The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-10-28
Something Else There.

hands bearing a small, well-fllcd basket;
a sweet child's face, rosy and earnest.
The basket was rested for a moment upon
the upper step, and a pair of soft, grave
eyes pecred through the half-clOsed blinds
OF the nearest window. The hall-door was
open and a lady cam from the TO
welcome the dIminutive messenger.
Good morning, Dewy; pretty well
loaded, aren't you? Shall l take it"
And she extended her hand for the basket.
The little fellow gave it to her, also the
kiss for which she had bent smilingly.
Aunt Ria, it's for Uncle Fred: but my
mother 5 ) you can have some Of it," he
said as he battered after her into the pleas
ant sitting-room.
Did she ?" laughingly responded the
lady.
Yes, ma'am; I asked her. And she
said l must tell her if Uncle Fred Is any
better. Is he ?" he qucricd, speaking low
and trying to edge himself up OF the
lounge.
Come IN here and see, Dewy," came
in Uncle Fred's own voice from the bed
room adjoining. Dewv quickly slipped
from his perch and almost ran across the
room
"Oh, Uncle Fred, youam better. Cause
yesterday YOU didn't speak to me you had
your eyes shut"
Yes, Dcwy, l am better, but 1 must
not kiss YOU yet, pet. Just let me hold
your hands. Now, Aunt Ria, let US see
what's in the big basket the little man
tuggcd all the way up the hill"
Aunt Ria took out a dressed chicken,
SOM fruit, and Il jar of cream.
"Something else there" said Dewy.
Aunt Ria Shook the napkin and glanced
again into the basket. Il don't see any
thing else. What was it. DEAR"
Something you can't take out" re-
turned Dcwy, very gravely.
Uncle Fred laughed quite heartily for a
sickman at what he considered his small
nephcw's Joke. Il supposey you mean the
bottom of the basket, Dewy," he said.
mo. Uncle Fred. l don't" replied the
child with decision. 1T was something
my mother put in there. 1t was a pray
er."
1t was what? ?" asked both relatives at
once.
A PRAYER. l saw my mother put 1t in.
You can't take it out, but God can"
What a strange notion, " said Aunt Ria.
well, l guess its So" murmured Tn
Gle Fred.
Course it's so,' repeated Dewy.
IL saw my mother from the window.
Fore she put on the napkin She looked
up so"-turning his sweet face upward
and said something low, and | know it
was a prayer. That's the way she does
lots of times, and she puts a prayer in my
crib every night
Dewy's mother had told him to return
Immediately; 50, after taking just one
peep" at lis baby cousin, who lay asleep
IN another room. he departed. His active,
earnest footsteps were still sounding upon
the stone walk when his Uncle Fred re-
marked: That putting IN a prayer, as
Dewy calls it, is just like Madge. although
| never gave it Il thought before. | really
] bN4lN " SIIt ANNCl NOCS AlN NNo III IlI-
out praying over it. She is a good Great
ure, if there ever was one; yet, when We
youngsters were ali at home together, we
boys used TO tease her numerically some
times about her religion Grandmother
used 10 say" he added, after Il brief 81
lence, that Madgc was the extreme good
or bad luck to others, and once she startled
us all by declaring that whoever was i'll
among the ncighbors either died imme-
dIatCly or began to COnvaleSCe as soon as
Madgc had assisted in attending them,
though it were only for a night. l noticed
that thing particularly. and it did seem
so; but l believe nowthat nothing more
supernatural than her prayers was at the
bottom of it,"
The invalid remained in deep thought
and with closed eyes so long that his wife
thought him sleeping; but suddenly he
looked up, his brow troubled, his lips
working nervously.
"Maria," he said, Il have never vet
dropped a prayer into our baby's cradle.
l am q miserable, ungratctul wretch; and
if | ever get 10 heaven it will be because
a sisters prayers have kept me within the
reach OF mercy. | think her prayers
must have saved my life once before your
care and her prayers will raise me from
this Illness; but now l believe it time that
| began 10 call upon the Lord for myself.
Dewy has given me a key" he resumed,
a+spr e, lvyat ipt4ryll Gssl.+ ,n1,,l,
Mad-e's whole life, and l view her char
actcr now in its true light. | used to re-
gard her as al>urdly conscientious. but
now | know that she is a child of Cod
The key which Dcwy in childish sim
plicity and trust gave sn earnestly to his
uncle that bright summer morning has
brought 10 the eyes of the latter more than
one beautiful revelation. God did take
the mute petition from that little basket,
and he changed it into anthems of praise. !
The praying sister soon clasped the broth
er's hand in hers and pointed out the path
that led to the precious cross. The heart
of the sister and wife was also Won by
Calvary's simple story, so old and yet so
new-so wonderful.
Something else there" they frequent
ly say TO each other, or, it there is not,
there ought to be-" and Dewy's remark.
once 50 pcrpleying, has aided them more
than any other uninspired word to per
form cheertully the duties expected of
those who humbly follow Christ.-Chris-
ttan at Work.