River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-10-25

her saucy sweet pea vines. And otter
at midnight when pains kept her awake
(for old Dolly was not WE'LL she watched
it, huge and black among the stars, tbs
moon stealing from clouds over IT, Per
haps Jacob enjoyed the steeple as much
as Dolly, for one half his life was in con,
trast TO elevated things-was.spent down
below among the rag-men, fish-markets
and people fighting for sixpence, but il
was not his way to talk much.
Tonight. after supper, they went out
and Dolly planted the tea-rose, with en-
thusiastic little shifts at the perfume and
great deal of expressed rapture gener-
ally. Folks had called Dolly, years ago
when young, "a little fool because she
had fashion of looking for sweetness
everywhere-and finding it, too, as honey
bees can among the commonest flowers.
She had white hairs now, but was not
wiser than then. Jacob brought her the
box and dirt and water. watching while
the rose was planted. Then, walking
across the flower bordered space, his foot
fell upon something soft. He stopped to
pick up what he thought ball of Dolly's
yarn; it proved to be child's red shoe
| a little. worn one, wrinkled with use He
! held it for an instant, turned toward
Dolly, and, as she covered down trem-
! bling, asked sternly:
HAS she been here again.
Il made her stay just little while.
/ She feared | was sick. Oh Jacob Jacob
can't you remember she was our own lit
/ tie Jane,r
"Was. Yes. was, said Jacob, between
a growl and groan. "And she brought
hat ere-that-that-"
Something in Dolly's white face made
him mutter word; then his voice grew
/ louder again: Didn't forbid her ever
to set foot in the home againl and twice
she has done it
He raised his hand and flung the wee
shoe ar ont and off into the street below,
as he would have thrown live thing
with cruel wish to kill; then turning,
he Il ut the door behind him harshly.
She dared not go in, and he did not wish
her TO follow. lie sat down and hid his
/ face in his hands, enraged at fate. Dolly
had loved her pretty daughter. Jacob
had idoiized her. She belonged to pros
porous days when he had been gar
dener in the country. Yes, this little,
4 Jane that was" seemed to belong en-
/ tirely there, among simple, sweet scenes,
fitted by her life and gayety to 90 along
with birds, butterflies and spring bios
SONS.
Was she dead Oh, worse to him she
was lost to him, in anger not in sorrow.
/ Down somewhere, this hot night, in the
surging life of the great city was a wom-
an and "A child: all color gone from the
.H...E-1 -. ia. .,ff 10 10 oil,
Shame-branded by its birth. She was not
in actual want; a pilIance had been left
her; but she had sinned-shc had fallen,
and SO he said she was no child of his.
The Christ who had compassion on one
like her might as we'll never have lived,
for any plea of like pity in Jacobs heart
for his little Jane that was.
Outside, Dolly watched the stars com
ing out one by one; could not let herself
do anything else for awhile as she press
ed both hands over her heart. To think
or to pray made it sometimes leap, fiut-
ter and then seem to stop beating so
that Jacob and Jane and the little baby
all faded from like phantoms. Dol
" had heart disease, and many time
was aware of the Death Angel passing
swiftly by
With the gladness of one who goeth
In the light of God most high"
and any time She knew that he might
stay for her When She had been alone
a half hour Jacob opened the door TO say
she would catch cold 1t was quite dim
but away to one side the lights on the
water twinkled like fire flies. The air
was heavy with the perfume Of Dolly's
lilics-she herself unseen; but her voice
fell on his ears painfully:
20 Lord. in much patience must my
peace be; So hold me not to think all is
loss when a thing falls out against me-
Let me abide in Thee, and the darkness
cannot tread me down. Let Jacob know
how God loves him and think If he de-
serves it. Have US live in faith, walk in
love and be taught by the Spirit how to
have our corner of earth a little like
/ heaven. Oh, wash her poor soul white
and give the baby an angel to watch over
IT, Put evil far from us, for Christ's
sake
Dolly was still then a few moments
I before Jacob said:
Come in now; you'll get over tired; :
and when she came in he made unusual
| efforts to be gentle. Dolly might have
| done a good deal more with Jacob if she
had known her power. As it was, she
made a master stroke that night 10y ex-
claiming before she fell asleep:
How fearsume lonely yed be, Jacob,
with nobody to be good to. Ye'ye a will
of rock, but yc remind me often of the
stone tower-a shelter TO the puny things
under il: always similar to strong
father in n storm to the roses and the
lilies"
u father-a father" Jacob rolled
and tossed all night in troubled thought
Only once he slept and then dreamed he
saw the little red shoe in the mud of the
street, torn and trampled by horses feet
Now things fancied at midnight are so
vivid that all AZ once Jacob realized how
hard and cruel he had grOwn-how bit
terncss and revenge had possessed his
soul. But toward merniAg God did not
ct Jacob think how he loved him, and
tier that he fell into a deep sleep.
The next dav was Sunday day the
old couple always enjoyed. Jacob could
be at home all day and they planned "a
have some little treat. for during the week
Jacob acted rs ianitor in the building
] II WIS III THIS way lit Ills iNilA t-lAo
a tribe besides. They had, in the past
known more prosperity, but had not yet
come 10 dire poverty. Dolly never ex-
pected to. Every sparrow under the old
church roof echoed to her Christ's words
of trust. On this Sunday, Dolly rose up
and made the two rooms dain with
fresh touches, with gay flowers In chubby
pitchers. Sine put on her whitest neck
handkerchief, and when breakfast was
over. said TO her husband, Don't We stay
at home. Jacob, because l must. Go Vi
10 the church and hear good"
Jacob looked intently into her eyes
his own curiouSly bright What would
sc like best, Dolly, I've a mind to give
re a wish; take yer time now-any
thing.
She painted, clasping her wrinkled
h,nHs To orsrsbf NOT IN have evpitad hal