Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-11-04
Something Else There.


steps of shady piazza; pair of little.
hands bearing small, well-filled basket;
a sweet child's face, rosy and earnest.
The basket was rested for moment upon
the upper step, and pair of soft, grave.
eyes peered through the halfclosed blinds
of the nearest window. The hall-door was
open and d lady came from the room to
welcome the dIminutive messenger.
Good morning, Dewy; pretty well
loaded. aren't you? Shall 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 says you can have some of it, he.
said as he battered after her into the pleas
ant sittin room. rst. s. #..
Did she?" laughingly responded the
lady.
Yes, ma'am; [ asked her. And she
said must tell her if Uncle Fred Is any
better. Is he:' he Queried, speaking low
and trying to edge himself up on the
lounge.
Come IN here and see, Dewy," came
in Uncle Fred'S own voice from the bed
room adjoining. Dewy quickly slipped
from his perch and almost ran across the
room.
"Oh, Uncle Fred, you am better! Cause
yesterday you didn't speak to me you had
your eyes Shut
Yes, Dewy, am better, but 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
tugged all the way up the hill"
Aunt Ria took out dressed chicken,
some fruit, and jar of cream.
Something else there" said Dewy.
Aunt Ria shook the napkin and glanced
again into the basket al don't see any
thing else What was it, dear?"
Something you can't take out" re-
turned Dewy, very gravely.
Uncle Fred laughed quite heartily for a
sick man at what lie considered his small
nephew's joke. Il sunposeyou mean the
bottom of the basket Dewy," he said.
mo, Uncle Fred, [ don't" replied the
child with decision. 1t was something
my mother put in there. ltwas prayer"
g 1t was what ?' asked both relatives at
once.
"A prayer. I saw my mother put 1t in.
You can't take it out, but God can"
"What a strange notion, - said Aunt Ria.
"Well, guess it's So" murmured IN
Gle Fred
Course it's so" repeated Dewy.
GO saw my mother from the window.
Fore she put on the napkin she looked
up so''-turning his sweet face upward
land said something low, and know it
was prayer. That's the way she does
lots Of times, and she puts prayer in my
crib every night"
Dewy's mother had told him to return
Immediately; SO, after taking "just one
peep at his baby cousin, who lay asleep
III another room, he departed. His active,
earnest footsteps were still sounding upon
the stone walk when his Uncle Fred re-
marked: "That putting IN prayer, as
Dewy calls it, is just ike Madge, although
| never gave it a thought before. | really
believe she never does the least thing with
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 to say" he added, after brief 81
lence, (" that Madge was the extreme good
or bad luck to others, and once she startled
us all by declaring that whoever was i'll
among the neighbors either died imme-
diately or began to cOnvalesce as soon as
Madge had assisted in attending them,
though it were only for a night. noticed
that thing particularly, and it did seem
So but believe now that 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, q have never yet
dropped prayer into our baby's cradle.
/ am miserable, ungratetul wretch; and
if | ever get to 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 I believe it time that
/ began to call upon the Lord for myself.
Dewy has given me key" he resumed,
after brief interval, that unlocks
Madge's whole life, and | view her char
acter now in its true light. / used to re-
gard her as absurdly conscientious, but
now [ know that she is a child of GOd''
The key which Dewy in childish sim
plicity and trust gave SD earnestly to his
uncle that bright summer morning has
brought to 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
~ say to each other, Z" or, if there IS not,
there ought to be-" and Dewy's remark,
opca ca ,,err1avinr has aided them more