The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-11-11
"Manmy." I"

1t was 9 stony, neglected field, pow
dered with ox-eysd dsises and dotted
with dandelions-golden dandelions
that look like spots OF sunshine on
the green grass and among the crew
ICES OF the rocks and the gnaried roots
OF the oak trees that we're scattered
here and there. There were carriages
and buggies standing about,
and horses, some tied to the lower
branches OF the trees, others held by
the little negroes belonging to the
plantation.
In this field, away OFF beyond the
house, was a square wooden railing,
painted black, and within it were
grassy mounds, some large, some
small and now in one corner had
been dug another long, deep hole, and
the earth lay scattered around 1t red
and fresh. Friends and neighbOrs
had drawn near, some within the in
closure, others leaning against the
black railing. The coffin had been
reverentty lowered and, while
the sun slowly sank and
bathed the grain In q flood Of light,
and fiickered among the leaves,
trembling overhead, clear and solemn
on the summer air fell the words: al
am the resurrection and the life."
"ERrth to earth dust to dust; ashes
to ashes" And each time there was the
thud OF falling earth and the rattling
of clOds, and the hollow answer that
so many aching hearts can recall !;
and there were half-repressed cries
aud choking BObs, and still. toe grave
was surely snd inevitably filed an-
other mound Was raised and spsded
into shape stones were placed, one
at the head, another at the foot, to
mark the sleeper's place and then
she was left alone, the sweet young
wife and mother.
As Mr.. Lsrrantres and his sister
returned to his desolate home his eyes
rested on his children, Nellie and
Grace, two little, motherless things,
with fair, curling hair and innocent
blue eyes like those in the coffin out
in the field. They sat on the piazza
steps in little white frocks. their hair
tied back with black ribbons and
Nanny sat between them in q white
turban and cape and q black dress she
had worn before their mother was
old, with q low, black forehead full Of
wrinkles, and q broad, fiat mouth
containing only the yellow remains
of teeth, and the rim Of hair that
peeped out from under her turban
had been gray for many q year. The
little black eyes had retained their
brightness and GINNING, but the balls
had turned yellow and the lids grown
fiabOy and Nanny could not fasten
the children's clothes so deftly as she
had their mothers but ali how In
dignantly wonld they have repeIled
the idea that she was growing or
could grow useless and her place be
better filled How obedient they
were to her delegated authority and
how tolerant of the little shakes and
jerks she sometimes administered |!
How trustful of her love and emulous
slowing! Yes, Nanny, you were
wFlnkled and blGck, and old and ugly;
you were ignorant and narrow-mind-
ed and superstitiOus, but you were
true TO your musings and tender as
true and they gave you back your
love with fervOr which neither time
nor taste nor reason could affect.
As Mr.. L9rrantree and his sister
approached, Nanny stood up and
the children sprang forward to meet
them.
"Papa," said Grace, "what you all
been doin'? Nanny said for us not
to 90, you would be msd. Would
you be mad, papa 2''
He held her In his arms and his
eyes wei blind with Years: "Mam.
my was right, baby,-psps did not
want you to CO."
IAN, papa, what you reckon ?''
asked Nelly. NANNY was telIin'
us bout Mr.. Rabbit and Mr.. Wolf, an
she cried cause Mr.. Wolf eat Mr..
Rabbit up. Nanny keeps cryin'
when ain't anybody been doin' q
thing to her an, papa" continued
the child, beginning to cry herself, ar
want mamma, an Nanny says she's
gone to sleep, an the door is shut, am
we can't get in. Can't We 90 in,
papa? =? Won't you wake mamma
up ?"
How could he answer except by
tears ?
And poor old Nanny! As night
came on and the children grew tired
OF play or were sicgened with sweets,
il almost broke her heart to see the
blue eyes full of tears and the corners
OF the little mouths drawn down,
while the red lips trembled and the
childish voices cried over and over
again "I want my mamma! /
want my mamma 90
And rs night after night the black
ribbons were laid aside, and the
motherless children put on their little
white night-goWns, Mammy raeked
her poor old brain for marvellous
tales, and got down on her stiff old
knees by the little trundle-bed, and
placed her left arm under NelIy's
head, while she patted Grace's Shout
der with her right hand till she was
stiff and sore, and the white turban
bobbed suspiciously up and down /:
but there was no break in the chain
OF events that took place between
'Mr. Rabbit and Mr.. WOlf,n and
Nanny did not steal her arm away
till the curly heads were motionIess
and the little lips had ceased to ask
why mamma slept 30 long.
Days dragged slowly by, and crys-
tslliZed into weeks, and at length the
governess had come, and Mr.. Larrsu-
trees sister felt compelled to return to
the charge Of her own family. Before
she did so, however, she requested
that Miss Ennerby would be very
tender With the children, as thev