Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-09-16

Poor thing! Poor young thingn' said
Miss Ray, with the sympathetic tears ris-
ing. Il wish I could do something for
herr" Then she considered. Presently
her face frightened; she put her hand in
| her pocket, took out her porte-monnaie
and extracted therefrom tidy package
marked Viola Tricolorr' She borrowed
| a trowel from a man at work near by and
soon had sown the little grave with seed
and deity covered them.
"Therer' she said, with a long breath
of satisfaction. Poor young motherr"
Rob Roy passed lonely, anxious win
ter. Helen was taken with diphtheria
She was not very i'll, but the doctor urged
| care and watching, so Rob Roy left her
with her mother. He spent every Sunday
with her and several days at Christmas
| tide, when, doubt not, they kept the
birthnight of the Holy Child with smiles
and tears. We pitied him in his solitary
life. We looked at the one light at night
and the darkened nursery window, and
sighed as we remembered six months ago.
But one day in early spring, when gen
tie airs were blowing the vapor about the
soft sky, and flowers were thrusting their
gay young heads above the black earth,
Rob stopped under our balcony and lifted
his glad face to say he was going for
Helen tomorrow.
So she came back even sWeeter than be-
fore, for the mourning dress and for her
seltless bearing of her cross. She took up
the thread of her home life where it had
fallen black and tear-stained and wove it
shining as before.
When she had been at home several
days she said one morning: Cant you
come home early this afternoon, Rob, and
take me to baby's grave?"
go, yes,' answered Rob, drawing her
tenderly to him.
She, leaning on his shoulder, asked:
"Have you had anything planted there
Rob? [ shall not see it bare, shall I ?" en-
treatingly.
Rob hung his kind, foolish head. The
day she came he had ordered an elaborate
dinner, he had adorned the house with
costly flowers, he had given her an exquis
tie trinket; but the thing she wanted
most in the world he had left undone.
Then this wise woman, divining his
trouble, said, from her resting-place:
" Never mind, we shall see about it to-
gether. | will look for you early" So
she kissed him good-by. But when he
was gone the tears flowed over her face
1t was a lovely afternoon when they en-
tered the great cemetery gates. A little
chill fingered in the air, but it was sunny
and calm. Helen held cluster of white
flowers, the purest, sweetest yet above the
mold; her arm was in her husband s and
her voice had somewhat of its old ring.
But as they neared the angle which,
passed, would reveal the little grave, Bob
felt her tremble and, looking down, saw
pale, quivering face, which hid itself
against him, shaken with sObs. GO [ can't
help it, Rob!" she gasped 81 have tried
But when [ think of my baby and the
dreadful clay-heap over her, why, my heart
bleeds again!' And she made a gesture
as TO show how the thought tore her.
"My dearest,'' said Rob, grieved
through all his heart. you shall never
see it so again, ne0er, | promise you"
Thus speaking they moved on. her head
bowed low, so that she only knew by their
stopping that they had reached her baby's
bed. Rob started as if to utter an exclama-
ton, then checked himself, and they stood
in silence for awhile.
Look up, Helen" he said at last, very
gently. And 10! marvel. The little
mound smiled all over with pansies.
They made canopy above the harsh clay
to hide it from the sight Of love. With
their root in death they opened fearless,
innocent eyes, and spread abroad their
store of purple and gold without stint to
cheer the sad heart.
90 Rob!" cried Helen kneeling down
and laying her wet, bright face against
the flowers, "who could have done it?
Oh, thank God! God bless her!n
When the evening Of that day closed in
quiet home, said one who loved Miss
Ray: did you notice her face to night?
1t was as bright as if she had seen vision
of angels" But think it was Helen's
blessing.-MGy Carroll, IN n. 7. Graphic.