heavenly, and smiled su:h beautiful
smile. "Mamma, O, how beautiful she
looks am coming. What sweel-sweet-
music-it is her-l-"a low murmur, her
strength relaxed, and little Bessie lay in my
arms--dead.
Slowly and gently laid her back on the
pillow, and through the tears that blinded
my eyes | opened the ocket and gazed on
the picture within. In IA moment my senses
seemed to leave me, for there. before me, in
The confines of The enameed gold case,
looked out the same beautiful countenance
| had seen so claary on The night of finding
my little charge. There was no mistake
The same luxurious hair, the same soft
brown eyes, the same rosy sweet lips-all
were there. And this was Bessie's mother.
have that locket on my neck now. and
Pepper lies on rug at my feet; and as he
raises his human eyes to my face, fancy
see that portrait in them.
Explain it as you wilt is trne-wholly.
The above is one of the San Francisco
Chronicles pretty tales.