The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-11-18
or grounds, yet we kept going to the same

49,
torment this very morning;;" and Bridget
prayed. heaven to forgive her for saying
he wasa ''spalpeen. Grandma thought
we sunlight hare kaaoW2a he was too love-
ly and precious to be spared to US" and
had called him nuisance but mann
ma only moaned, sob. my baby, my
babyis1 Papa and the men went in diff
ferent directions, extending the search.
It was ten o'clock. The women were
a1one.s Grandmas dear, wrinkled hands
were clasped in prayer Mamma paced
the house with Wild eyes and white lips.
Bridget and I were sobbing and praying
By turns. OH was that dear little body
whirling in the deep, dark walters Had
some, treacherouss hole swallowed him
up? Had some wretch taken him away
forever from our sigbt Was our
dear baby, our Z chief blessing,
ours no more? Father in heaven!
how much one can love. how much one
can suffer for little child! I he terri
BILE time moved ont was past eleven.
With agonizing steps we were pacing
up: and down, now oft Of doors, now IN
the house, listening, dreading, fearing.
Suddenly we heard q cry. Our hearts
seemed to stop beating as we listened.
Again It was-it was the baby's cry!
We fewto the door, and, running from
side to side, heard q little sleepy, sob
bing voice, 81 want to get down. 1t
seemed coming from the sky. We
looked to the trees, to the roof, amazed
and wondering. He was alive, thank
God, but where was he? There
was bright moonlight, and on
coming to the far end of the house
the appalling sight met u.s. For
two or three days men had been painting
the house. They had stood upon a mar
row. staging, only two or three boards
AS the next day was holiday, they had
left work early. and had taken down the
long ladder, leaving the little platform
hanging far above the upper windows,
and there on that narrow ledge sat our
baby, our darling. Oh! what an agony
of despair was ours We never thought
how he came there. We knew that only
He who cares for little birds had saved
him, could save him. / uttered a cry and
came near falling. Only the dear mother
love was strong to comprehend, to think,
to act Mamma, mamma, !" walled the
little dear, 81 wants to get down" Clear
and sweet rang mammals voice no
trembling now: 9 Yes, darling, sit very
still. Mamma is coming for you. go,
God what shall we do9" What can
prevent him from being dashed to our
feetg Now he would move about, and
now peer oyer. We could see the little
sweet, white face, all sleepy and COM
posed and crying. What groans and
prayers we uttered! Still mamma went
on SO brayely (: Mamma is coming for
her baby; keep very still do not
move; he is mamma's little man"
Then she called, " Mother, mother,
come and talk to him while
we bring the ladder" for the rest
of us seemed paralyzed. It was all we
could hft--mamma, Bridget and /. Oh,
with what beating hearts we dragged 1t
oni Would he sit there until we could
put it up and some one go to him ?
There stood grandmother weak, feeble
voice sounding strong and cheerful
encouraging him, calling him every pet
name Keep very still, Neddy
mamma is coming. DO not try TO see
gamma-don 70 We somehow
got the ladder there, and somehow, with
wonderful strength, we lifted it up
carefully lest it should jar the platform
and even before it was fairly placed |
frail, tinid mamma was half way up.
Who else should go to her lamb Who
but the mother could save him9 Bridget
and / held the ladder with all our
strength, but it waved from side to side
as though it would fall, and mamma
going up and up. [ heard voices at the
gate papa and the men coming. | ran
to them =" Oh, hushi hush no noise,
no talking p and I pointed to the APP
palling scene-our treasure hanging be-
tween heaven and earth, and mamma
swaying back and forth on the shaking
ladder grsndma's dear voice still
shouting, g Yes, dear. be q brave little
man mamma is coming sit still" In
an instant strong hands were holding
the ladder but they spoke no word. |
Mamma is almost up. Can she reach
him Slowly she stretches out her
hand-the platform swings ladder |
totters, 1t is SO badly placed. No groans
nor prayers now. We do not seem to
breathe. She can Just reach the little
dress she draws him toward her-she
has him IN her arms. Oh, thank God
She is SO frail and unused to climbing,
and baby is SO very heavy, we trenble
as we watch her slow descent. No one
can go to help her, the ladder is SO inse-
cure. The men brace themselves, hold
ing it with all their strength. Slowly,
cautiously-holding Kim with one arm,
the other grasping the rounds she
etAr6 down ro11nd after r0und Slowly |
YEARLY, another and another step-one
more now papa has gone up far enough
to reach her. He takes the dear lamb,
gives him to my arms, then helps mamma,
but as she reaches the foot she sinks
fainting to the ground. But before that
such shouts, such cries of joy! some on
their knees, some wildly dancing, and
the big clock strikes-tweIve. 1t is the
Thanksgiving morning.
s The baby looks rather asfonished of