Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-10-06
5Aiscellanu.
Watching for the Angels.
BY MARY c. BARTLETT

was sent away from home to escape con-
tagation. When she came back again
mamma told her that her little brother
had gone to bright, beautiful place,
where he never would be sick or tired
any more--that the angels had taken
him to heaven.
" What do you cry for, mamma "
asked wondering Ruthie. "When will
they bring him back? ?"
Mamma wiped her eyes, and tried to
speak cheerfully.
I'VE must try to be good, little daugh-
ter, so that we shall all be ready when
they come for us F"
If the angels came for you I'd go
to-" said Ruthie decisively.
Mamma smiled sadly.
" | would" repeated Ruthie, with a
shake of her golden curls. Then she
jumped down from her mothers lap,
and ran up stairs to the nursery, but
the unwonted stiffness of the room op-
pressed her. didn't want him to be
took" she sobbed. a wish they d
bring him back ! "
But the angels didn't bring him back (;
and when, soon after, mamma was tax
en- i'll, poor Ruthie wandered listlessly
about the house, her little leart heavy
with a nameless dread. Papa wanted
to send her away again. Poor papa
how sorry he looked. Ruthie loved him
very much she was sure of that; but,
as she used sometimes to say to Willie,
" she didn't know him as she did mann
ma" So, when he tried to persuade her
to go home with kind Aunt Eliza, she
said not word in reply, but ran off to
her own little chamber, crying bitterly.
The angels had not brought Willie
back. She didn't believe they ever
brought anybody back. If they came
for mamma, she would go with them.
She had resolved upon that.
Every day she went to see dear mann
ma" Every day she came out from
the chamber of sickness, sober yet con-
tent. The angels had not come yet.
One right Ruthie had strange dream.
She dreamed that papa came and took
her from her warm bed and carried her
in his arms to mammals room that a
pair Of wistful eyes gazed tenderly into
hers; that gentle lips touched her fore
head very softly, and she was held for a
moment close, close to loving heart.
When she awoke next morning her
dream came back to her. She ran soft.
ly through the hall, her small bare feet
making no noise, and reached the door
of the room unseen. She opened it care
fully. At first she could see no one and
she shiyered, more from vague, unde-
fined dread than from the chill morning
air which came in through the open win.
dow. As she stood trembling, papa en-.
tered, and started with surprise to see
her there.
Where's mammal" asked plaintive
voice.
Papa didn't say word. Very gently
he lifted snowy covering, and Ruthie
saw her mother lying white and still
" fast asleep"
"It's-to too-cold-papa," said she,
winking very hard to keep back the
tears.
But papa only sighed and then,
glancing down at the little feet, bade
her go and let Maggie dress her at once.
The next few days seemed to the child
strange and unreal, like her dream.
Aunt Eliza and Uncle Ben were there.
and so many people coming and going
all the time Some of them cried as
they looked at dear mamma. Some
took Ruthie in their arms and kissed
her, calling her "poor, dear little girl )"
then there were others who did not cry,
and who took no notice of her. 1t was
very strange.
Aunt Eliza wondered at the mysteri-
Gus attract which drew her wee niece
so many, many times to the chamber of
death. She little dreamed for what the
child was watching.
"They didn't come yet. The angels
didn't come yet" This was the burden
of poor Ruthie's little song, and she
hoped on and waited patiently. But
there came a day when many people
gathered, all at once in the sitting room.
up stairs. Ruthie was very quiet that
day everybody was quiet-mamma
was quietest of all, she didn't even look
at the beautiful flowers which loving
hands had placed around her. All, the
strangeness of it all; but" the angels
didn't come yet"
After the minister had preached !"
there was long, long ride, during which
papa never spoke; then the getting out
at the pretty cemetery. Ruthie knew
the nlace ouite well-she had haan tbara