Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-07-19

and the solace of many a lonely
hour. But one day the little yellow
wings spread out helplessly, the
bright eyes grew dim, and poor Dick
breathed his last in the hands of his
sobbing young mistress. Since then
Lena had kept his cage in its usual
place, and the door wide open, .for
who knows, she would say, swhat
may happen i? Perhaps the Lord
may send me another Bird
Mrs. Burt, she knew, would have
given her one, but the proud child
would not ask the favor of friend
who had already done so much for
her, and the kind lady knew nothing
of Lena's loss.
The next morning dswned bright
and beautiful on the luxurious home
of the Mortimers, as we'll as the hum
bic cot where lived the seamstress
and her child. Lillian at Elmside
and Iona at the cottage, both rose
with light hearts and happy
smiles, but grief and care oppressed
some of the older members of the
two families.
After breakfast Lnlian went into
the pleasant sitting-room and anus
ed herself with the cunning ways of
her canary, letting it out of It's cage.
1t was a very tame, intelligent bird,
and would sit perched on her finger,
hop on her shoulder, and even put it's
little bill between her lips with SEEM
ing affection. Lillian loved it, as
you may imagine, and no dainty was
too difficult to get or term of en- lear
ment tender enough for the little
songster. The windows of the room
were all closed SO that 'Bonnie'might
fully enjoy his freedom, and be flew
and iuttered around almost like a
wild bird. a servant came hastily
into the apartment and left the door
ajar out flew Bonnie and the near
est window gave him access to open
air.
Lena was ont among her flow or
beds, and raised her head just as a
bird alighted on the fence. She al
most screamed with delight.
'Oh,' she thought, shat looks just
like a canary, and perhaps he will
go into my cage.
She kept very still, and after lit
futtering and hesitancy'Bonnie Nor
timer hoped into the cage and be-
gan to eat seeds. Then Lena gently
closed the door, and she had him
safe.
mother, mother she cried, run
ming in, 'the Lord has sent ME bird,
just as | thought He would
On the morning of the fifth day
after the loss Of Bonnie, Lillian's
grandfather proposed to her to take
ride across the country with him
on horseback. She gladly consented
and they were soon cantering away
in the direction of Lena's home. As
they came near they saw Lena stand
ing on the porch and talking with
her bird. Mr.. Mortimer recognized
her as the child who had affected him
so much one night as she passed his
gate. but Lillian saw only the Bird
sWhy, grandfather, that looks like
Bonnie 7 she cried, so loudly that
Lillian heard her.
Hush said Mr.. Mortimer, in a
vexed tone. sthe little lady will hear
you And he would have gone for
ward, but Lillian stopped, determln-
ed to see the bird that looked 80
much like the one she had lost.
The moment Lena heard Lillian's
words she felt sure that the dreaded
time had como when she must say
goodbye to her treasured pet; so
she was not surprised when she saw
Lillian dsmount and come through
the gate towards her.
Excuse me- said Lillian, with a
pleasant smile, shut your bird looks
so much like one that | lost few
days ago that l thought I must come
and see it. Isn't it funny that they
| should be so much alike p
When Bonnie heard his mistress
voice he knew 1t and began to sing
little chirping notes as he always did
when she was near.
Poor Lena kept back her sorrow
as we'll as she could and said /:
perhaps this is really your bird,
| for it is ono that came and sat on
the fences few days ago and went
into the cage. l had bird and it
died, so l have let the cage hang
here with the door open ever since.
Mother said perhaps the owner of
the bird would come by, and | have
let it hang in sight all the time. You
must love him ever 80 much and I'm
glad you've found him. she added,
heroically.
Mr.. Mortimer, finding Lillian de.
termined to see the bird, had also
come to the door, and saw the tears
| that would come in Lela's eyes in
spite of all she could do.
Declining her invitation to enter
the house, Lillian and her grandfath-
er turned to go away, Suddenly,
Mr.. Mortimer stopped and asked
Lena, whose face possessed a strange
charm for him, if she would tell him
her name.
LENA Howe said the child, smil-
ing.
At the sound of her name Mr.. Nor
timer grew deadly pale and grasped
his riding whip convulsively.
Just then Mrs. Howe appeared on
the porch calling Lena, and ignorant
of the presence of the visitors, whom
she had not seen enter the yard. The
first sight that met her view was
Lena standing before the door, and
by her side, regarding her with
mingled hope and despair, tall,
gray-headed man of noble presence,
whose kindly features, though now
convulsed with anxiety, were to her
like a vision from heaven.
Springing forward with outstretch-
ed hands she cried, oh, father 7 and
fell into his arms.
The rapture of the meeting can
not be expressed in words, but its
| x.o,,orr~ xx-;lI oIuevs hiaaa the HEARTS