The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-06-08

| AFTER EN-; an L m a-dOin' to take 'em
to him. | see place way off, where |
can step right into heaven; an YOU an
me, We'll go an sprize papa wiz the
pity things. Won't he be glad? Want
to go, Z'rusha?''
Of course, Jerusha did want to 90.
So Polly tucked her snugly under her
arm, and, putting her little straw hat
on the back of her curls, the pair
started off.
Now" said Polly, "first, we'n 90
an Diet all e flowers dat mamma had
in e morning, an take 'em wiz us.
fink this is e wav.''
And off she ran way up the north
road.
The May sun was very warm and
bright, and the small feet, trudging
through the dust, were very hot and
tired. But their patient owner went
bravely on, until nature could endure no
more; and, with weary little sigh, S he
sat down on the grass by the roadside,
and remarked to her companion that
lit was such velly long walk where
the Towers were, she linked they'd bet
ter take some yellow ones right here,
an papa ID like it jes as WELL
Jerusha, being an obliging young
lady, thought it would probably suit
quite as well. So Polly gathered her
plump little hands full of buttercups
and dandelions, saying, with satisfied
air of relief:
There, now, we can Diet there velly
soon; cause | see place where | can
step right up, an | dess maybe there'll
be an angel to help me an Il rusha up
| 'e step"
So, with smiling face and happy Wis
ions, the little dusty figure battered
along the sunny road
The afternoon rays of the clear MAY
sun were falling aslant in the pleasant
front yard falling on several articles
of Miss Jerusha's wardrobe, which
that careless young lady had left about,
and also on several articles pertaining
to her little mamma; but neither of the
individuals mentioned was there to
claim her property, and Mrs. Leighton,
coming to the door, called
Polly! Polly! Where is the child?
Kate, have you seen PollyP"
"No, Helen; not since dinner. 1
thought she was with you'
The mothers face began to wear a
look of alarm, for she knew the loneli-
ness of the long country roads. The
house and grounds were searched; but
gave no sign of the sunny-faced child.
The sun sank lower in the west, and
the faces of the family grew more and
more anxious.
We must start out and look for
her." said grandpa. "She cannot have
strayed very far
So the old horse was harnessed again,
and grandpa, with mamma, started off
on the search. Two miles in one di-
rection, and hopelessly! Then mamma,
with a face growing rapidly paler, said:
"She cannot have gone further in this
direction, father. Let us turn back and
take the north road
BY this time the sun was just saying
his final goodnight to this part of the
earth, and grandpa drove fast and said
little. A whole mile up the north road
and no sign of the child! Suddenly
mamma, whose wistful eyes were eager
ly scanning both sides of the road,
cried out: % Stop! father! l see some
thing clinging to the fence! Let me
get outn' Trembling with eagerness,
she fastened toward something caught
on the rough fence. 1t was bit of
pink calico, and, turning brightly
around, she exclaimed: O" It's piece
of the darling's apron, father. | know
it. She must be near-perhaps in some
of these fields"
True" said grandpa. "You 90 one
way, and I'll 60 the other
So they separated, and mamma
walked quickly away through the deep
ening shadows-over a hill. down
again into valley, falling over stones
and into briers, but at last coming sud
denly upon a picture fairer than any
thing an artist could paint.
A child asleep in the little hollow!
One hand holding bunch of withered
dandelions and dropping buttercups,
and the other grasping painfully
wide-awake dolly. The straw hat had
fallen off, the curls We're pushed away
from the sweet face, and an undried
tear still lay on the flushed cheek.
My precious baby!' cried mamma,
as she clasped her treasure and spoiled
the picture. where has my Polly
been?'
The child's blue eyes opened wide, and
a little quivering voice replied:
so mamma, | see place where |
can step right into heaven, an me an
Zrusha was going to take the towers
to papa; but I'm so velly tired, an
heaven keeps a-goin' way off, so |
can't reach the stairs. Won't you 90
too, mamma?'
Mamma was laughing and crying all
at once, as she replied:
Polly and mamma will 90 to heaven
sometime, | hope. Only Polly must
wait, and not leave mamma behind.
viii she?n
The blue eyes were heavy with sleep,
and closed again, as she answered:
"Yes, mamma, I'll wait, if you'll
promise to-help me-up stairs
if the angel-fordets to come"
So grandpa and mamma carried
home the dear little sleeping burden.
And mamma, putting her into grand
mas arms, said, smiling:
Mother, she had started for heaven;
but the dear Lord was kind to me and
would not let her inr'-The Indcpe1,d-
ent.
I