The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-06-09
WRESTLING IN HEAVEN.

You'rc surprised TINT ever should say SO:
Inst wait TIL the reason I've given
WHY say shant care for the music
Unless there is whistling in heaven;
Then you'll think ii no great wonder,
Nor so strange, nor so bold conccit,
That unless there's Il boy there a-whistllng
It's music will not be complete.
It was late in the autumn of 40;
We had come from our far Eastern home
just in time to build us cabin,
Ere the cold of the winter should come
And We lived all the while in our wagon
That husband was clearing the place
Where the house was TO stand; and the cicaril
Ard building It took many day.
So that our heads were scarce sheltered
In under its roof, when our store
OF provisions was almost exhausted,
And husband must journey for more;
And the nearest place where ne couId GET inc
Was yet such distance away,
That it forced him from home to be absent
AT least whole night and day.
You see wed but two or three ncighbors,
And the nearest was more than mile,
And we hadn't found time yet to know them
For we had been busy the while;
And the man who had helped at the raising
Just staid Till the job was well done;
And as soon as the money was paid HIM
Had shouldcred his axe and had gone.
Well husband just kissed me and started
could hardly rcpress deep groan
At the though OF remaining with baby
So long in the house all alone;
For nv dear, | was childish and timid,
And Drawer ones might well have feared
For the wild wolf was often heard bowling
And sayagcs sometimes appeared.
But smothcred my grief and my terror
Till husband was of on mis- ride,
And then in my arms took Josie,
And all the day long sat and cried.
As thought of the long drcary hours
When the darkness of night should fall,
And ! was so utterly helpless,
With no one in reach Of call!
And when the night came with It's tcrrors,
To hide every ray OF light,
hung up q quilt by the window,
And almost dead with alright,
kneeicd by the side of the cradle,
Scarce daring to draw u full breath,
Lest the baby should wake, and its crying
Should bring Us a horrible death.
There knelt until late in the evening,
And scarcely an inch had stirred,
Whcn suddenly far in the distance,
4 sound as OF whistling heard.
Z started up drcadfully frightened,
For fear twas an Indians call;
Md then very soon ! remembered
The red man rc'ur whistles at all.
and when was sure twas white man,
Thought were he coming for ill,
He'd surely approach with more caution
Would come without warning and still.
Then the sounds coming nearer and nearer
Took the form Of tune light and gay,
and knew needn't fear evil
From one who could whistle that way.
Very soou heard footsteps approaching,
Then came peculiar duh thump,
As Il some one was heavily striking
An axe in the top OF a stump;
And then, in another brief moment,
There came light tap at door,
When quickly undid the fast'nings
And in stepped a boy, aud before
There was either question or answer
Or either had time to speak,
/ inst throw my glad arms around hin,
And gave him a Kiss on the check,
Then started back, scared at my bodness
Blu, he only smiled at my fright,
~ he said, "l'm your ncighbor's boy, Flick,
Come to tarry with you through the night
We saw your husband go eastward,
And made up our mind where he'd gone,
IND said to the rest Of the people,
That woman is there all alone,
And venture she's awfuiy lonesome,
And though she may have no great fear
think She would nc u bit safer
i only a hoy were bat near
$50 taking my axe on my shoulder,
For fear that savage might stray
Acres, my path, and need scalping,
! started right down this way;
And coming m i.ht Of the cabin,
And thinking 90 save You alarm,
Z wa,si-cd q tune, just to show you
didn't intend any harm
And so here am at your service,
But II you don't want me 20 stay,
Why, all you need do is to say SO,
And shOuldcring my axe, I'll away"
I dropped on 4 chair and near tainted
Ju.t at thought OF his leaving me then,
Aut his eye gave a knowing bright twinkle
y, hc faid 81 guess I'll remain
And then just sat there and told him
How terribly frightened I'd been,
How l.s face WAS 20 me most welcome
Otauy ! ever had seen.
And then lag down with the baby,
Ana slept all the blessed night through,
sur felt was safe from AL danger
Near So brave a young fellow and true.
So uov, my dear friend, Do you wonder,
Since sUch q good reason I've given,
Why say ] -ha'u't care Tor music
Unless there j. whistlug in heaven
Yes, nS,'u .;r said so In earnest,
Ar' .nw what I've said repeat
I..t unless there's q boy there a-Whi,li.ug
... % t...t f... H.