The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-10-28
LITTLE WALTER.
BY Ii. s.

| knowing now lelA III AoVo' DnoAi O0H
herw
My wife looked up with a smile and
blush, then tear came into her eye.
| "It Annie insists ON it," she said.
"Oh, now, you must" cried the wild
girl; "tell me all about it, uncle"
when l first came to Russelville," l
said, looking kindly at my wife,.
sSophy's father was the pastor Of the
Episcopal Church. II ever there was a
true successor Of the apostles, at least
in holy living, Mr.. Howell was one."
Sophy looked up as l thus spoke, and
| fervently pressed my hand. l smiled
lovingly on her and proceeded:
"Sophy herself was not at home, be-
ing on visit to New York; but was
oiCen at the parsonage, for little Walter,
her brother, was great tavorite with
me. Iie used to be praising SOphy, in
his lisping accents, all the time, till
half began to love .ner from sympathy
| with him.
"One night about 12 O'Clock 1 was
called from my sleep by messenger
| from the parsonage.
"'Little Walter,' said the servant,
has The Group, and MIR. Howell is away
from home. DR.. Morgan, too, has been
summoned TO the country
| "Dr. Morgan, the oldest practitioner
| IL,
as l knew. Il will be there in five
minutes said, alarmed for my little
| lavOrite. 'pnere is no competent per-
| son with him, since his father is away
| is there"
"tMiss bophy has come back,' was
| the reply, 'and told me to run tor you,
when l found Dr.. Morgan was out.'
| 81 soon reached the parsonage. There
was light burning up stairs, in what l
knew TO be the nursery-the only light
visible in the whole village street. The
| instant knocked, the door opened. The
servant, was crying sadly, and could
hardly answer my inquiries as L went up
stairs, two steps at time, to see my lit
| tie faVorite.
Hlhe nursery was great large room Z.
At the farther end it was lighted by
common candle, which left the other
end, where the door was, i'll the shade,
so suppose the nurse did not see me
come In, for she was speaking very
GROSSLY.
"HAlIss Sophyp said she, Il told you
over and over again it was not ii for him
TO 90 walking to-day, with the hoarse-
ness that he had, and you would take
him. 1t will break your papa's heart,
[ know; but it's none OF my Going.'
"Whatever Sophy telt, she did not
ner lace for she was on her knees by the
warm bath, in which the little fellow
was struggling to get his breath, with a
look OF terror Oh his face that l have
often noticed in young children when
smitLen by a sudden ana violent illness.
1t seems as il they recognize something
infinite and invisible, at whose bidding
the pain and the anguish come, from
which no love can shield them. 1t is
very heart renuing look to observe, be-
cause it comes On the faces OF those who
are too young to receive comfort from
| the words OF laith OF the promises of re-
iglon. Walter had his arms around
sophy's neck, as if she, his hitherto par
adfse angel, could save him from tue
dread shadow of death. Yes, Of death!
| knelt down by him on the other side,
and examined him. The very robust.
ness oil his little frame gave violence to
| the disease, which is always one of the
| most fearful by which children can be
| attacked.
"'Don't tremble, Walty,' said Sophy
| in soothing tone; it's the doctor, darl-
| ing, who let you ride on his horse.' [
could detect the quiVering in the voice,
| which she tried TO make SO calm and
soft to quiet the little fellows tears. We
| took him out OF the bath, and went for
1
came. He loved the pastors children
as ii he were their uncle; but he stood
still and aghast at the sight of Walter
so lately bright and strong, and now
hurrying along to the awful change-to
the silent, mysterious Land where, tend
ed and cared for as he had been on earth,
ne must go-alone. The little fellO " the
ualling!
s'We applied the leeches to his throat.
He resisted at first; but Sophy, God
bless her, put the agony of her grief ON
one side, and Thought only OF him, and
began TO sing the little songs he loved.
We were all still. The gardener had
gone to fetch MIR. Howell; but he was
Twelve miles off, and we doubted if he
would come In time. l dou't know if
they had any hope, but the first moment
Dr.. Morgan's eyes met mine, L saw that
he, like me, had none. The ticking OF
the house clock sounded through the
dark, quiet house. Walter was sieeping
now, with the black leeches hanging to
his fair, white throat. Still Sopny went
on singing little iullaDies, which she had
sung under far different and happier cir
umstances. l remember one verse, be-
cause it struck me at the time as
strangely applicable:
Sleep, baby, sleep!
Thy rest shall an gels keep:
W lille on the grass the lamb shall feed,
And never suffer want or need.
Sleep, baby, sleep.'
The tears were in DR.. Morgan's eyes.
[ do not think either he or could have
spoken in our natural tones; but the
brave girl went OF, clear though low.
She stopped at the last, and looked up.
"'He is better, is he not, Dr.. MorganT
"sNo, my dear. He is-ahem'-he
could not speak all at once. Then he
said my dearl he will be better soon.
Think of your mamma, my dear Miss
Sophy. Sue will be very thankful to
nave one of her darlngs with her where
she 49,
sStill Sophy did not cry. But she
bent her mead down on the little face,
and kissed it long and tenderly.
"'I will 60 Tor my sisters or Helen
and Lizzie. They will be sorry not to
see him again. She rose up and went
Tor them. Poor girls, they entered in
their dressing gowns, with eyes dilated
with sudden emotion, pale with terror,
stealing softly along as ii sound could
disturb him. Sophy comlorted them by
| gentle caresses. 1t was over soon.
"Dr. Morgan was fairly crying like a