The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-03-12

the wind came tearing out o. the beech
woods. with the binding beating snow
a-burying up the fences
And, mother Mrs. knowles's voice
was very low and full of SORROW" DO
you know il seemed the hardest thing OF
all 10 me that the little white souls should
have TO start out 10 the unknown from the
heart OF so terrible a nightg So lonesome
for them, So Oh, mother, don't know.
| don't know. but IL seems 10 me could
have borne IL better in the daytime, with
the sun a-shining and the blue sky full in
sightv"
God was In the dark and the storm,
my girl. Would he let the babies 20 alone,
do you think! ~
"No. mother, no. know that he car
riod, and carries them In his bosom; but
mine is empty--but for the pain and IL
aches so hard, so hard, mother"
II know, know, dear" Grandmother
was smoothing the brown hair rippling
over her knee, and her eyes had far
| away look i'm them. as ID their faded lids
were touched by the fingers OF some
mournful memory.
And the old arms went round the young
neck, and the old eyes and the young
wept together in the silence-the silence
broken only by the hiss of the kettle on
the stove, the tick OF the clock on the man
tel. and the feet of the storm beating their
wild way everywhere without.
"Toot's so tired. sister, can't we sit
down just tiny minute now?"
They were half way up the high hill be-
yond which. quarter of mile, stood the
warm, lit home of Harry Knowles.
Such little delicate waits they were, boy
and girl. apparently six and eight years
old. and their pale. pinched features told a
pitlful story.
And 1oot's so sleepy" the boy con-
tinued. "lfyoull lie down with me and
hold me up close, as mamma used 10, just
five minutes. I'll go-oh-ever so far :"
The girl hesitared. She was tired and
sleepy, too. and the storm seemed to
have taken all her strength. Her feet
were like sticks that would scarcely obey
her will. and she had nearly tainted twice
in the last half-mile's walk.
"lsn't this 'ioay in the country'?" the |
boy went on. Here are trees and fences.
and 'spects lots of birds, and bushes with |
red. ripe berries on-only il SHOWS 80 we
can. see 'em. And you know mamma 1
said, Don't stop till you get 'vay in the /
country Amt this the country, Helen ~
"Yes. darling" the girl replied, land /
well stop al the very next house."
But can't go till ! rest and sleep. oh. |
I'm so sleepy ~ And the boy sunk down /
in little heap by the roadside. pulling his |
sister after him. She had little wish to re-
sist and less power.
''Sister?" the boy was nestled up TO the /
girls warm heart, and the snow was
spreading over them its soft deathly COW
ers.
YES. loot"
.sDo you s'pose God'd let any thing |
hurt-any thing hurt us-if we'd say our |
prayers ttcics9''
II hadn't thought of that" answered !
the girl. 1--WE might try
But I'm so sleepy can't think how it
begins"
"well. say IL after me, loot. Now
lay me down 10 sleep. y
=" Now lay me down TO Sleep Don't
let my head slip, Helen
'No. Il pray the Lord my soul TO
keep"
~ pray the Lord my soul to keep"
slowly repeated the boy, clinging closer to
the bosom that was his only home.
- II should die before | wake"
50 Ii should die Oh, I'm so cold /!
And. Helen, just feel the iclcles in my
eyes"
The girl put her numb fingers on the
sleepy, shut lids.
They're tears, pet" she said. tenderly.
You've been crying and l didn't know
il. Don't cry. loot"
But you're crying" persisted the boy.
"Only little, dear. was thinking of
mamma"
"Do you s'pose her eyes shine. up in
Heaven. just as they used 20 when she put
her arms around ME and said, Dear
Toot'y'
II guess So" Helen whispered, trying
to choke down the sobs.
And do you suppose she sees us down
here In the snow?"
Yes. loot cause you know she said
she should always be seeing and loving |
u.s.
"Then then Il don't believe she's
singing with the angels. She never sung
when we Were cold and hungry
Maybe she's asking God to take ms out !
of the dark and the snow. Shall we finish |
the prayers, nowf'
"Oyes. I'd mos forgot. Where was
we?''
LETS begin again and 90 straight
through twice, without stopping" said
Helen.
The snow had covered them closely ere
the prayers we're sad-the prayers that |
had been finished with low % Dear God. |
don't let shy thing hurt us, for mammals
sake. Amen" And n minute later botn |
children were fast asleep upon their cold,
wet touches on the hillside.
The storm increased. The winds grew
keener and angrier. Young Harry !
Knowles, vending his way from the city, |
where he went to market every day, had |
vacated his high spring seat, and was
cr0uchng on the floor OF his wagon,
wrapped In blankets and talking cheerily |
to his iron greys, while they trotted briskly |
against the storm.
Never mind. my beauties" he was
saying, only another mile, and the shell |
teT and the food - Then, after a pause.
These for them but oh. so much more