River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-04-12
ALLIE AND HENRY.
By FRANK LARCH.


How simple were these words utter
cd by Mrs. Haines, whose appearance
indicated that she would experience
but little more suffering before being
called to her last home.
Charles Haihes, an enterpTising
young farmer, had married the belle
of-while the mutterings of our war
of the Rebellion were but feebly heard
through tho land. Allie AMI Henry,
aged at the time they are first intro
duced to the reader, respectively six
and eight years, were the fruits of the
happy marriage. While they were
yet babies, the great civil war broke
out, and among the first to volunteer
in behalf of his suffering country was
Charles Haines. BY one of those in
scrutable DEGREES of providence. many
men whose lives were of little value
to themselves or any one else, came
out of the battle of Bull Run unharm-
ed, while Charles, the loving husband,
kind father and hOnOred citizen, was
killed at the first fire. Though we
must not murmur at the seeming in
Justice of such cases, to fail of under
standing them is the privilege
of finite mind. Mrs. Haines upon
receiving the news of her husband s
death, was overwhelmed with grief.
Her ambition in life seemed gone. She
did not mourn, as some do, with YiOi
lent fits of weeping and terrible out
bursts of sorrow; but there seemed to
be a constant inward fire which was
burning her life away. Her condition
went from bad TO worse, until we find
her, Just at the close of a March day,
gradually sinking to an end of her
suffeTings.
''MOther, bring Allie and Harry to
me and let me kiss them once more. ."
OverI ONE with grief, Mrs. Norris,
who was addressed, leaned over the
bed with streaming eyes and said ::
"Oh ! Jennie, dOn't-dOn't talk that
way. You are getting better. Oh
don't say only once more.
"Ah No, mother, | cannot say
anything else for | feel that life is
ebbing from me and can only regret
that you will be left to care for my two
Door little orphans. But | know you
will be equal to it and then you know
we have this nice farm.
Alas poor woman. Little did she
know that the farm was mOrtgaged to
nearly its full value and that f0reclos-
ure had only been averted by the kind
heartedness of the creditor, who re.
fused to bring greater trouble upon
this unfortunate household. Ignorant,
however, of this fact, one trouble was
saved to the mind of the dying
woman.
The children were brought into the
room, little realizing the bereavement
in store for them. Mrs. Haines, with
what little strength remained to her,
clasped them TO her bosom, saying
Now, Allie and Harry, mamma is
going away from you never TO return
here but some day you VIII come up
to heaven, where | am going, and then
we shall never be parted again. Be
good children, and do everything that
Grandma tells you TO do, for she will
take good care of you as long as she
lives and then-." Here the dying
woman's courage for the first time
broke down. Mrs. Norris is not young
and cannot live many years and then
what is to become of the two orphans!
Such were the thoughts that troubled
Mrs. Haines, as the weeping children
were led from the room. The exeTtiOI
brought on a fit of coughing which
changed the current of thought.
Ii is unnecessary to dwell further
upon those sOTrOwtul moments during
the long night which followed. To
wards morning Mrs. Haines sank into
peaceful Slumber. VIII ch deepened
until life was extinct. Just where
sleep ended and death began even Mrs
Norris, who constantly watched her
II q al rHasU I g
of more than ordinary measure of bOtt
happiness and misery.
A few DAYS after the funeral, as Mrs
Norris was sitting in the front porch
watching the children playing in the
warm spring sunshine, she perceived
approaching the house a large, hale
gentleman of about forty, whom she
recognized at once as Mr.. Fisher. the
owner of the mortgage on the farm
He had firm tread, cheerful, pleas
ant face. and looked to be just what
he was-every inch good man.
GOOD afternoon, Mrs. Norris,
hope you have somewhat recovered
from the severe tax upon your system
during the last few months.
THANK you, sir, am feeling quite
well, to-day"
81 have come to-day to see if | can
not do both a good and n bad deed
Ny bad deed is to deprive You ana the
little ones of this happy and pleasant
home, and my good deed is TO provide
them, If possible, with another one
which hope will be quite as pleasant
to you all. You know this place i!
mortgaged for pretty nearly its full
value, and that it would be next L
impossible for you at your age, TO sue
cessfully and profitably manage th'
farm. | have therefore thought o
this plan. | will take the farm, anC
in exchange for its value over an,
above the mortgage l will give yol
the pretty little cottage and acre o
ground Just on the outskirts of the vii
lage. Comfortably ensconced there
you can probably take better care o
these two little ones, both PHYSICAL!
aud mentally"
I'm sure, Mr.. Fisher, that it mus
be an unfair bargain on your side
but l cannot conscienti0usly refusr
it"
Never mind that. Let me TAX
care of myself and you do the best yoV
can with your two little orphans. S,
may consider the matter settled 2
"Yes, sir, and thank you heartily fol
your kindness"
So it was settled. In a few day
Mrs. Norris, moved with Allie anG
Henry into the pretty little cottage
1t had been unOecupied for sometime
and was somewhat neglected but thI
thrifty housewife soon put it in thor
ough order. Then the question arose
what shall do TO support these help
less children as well as myself
have little money but not enough I.
live upon and something else must bt
done" Being a woman Of decided