The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-07-10
"Oid Dimah and Her Pets"

cold Dinah and Her Pets"
Children, let me tell you how this
picture was drawn, and may be you vii
feel more interested in looking at it.
The artist calls 1t "Old Dinah and hen
Pets" and Judging from the kind face
of the nurse we may imagine that hel
pets love her very dearly. | wish you
could see the real old Dinah who sat
for her likeness i'll this picture. She
was such good-natured, happy soul,
and considered 1t quite an honor to be
"put in the paper" but when the artist
told her that n great many children
would look at her after the paper was
printed, she put on her pleasantest face
and was more delighted than ever. And
now what about the children gathered
around this old nurse, you wonder.
Well, the boy who lies stretched upon
the table, appearing to listen with all
his ears TO the story which Dinah is
reading aloud, is little Harry, the eld
est of the three little ones, and he con-
siders himself "the nan of the family"
for dear papa died long ago, and
mamma has only this one little son to
take care of her as soon as he is old
enough. But Harry forgot his dignity
little while ago, and quarreled with
his sister Maggie (the little girl who sits
in the chair holding dolly, and also
with little precious May. He took all
his marbles away from them, and even
pushed his sister May away from him
when she came to his side and coaxed,
4" Brother Hally to div May de mobiles
again" Only think what temper must
have taken possession of the little boy
to cause him to push that beautiful little
sister away, instead of kissing and max
ing up with her.
But the good nurse, hearing loud and
angry voices, and knowing that mamma
was lying down with a headache, hur-
ried to act the part Of peacemaker, and
after she had coaxed back smiles instead
of the ugly frowus which were spelling
those dear little faces, she promised to
read them a story, and it was while the
children were gathered around, forget
ting playthings, disputes, and all
unkindness, the artist put them on
paper.
A very sad thing has happened since
this little group was drawn. Do you
see the little girl who is leaning against
old Dinah's knee, looking up into the
kind face?
Well, shortly after she was sketched
in that position, with her bright face
rosy and merry III health, her blue eyes
sparkling with JOY and appreciation of
the story to which she was then listen
ing, the little girl our darling May,
was taken sick. None knew quite what
the trouble was, but she grew pale and
languid, and wanted mamma to take
her." and laid her golden head upon
Dinah's knee so YEARLY that the old
nurse was filed with anxiety concern
ing her youngest pet. Harry offered
all his marbles, but May didn't care
about playing any more, and even
Dolly's attractions failed to make her
smile. Poor little Maggie grew so
tired of proposing games when May
wouldn't take any interest, and poor
mamma sent for the doctor and tried to
think her baby would be all right in a
few days.
All when the "few days" had
passed there was no longer a little
sister May for Harry and Maggie, only
a little still form lying quietly in the
crib, which always stood by mammals
bed. Only the beautiful form from
whence the glad, happy spirit had fed
forever.
That dread disease called "scarlet
fever" had stolen the fairest flower
which mammals garden contained, and
God sent angels to take the cherished
bud far up beyond the clouds, and
little May is now an angel sister for the
two little ones still spared to think of
and remember with Il kind of loving
awe.
Do you not think Harry would give
all he owns to forget the day when he
pushed that baby sister away from him,
when it was yet in his power TO love
and be kind to her? But 1t is after all
very hard to realize the fact that the
child, who only short time ago stood
smilingly to have her likeness sketched,
is no longer on this glad, bright earth.
What a sad, sad difference few days
made, did they not, between then and
now? How eagerly little May looked
forward to seeing herself lin de date
bid paper as she used to call Hcdfh
and Home. Shewas SO willing to stand
perfectly still, because the artist prom
ised to show her the picture when it
was printed, and now all the world may
look at 1t, save the sweet original of the
little figure. All ! well. May is with
Jesus now, and Harry and Maggie will
remember how suddenly death can rob
them of each other, and be careful
never to do or say an unkind thing to
wound each others hearts, while it is
still in their power to be happy and
glad together. Old Dinah looks at this
picture, and while she smiles at her
own likeness, the tears will come as
she sees the aforementioned little
figure beside her lap, and thinks of the