The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-01-07

began to realize what claim he held
upon her heart that loved all children,
but peculiarly the poor and suffering.
The thin cold fingers clung to hers IN
greeting, while his mother told of the
hemorrhage that followed his coming
home, though the Professor had brought
him in n carriage and gone Immediately
for physician, promising to call the
next dav.
He was completely exhausted; had
watched ne-vously for his teacher, and
seemed satisfied to have her near. She
knew she must be calm for the sake of
the little life that hung by thread. The
doctor said he could not hnger through
the day, and comforted the mother by
showing how his existence would be one
of intense suffering should he be spared.
So they watched for hours, administer
ing stimulants that had no effect. In
the afternoon he rallied to conscious
ness, and, becoming restless, Alice
lifted him gently till his head lay against
her bosom, one of his hands clasping
hers, and the other holding the bit of
heather she had brought. Thus it
was that Prof. Weimer and Ernestfound
them. The latter had gone early to
Alice's, anxious to plead again for a
place which he feared he had forfeited,
and not understanding her absence Gn
her haste she had written only a line)
left the house in restless mood and
wandered to st. Marks.
He, with others, missed Joey's voice
for that, if not its owner, was known
and he felt that for Alice and himself it
was a sad Christmas Day. Departing
from the church, the Professor slipped
his arm in his to say: "Come, I'm
going to look after my little boy; never
dreamt he was so sick. and he practiced
faithfully. Yes, come, for you might be
jealous of the love he confers upon your
Miss Clayton. Nothing made him easy
last night but my promise to send for
her."
Alice was too deeply absorbedn IN Joey
to be surprised at Ernest's entrance.
She was bending her ear to catch his
feeble words 81 don't wish / was
dead-I'm going-to hear music-all the
time. Oh, sing, please; sing for me. I"
can't, joey, but some day you
will teach me how, when / get home
with you. / wish L could!" and she
looked SO imploringly for his sake as he
again plead, "Sing, please" that Prof.
Weimer tried, but for once his tenor
failed, and he buried his face.
Alice's and Joey's were the only tear
less eyes in the room.
81 knew the angels would come for
him, cried the mother.
Hush !" motioned Alice. The dying
boys eyes lighted with an unearthly Joy
as, raising himself with that strength
which so often precedes the end, he
whispered "Listen l hear them.
'Glory be to God on high, and on earth
peace, and the voice which was fast
Joining the angels sang out clear and
full the swelling chorus "Oh, Lord
God, Heavenly King" then fingered
over the three-fold prayer till it was lost:
"Thou that taketh away the sins of the
world, receive"
1t was Alice who broke the awful ST.
lence Alice who laid the form down and
closed the eyes with trembling hand /;
Alice who directed what should be done,
and said to Ernest "Come for me in
three hours.
When the two returned she led them
to the little body. Perhaps Ernest
Dents heart was the single one which
felt pang as he saw the new clothes.
Joey's mother had told their story,
while Alice covered them with the flow
ers the Professor had brought, murmur-
ing to herself "No more death, neither
sorrow, nor crying, for God shall wipe
away all tears.
The freight flickers and dances in the
parlor-Alice's face full of her loss, yet
in her soul there is naught but thankful
ness, for herself, for the humbled man
at her side, but most of all for Joey
Tenderly stroking the black merino,
Ernest whispers in broken voice: 81
am not worthy of you. Oh, Alice, a
lifetime alone can prove how proud am
of you. My darling, it is the saddest,
saddest Christmas night! !"
Aunt Jane, stopping to bid goodnight,
lays her hand on the dark braids and
says Whosoever shall give to drink
unto one of these little ones a cup of
cold water only, shall in no wise lose his
reward !"