Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-24
BY JENNIE wooDyILLE.

BIZ
II was a stony, neglected field, powdered
with ox-eyed daisies and dotted with dande-
Iions-golden dandelions that looked like
spots OF sunshine on the green grass and
among the crevices OF the rocks and the
snarled roots OF the oak trees that were scat
anS b mere sno s ,ae Tnere were easages
some tied TO the lower branches OF the trees,
others held by the little negroes belonging to
In this field, away Off beyond the house
was q square wooden railing painted black,
and within IL were grassy mounds, some
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 fnclosure. Others leaning against
the black railing. The coffin had been rev
erently lowed, and, while the sun slowly
sank and bathed the grain In flood of mel
low light, and htckered among the leaves
that trembled overhead, clear and solemn on
the summer air fell the words, 81 am the
resurrection and the life"
Earth to earth; dust to dust; ashes to
ashes" And each time there was the thud
of falling earth and the rafting of clods and
the hollow answer that so many aching
pressed cries and choking sobs; and still the
grave was surely and inevitably filled; an
other mound was raised and spaded into
another at the foot, to mark the sleeper's
place, and then she was left alone, the sweet
young wife and mother.
II
10 bis desolate home, his eyes rested on his
children, Nelly and Grace, two little mother
less things, with fair, curling hair and inno-
the field. They sat on the piazza-steps in
little white frocks, their hair tied back with
black ribbons; and Nanny sat between them
she had worn before their mother was born
She was about seventy years old, with low
black forehead full Of wrin kles, and broad
fiat mouth containing only the yellow re-
mains OF teeth, and the him of hair that
gray for many year. The little black eyes
but the balls bad turned yellow and the lids
grown fabby, and Nanny could not fasten
the children's clothes - deity as she had
would they have repealed the idea that she
place be better hlled! How obedient they
tolerant Of the little shakes and jerks she
sometimes administered! How trustful Of
her love and emulous Of the praises she was
were wrInkled and black, and old and ugly;
you were ignorant and narrow-mindei and
superstitious-but you were true to your
you back your love with q fervor which
neither time nor taste nor reason could affect.
AS Mr.. Larrantree and his sister approach
60, Nanny stood up and the children prang
Papa, said Grace, "what you all been
dom? Nanny said for US not TO go, You
u,
He held her in his arms, and his eyes were
blind with tears: Nanny was right, baby
papa did not want you 10 CO."
Nelly was s1 seln ns bout ass MT
Rabbit and Mr.. Wolf, an she cried cause
Mr., Wolf ate Mr.. Rabbit up. Nanny keeps
to her; an papa" continued the child, be-
ginning to cry herself, "I want mamma, an,
NANNY says she's gone to sleep, an the
go In, papa? Won't you wake mamma up2'
How could he answer, except by tears?
And poor old Mammyl AS night came on
sickened with sweets, 1t almost broke her
heart TO see the blue eyes full of tears aud
the corners OF the little mouths drawn down,
while the red lips trembled and the childish
voices cried over and over again, 81 want
my mamma, / want my mammal
And as night after night the black ribbons
were laid aside, and the motheriess children
put on their little white nightgowns, Nanny
racked her poor old brain for marvellous tales,
and got down on her stiff old knees by the
under Nelly's head, while she patted Grace's
shoulder with her right hand, TIL she was
stin and sore, and the white turban bobbed
break IN The cnain Of events that too wa na mo
between "Mr. Rabbit and Mr.. Wolf.5 and
Nanny did not steal her arm away till the
curly heads Were motionless and the little
lips had ceased to ASK why mamma slept so
Days dragged slowly by, and crystalized
come, and Mr.. LarTantree's sister felt COM
PEELED to return to the charge OF her own
family. Before she did 50, however, sne re-
quested that Miss Ennerby would be very
tender with the children, as they were of
nervous temperament, and bad b sen accus.
toned to much indulgence.
81 shall not deny them any reasonable In
diligence" said Miss Ennerby, stiffiy; "but
children have no right 70 be nervous; shall
make Il my business 70 conquer the ten
81 do not mean to say that they are ner-
vous," replied Mrs. Allerton, who was very
unfavorably impressed by her new acQuaint-
once! 81 meant merely 70 call your atten-
t1op 70 me fAct that they are Of Q nervous
temperament, and should be favored with
Greater indulgence OF . certain nature
"Permit me to differ with Won. said Mis-
Ennerby. "My decided opinion is that
trey should be hardened before this Ten
dency becomes radical evil"
Az Mrs. Allerton regarded the lieht cold
eyes, the short lashes, the thin lips and
square Jaw OF the woman before her, her
heart misgave her, and she trembled nor the
happiness Of her little nieces; but IL was
now too late to do aught but wait, and hope
and pray. Miss Ennerby had been recon-
mended by q neighbor, and Mr.. Larrautree
bad met her once or twice at this neighbor'z
house, but that was all. He had not OBJ
served her sufficiently to form any clear i'm.
preston of her character, and his mind VA
now In o state Of such depression that he 90
cepted at once the aid nrst offered, and had
employed Miss Ennerby In the confidence
based upon his neishbor's Judgment
kR9rt0naesay, 90 ~ l9egSds or themAtEt'