The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-05-20

man than to fiji Maidie's head with such
trash. Margaret, take them to bed"
Harry's desire to be man vas very
great, but terror had taken possession
of him and the tumult in his little breast
was sad. to behold. He could not restrain
the big tears, while Maidie screamed as
Margaret forced them both away.
For three nights after heard the cries
of the children at bedtime calling their
mamma, but she was confined 10 her bed
with severe attack of periodical head
ache, and this had also prevented my
usual visits 10 the nursery. Now, how
ever, could endure il no longer, and,
one of the sery ants must be at the bot
tom Of so real terror, determined to
watch and know for myself
Accordingly went to the nursery just
before tea, and was dismayed to find a
change in their appearance They had
actually grown thinner in these few
days. Their eyes seemed larger, and the
slightest noise startled them. Nurse
said they would not eat or play, and she
did not know what to do. Not feeling
quite sure of Margaret had concluded
to watch without her KNOWLEDGE, but
Harry caught my hand as was leaving
and whispered, with such wistful
look: Auntie Joe, could We sleep in
your room?"
"Why, HarrysH asked. as.
Because such dreadful thing comes
in the night can't go to bed, Auntie
Joe; it will kill me and Maidie, too"
"What is it like?" | asked.
"It's like muffin in all the world, only
drefful, and Margct won't stay with us"
said May. -
well, children | answered, "Tn
go to tea now, and if you will go to bed
quietly I'll bring my book and stay all
the evening, and all night, too"
Are you very sure you'll Gomez"
asked Harry, trying to force back tears
that would come. Perhaps mamma
Won't let you."
"My darling" | said, throwing my
arms around him, Il promise you that
Hi Gomez" and l gazed into his hand
some, pale face, sadly conscience-stricken
that such nightly cries could have gone
on so long UNDECIDED "And yet" muscd
|, there certainly can be no real foun-
dation for such suffering" | left them
much mystifed, and determined that
sleep should not again visit my eyelids
until the enigma was solved.
After tea, pleading fatigue as an ex-
cuse from participating in some enter
tainment for the evening, l was allowed
to retire to my room; and once there my
preparations were made by donning
warm, loose wrapper, and, taking a book
for the long, weary hours before me, /
repaired to the bedroom adjoining the
nursery.
Two little beds stood side by side, but
only from one peered two pairs of large,
brown eyes that looked as though sleep
would long be a stranger to them.
Maidie had crawled in with her brother
and was nesting close to him, as if she
expected protection from that small five
year-old form.
They welcomed me with bright looks
that would have repaid the greatest sac
rlfice, and l sat by them on the bed talk
ing and soothing them for hours.
Margaret came home and retired, and
gradually the house grew quiet, but it
was not until near midnight that Harry
succumbed to weariness in short snatches
of sleep. / dimmed the gas as the twelve
strokes from the city clocks pcaled on
the night air, and, throwing myself into
an easy chair in a remote corner of the
room, began my watch.
For what? / actually grew nervous in
the loneliness of the hour, and it was re-
lief when it was past and one struck. |
was beginning to feel-perhaps hoping
that no developments would be made
that night, when suddenly click from
the door startled me, and 10! an appari-
tion appeared and moved cautiously
toward the children's bed.
OF all horrible sights may Heaven
spare me from Il repetition. The face
was old, wrinkled and surrounded with
an abundance of white hair that Iew
wildly in all directions, reminding one
of the "quills of the fretful porcupine."
The eyes were large and glaring, almost
bursting from their sockets, and the
hands were like claws, clawing the air as
she moved, while from her lips escaped
a low. whispered howl. The whole was
enough to make the blood freeze.
sat for those few minutes like one
petrided, and this halfclothed visitant
from this world or some other had come
and gone before could arouse myself to
action.
My boots were off, and flew to the
door just in time to see her disappear
through another door at the far end of
the hall. | followed. This door led into
a large closet, in which was narrow
stairway leading to the roof She was
nearly outside, and bright moon lighted
up the haggard face and white figure,
making it tearfully weird and unnatural
as she stopped TO close the window and
looked into the darkness where l stood,
her eyes fairly giaring. l watched her
as she seemed to glide over one or two
roofs and then she disappeared.
Whether, in the shadow of the chin
neys, she slipped and fell to the pave
ment below, or whether she were really
supernatural visitor, did not stop TO de
termine, but the latter belief seemed
plausible to my excited state of mind as
| hurried back through that long, dark
entry.
| found Maidie clinging convulsively
10 her brother, while he lay with one arm
thrown protectingly over her, his little
form rigid, his eyes wide open and fixed.
This fright was one too many. Brain
fever ensued and in ten days
that curly head was laid TO sleep
where the waters of the Schuyl-
kill hum their low music near his
bed. Upon a close investigation it was
discovered that an insane woman was
confined in the upper story of house
near by. She had careful attendants,
but the cunning of insanity eluded their
vigilance and brought suffering and re-
morse upon this once happy home.
Was this dispensation of Providence?
Too often we lay at the door of Provi-
dence the consequences of our own evil
dcings, forgetting that the laws of God,
though formed in mercy, yet when
broken are inevitable in their fearful re-
suits.
Let every mother remember that the
woes of childhood are as real as those of
mature years. Let her listen to what
may seem petty nothings with the same
earnestness that she will heed higher de-
velopments of joys and sorrows, and may
the sad experience of one mother be suf-
ficient in its warning for hundreds of
others who read this paper.
Ny friend learned life lesson, but it
was too late TO restore the earthly exist
ence of this boy of pride and promise.
Six years have passed since Harry left
us, and the echoes of that agonizing cry
of conscience is still heard repeating,
GA needless sacrifice" = Hearth and
Home.
What Congressman Wheeler Says OF
Louisiana.
NEW YORK, May 10.
Hon. William A. Wheeler, of the
! Touiziana Congressional Committee has