The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-10-21

BY HESTER A. BENEDICT
/ do wish father'd come said lit
tie Mrs. Knowles, laying down the
sock she was mending and crossing
over 10 the window that commanded
a view OF the street up which her hus-
band could not very reasonably be ex-
pected for a good two hours.
Nights setting la early, and pitch
dark, too I; not sign Of moon, and
l shouldn't wonder il it stormed. The
airs felt like it all day. She held the
curtain aside with one hand and shsd-
ed with the other her anxious blue
eyes that were strained out into the
growing dsrk. I hope Henry won't
get wet-poOf fellow. "
She let the curtain fall, then, and
drew 8 chair, over which hung a
merinO dressing gown, closer to the
fire which she stirred vigorously,
pulled the tea-kettle over to the front
I'D OF the Stewart, waited a minute to
stroke the side of the maltese cst-s
huge, handsome fellow, whose right
to the chintz-covered lounges nobody
ever thought of disputing-thens she
went back to her mending.
/ You're q good wife, Mary, said
Grandmother Reese, Mrs. Knowles
mother, who had seemed too occupied
in taking up the stitches OF heel just
bound off, to hear what her daughter
said, or to notice wnat che did, but
whose keen eyes and ears s6w and
heard everything. A good wife.
There'd be fewer bad men In the world
If there were more women like you.
Do you think so mother?
| know so, grandma answered, hold
ing her half sock up to the light and
trying to find the stitches. And 1
didn't use to think you'd ever amount
to much as hslpmste to q man. You
were such Riddy girl, you know
But love Harry, mother, the blue
eyes frightened in the lamplight and
it seems to me tlIat any girl, with
good common sense to start with, and
who loves the man she marries, will
do what she can to help as well as
make him happy. At Ieast--why,
here mother, let me take up those
stitches.
Well, I reckon you may, child. My
sight amt go good as it was once.
Hsrkl amt the wind uncommonly
hard 2 EAHfEEH% 81
As H for answer, q stormfuI gust
shook the windows at that moment
end beat upon the door till it flew wide
open, letting in the snow and putting
out the lights.
Dear dear exclaimed the old Ia
dy, and dear dear echoed the young
one, shutting and boiling the door
and then re-lighting the lamps.
Oh, do wish Harry would come
Mrs. Knowles added anxiousIy. Then,
after q pause, in which her blue eyes
bad been slowly filling up with tears :
DO you remem Der, mother, that ii
was on just such night as this the
children went away she asked.
Yes, child, remember it well.
How the wind came tearing out o. the
beech woods, with the binding beat
ing snow a-burying up the fences.
And, mother-Mrs. Knowles voice
was very low and full of sorrow-do
you know Il seemed the hardest thing
of all to me that the little white souls
should have to start out to the un.
known from the heart OF so terrible 8
night. So lonesome for them, So
OBJ, mother, I dOnt't know, but 1t
seems to me could have borne it bet
ter in the daytime, with the sun a
shining and the blue sky full in sight.
God was in the dark and the storm,
my girl, Would he let the babies go
alone, do you think ?
No, mother, no. / know that he
carried, and carries them in his bosom:
but mine is empty-bGt for the pain
and it echoes so hard, mother.
I know, my dear. Grsndmothe el
was smoothing the brown hair rip
pling over her knee, and her eyes had
far-away look in them, as il their
faded lids were touched by fingers OF
some mournful memory.
And the old arms went around the
young neck and the old eyes and the
young wept together in silence-the
silence broken only by the his Of tbs
kettle on the Ntove, the tick Of the
clock On the mantle, and the feet Of
the storm beating their wild way
everywhere without
TOOt's so tired, sister, can't we sit
down just a tiny minute now?
They were half way up the hill be.
yond which, a quarter of q mile, stood
the warm lit home of Harry Knowles.
Such little delicate waits they were,
boy and girl, apparently six and eight
years old, and their pale, pinched
features told a pItiful story. -.r
And Toot's so sleepy, the boy con.
tinued. If you'll lie down with me
and hold me up close, as mamma used
to, just five minutes, I'll go-oh-eye el
so far
The girl hesitsted. She was tired
and sleepy too, and the storm seemed
- III
feet were like sticks that would scarce
ly obey her will, and she had nearly
tainted twice in the last half-mile'i
T walk.
Isn't this way'way in the country
the boy went on. Here are trees and
fences, and 'spect lots of birds and
bushes with red, ripe berries on-onIy
. it SHOWS so we can't see I'M. And YOU
I know mamma said don't stop till you
get way in the country. Amt thi:
the country, Helen {?
Yes, darling, the girl replied, and
we'll stop at the very next house.
But can't go till 1 rest and sleep
oh, I'm so sleepy And the boy sank
down in g little heap by the roadside
{ pulling his sister after him. She had
little wish to resist and less power.
! Sister ? the boy was nestled up K
the GIRLS warm heart and the SNOW
was spreading over them its sof
deathful covers,
6 Yes, loot.
Do you s'pose God'd let anything
hurt-anything hurt US If we'd say
/. louF prayer twice
I hadn't thought CT that, answered
e the girl. We might try.
But Pm so sleepy I can't think how
it begins.
Well, say it after me TOot. Now
n lay me down to sleep 10 aia4
Now ! lsy me down to sleep-don'
, let my head slip, Helen.
. No. I pray the Lord my soul {.
keep. I pray the Lord my soul q
keep, slowly repeated the boy, cling
\ ing closer to the bosom that was hi
: Onlv horna Cd