The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-01-27
Something Else There.


Something Else There.
A pair of little feet clambering up th,
steps of a shady piazza; pair of littlt
hands bearing a small, wcll.fllcd basket
a sweet chlds face, rosy and earnest
The basket was rested for a moment
upon the upper step, and a pair of soft
grave eyes pcercd through the halfcloscd
blinds Of the nearest window. The hall
door was open and lady came from the
room to welcome the diminutivc mes
scnger. "Good morning, Dewy; pretty
well loaded, aren't you2 Shall ! take
it?" And she extended her hand for
the basket. The little fellow gave il to
her, also the kiss for which she had bent
smiingly. "Amt Ria, it's for Uncle
Fred but my mother says you can have
some of it," he said, as he pattered after
her into the pleasant sitting-room. "Did
she ?" Iaughingly responded the lady.
Yes, ma'am; asked her. And she
said must tell her if Uncle Fred is any
better. Is hc?" he queried, speaking
low and trying to edge himself up on the
lounge, "Comc in here and see, Dcwy,"
came in Uncle Fred's own voice from
the bedroom adjoining, Dewy quickly
slipped from his perch and almost ran
across the room. "Oh, Uncle Fred,
you are better! Cause yesterday you
didn't speak to me- you had your eyes
shut" i" Yes, Dcwy, | 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 n dressed chicken,
some fruit, and jar of cream. "Somc-
thing else there" said Dewy. Aunt Ria
shook the napkin and glanced again into
the basket. al don't see anything else.
What was it, dcar?" Something you
can't take out" returned Dcwy, very
gravely. Uncle Fred laughed quite
heartily for Il sick man at what he con-
sidered his small nephcw's joke, " ! sup
pose you mean the bottom of the basket,
Dewy," he said. "No, Uncle Fred, |
don't" replied the child with decision.
1t was something my mother put in
there. 1t was a prayer" I" 1t was
what ?" asked both relatives AT once.
a prayer. saw my mother put it in.
You can't take it out, but God can
what strange notion" said Aunt
Ria. "Wcll guess it's So" murmurcd
Uncle Fred. "Coursc it's So" repeated
Dewy. 81 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 prayer That's the
way she does lots of times, and she puts
Ia prayer in my crib every night"
Dewy's mother had told him to return
Immediately; 50, after taking "iust one
peep" at his baby cousin, who lay sleep
in another room, be departed. His ac-
tive, earnest footsteps were still sounding
upon the stone walk when Uncle Fred
remarked: "That putting in a prayer,
as Dewy calls it, is Just like Madge, al
though / never gave it a thought before.
| really believe she never does the least
thing without praying over it, She is u
good creature, if there ever was one; yet,
when we youngsters were all at home
together, we boys used to tease her un-
mercifully sometimes about her religion,
Grandmother used TO say" he added,
after brief silence, "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 neigh
bors either died Immediately or began to
convalesce AS soon as Madge had assisted
in attending them, though it were only
for night. | noticed that thing par
ticularly, and it did seem 50; but | be-
lieve now that nothing more superna-
tural than her prayers was the bottom OF
it. The invalid remained in deep
thought and with closed eyes 50 long
that his wife thought him sleeping; but
suddenly he looked up, his brow
troubled, his lips working nervously.
B" Maria" said he, al have never yet
dropped a prayer into our baby's cradle
am a miserable, ungratelul wretch
and if ever get to heaven it will be be-
cause 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 ] be-
lieve it time that | began to call upon
the Lord for myself. Dewy has given
me a KEY" he resumed, after a brief in
terval, "that unlocks Madge's whole
life, and | view her character now in its
true life. used to regard her as alb
surdlY conscientious, but now | know
that she is a child of God The key
which Dewy in childish simplicity and
trust gave so 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 brothers 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,
80 old and yet so new-so wonderful
Something else there" they frequently
say to each other, cor, if there lis not
there ought to be-" and Dewy's remark
once so perplexing, has aided them more
than any other ,minspired word to per
form cheerfully the duties expected o
those who humbly follow Christ Chris
tian at Hori.