River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-12-28

zzzzzz=A
said, with a smile Mother Bates could
not understand.
In the night the snow FELL The ge-
ranium in the the window, pride of all
the children, shrank from the frosty
pane the meagre fire died to single
COAL The old WOMAN had insisted
upon giving Gottlieb spare pallet in
the corner the children were huddled
together on her side of the room
Christine sat before the fire regarding
her bruised wrist piteously. At mid
night Gottlieb rose, and silently mo.
toned the girl to take his place. She
obeyeds wonderingly, and sank into
| dreamless sleep. In the cold dawn
Mother Bates discovered that the man
had tainted on the hearth.
Life may become infused with unex-
pected interest, which stimulates fresh
exertionrather than hope. Allthrough
the night Gottlieb Braun, thinking of
| the lost Gretchen, gaZed at the sleep
ing child; and when darkness screened
a soft cheek, rose-ilushed, swept by
silky lashes, he listened to her quiet
breathing, forming new resolution,
until exhaustion overpowered him in
| the patient vigil. The advent of Chris
| tine CaIlen in his life was not such a
| great event, only Gottlieb's portion was
| such very little one. God sent this
humble man for Christine, slumbering
among the shadows, within reach of
the talons of that great bird of prey
want.
Gottlieb counted the days with bag
! gard restlessness, a slow fever consum-
ing his veins, pain gnawing at the very
sources of life. While daylight lasted
he dragged himself about the streets
in search of food, at least, for mother
Bates's little brood. When he return
ed at night Christine was romping with
/ the children. The old woman, whose
wrinkled brown face, framed in a
| black hood, was a landmark on the
thoroughfare where she vended fruit,
recklessly dispensed apples at the even
ing meal, observing Gottlieb sharply
the while. Little Molly, bright-eyed
| and saucy, with ragged shawl pinned
over her head, was making money in
| the slush and mire. Fear of the po-
lice kept Christine from joining her in
street-sweeping. Sleep refused to
visit Gottlieb's weary senses. What
visions came to him in the night! On
Tuesday morning Mother Bates said.
''You come to the dispensary, my
man.
whats the use! It's the old
wounds ana the fever" Then he
added, with sudden tears in his eyes,
s'God bless you, good woman, for taking
us in Tomorrow draw my pension"
Thus did he identify himself already
with the Swedish maiden.
Mother Bates scoffed loudly at senti-
ment, then paused at the foot of the
staircase to wipe her eyes on her ging-
ham apron. Gottlieb was out all day.
When he came back he gave his hos
tess a iifty.cent bill, with no other ex-
PLANTATION than that he had obtained a
Sob in a warehouse despite his one
arm. Excitement robbed him of all
appetite for food. lie spent second
night with his wide eyes fixed on the
ceiling, counting the hours, delirium
creeping over his senses. If he could
Only last until tomorrow He would
last, even if he crept to the goal on
his hands and knees. Desperate reso-
luton made him face the day desper-
ate energy took him, pallid and trem-
bling, to his post, and brought him
back at dusk to sink down speechless
! on Mother Bates's pallet. The fire of
life only burning in the sunken eyes.
When Christine sat beside the bed, he
| was quiet when she moved away, q
spasm of anxiety distorted his fea-
lures. Billy ran for a doctor Molly
hushed the other children the baby
hid his head in Mother Bates's lap.
The doctor was out.
$50 | went for him." said Billy,
glancing curiously and half nervously
at the sick man.
The noise of the street reached this
| quiet room only in a distant murmur.
A step was heard on the stair. Moth
er Bates moved uneasily. Billy, fail
ing to find one kind of doctor, had
chosen another, and the difference was
not clear to his own eyes. Mother
Bates had never received city mission
aries with favor, and now ole was at
the door. Her creed was a crooked
| yet self-helpful one. Every one must
get along the best they can, she said.
lie was on the threshold-a grave,
slender man, with dark, calm eyes.
| 1tllIUIC luhGON IL IC plONtU a DLOhNAA
reed How did he divine the very
depths of human need at a glance.
With unerring tenderness he sought
in Gottlieb' s pocket for a package of
money, guided by book, and gave a
ten-dollar bill TO the old woman. Then
he bent his ear to the faltering lips.
Use the-mOney-to send-the
child-to her friends-in the West.
She knows--the town.
Thus the old soldier made his last
bequest, and so, utterly spent in the
battle, died. Evening merged into
night, and darkness again yielded to
the morning, when Christine Carlen
was led away by the missionary. Mr..
Gildwell knew nothing of the event,
and Mother Bates said, grimly, to the
good missionary:
eff ye take the baby, Sir, we'll just
stay as we are.
GOttlieb Braun. soldier, laid away in
a nameless grave, had done what he
could in saving the bloom of a young
life.
Hiding Ills Tracks
There were vigorous inquiries at the
I n Mt rsFaI+