Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-06-09
DARK" DEyHs AND HIS GRANDSON.
BY THE AUTHOR OF Episodes IN AN OBJ
scURE LIFE"
lContipued from yesterday.I

lScubhheh ihoni Jtctiuaf't
1.-The nurse" she exclaimed, "got me
the pins and the worsted, when she knew
what i wanted. and who they was for
She's kind body. She's most as fond o
your little Abel rs am, Mr.. Dennis. and
don't wonder. j should say 1t would be
strange If anybody could keep of likin
Of him."
1t was well that Hannah was out, OF
g she might have resented this remark as a
= reflection on herself. Still, Abel could
not help thinking it rather unkind that his
mother should have gone out eharing
on his birthday, while blind Patty had
come on crutches TO bring present of bet
own work made specially for him.
Hannah's birth-gift had been couple OF
bull's-eyes and a cake of parliament
handed over to him very much as if be
had been one of her customers trying TO
obtain goods on very uncertain credit
when she happened to remember what
day 1t was.
Dennis never forgot his grandson's birth
day. If his mother half unconsciously al
most wished that he had never been born,
the old man felt wildly how much bright
er his life had been SINCE he had the lit
tie fellow with him. and always had a
birthday present ready for him-chuckled
over for days before as great secret.
and brought forth as if it must necessarily
prove great surprise. In honor of the
occasion, also, he always provided some
little relish" for tea, and the mufiinman
CHANGING to be tinkling his bell hard by
when Mrs. Mullins arrived, Abel was sent
to stop him and purchase what Mrs. Jones
would have thought very absurd amount
of mullins. Patty, Dennis, Abel, and Gin
cinnatus had a very cosy tea (he dictator
had previously tasted mullins whilst Abel
was toasting them,) and afterwards they
had a very pleasant evening. Music and
singing. friendly chat. the heart warming
consciousness OF being in kindly company
and, am afraid must add, the absence
Of poor Hannah, made Patty forget how
the time went.
When Hannah came home tired ont by
her long days work, and venially rather
cross, Patty remembered that her husband
had promised to call for her, and that he
had not come. AT such an hour she knew
well enough he was not likely to come !;
most probably he had forgotten all about
her, Dennis. Abel, and Cincinnatus escort
ed her home. A comet hung over the
black city, and the little boy, as he looked
up at its angry red, squeezed Pattys hand
hard. and pressed close to her side. She
asked what frightened him, and he told
her.
She had never seen the SKI, but she had
heard, of course, that it was a comet year,
and had inherited the popular supersti-
tons in reference to those mysterious
wanderers in our system. whose frery
presence, followed by their dim depar-
lures into the only wastes of space, NAV
well impress forcbly other than vulgar
imaginations. "Ah, yes" she said. 'that
means war. plague, or something awful
wonder what it's TO be--there's deal of
sickness about. How close il is for this
time Of year quite as hot as summer, it
is. There's fever in your row. PRAY
God you mayn't catch it. DEAR
II hope the comet will be gone if I'm
TO de-" answered Abel. IL should be
half afraid to 60 pas. that to heaven. 1t
don't look good, like the stars
Abel was very quiet while he walked
home with his grandfather.
whats become of your tongue. my
boy ?" asked Dennis.
The air seems as If it couldn't breathe, y
said the little fellow. 'Does the fever 90
shS;; is the air. grandfather wonder
what its like. How many people was it
you said died in an bourP What a MANY
must have died since we had tea Why
perhaps some one is dying now-this very
minute. / wish some one would die with
me when | die. II must be so lonely to
die all by yourself. | should like YOU.
grandfather, If you wouldn't mind"
Next morning Abel was shivering and
flushing in turns, his pulse beat fast. he
was burnt up with thirst Cincinnaius
eyed him with wonder when he languidlv
pushed away his faithful friend, instead of
feeding him. at breakfast time. The next
day the symptoms left it beyond doubt
that poor Abel was down with the fever.
His was a case of the virulent type. He
became delirious-did not know the old
man. who scarcely ever left his bedside.
Cincinnatus sat by 1t too, cycling now the
old man aud now the little boy with a sad,
grave look OF personal grief and sympa-
thy.
On the evening of the fourth day the
doctor shook his head.
A little after midnight the little fellow
partially recovered consciousness.
''Grandfather," he gasped in hoarse.
feeble voice, pull up the blind. | want
TO see If the comets there
He shuddered when he saw it, but soon
recovered himself. and said, Il shant be
afraid to go by it now. There's ever so
many more OF the good stars. And YOU
are coming. amt youP Call mother to
say goodbye"
The old man went TO call his daughter
When he came back with her the little
boy was dead, and the dog was mourn
fully baying the comet, as if he held its
baleiul light responsible for the heavy loss
he had sustained.
Next morning Patty, who had only lust
heard of Abel's illness, came 10 inquire af-
ter him. When she heard that he was
dead she wept more bitterly than his
mother. although poor Hannah, now that
she had lost the child. whom she had some.
times called her "cross'' mourned him sin.
cerely; and If she did not wish him back.
wished. perhaps, that she had shown him
more marked affection while she had him
A single one-horse vehicle, half hearse,
hall mourning coach, bore The little corpse
and its followers from dingy Fleming
R0w TO the Qrpep panatary 1,,.;