Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-04-17
Coming Home TO Him.

i over bed, on which lay a man apnarent
very lll-perhaps dying Indeed. in III,
! dreadful room how could it be otherwise
ihe air was heavy with disease, av
death. ~
On that cold December dav the e,r,
/; threw up bubbles of water ihronob -
great holes in the rotton panks, whic
yielded to every passing foot. There wa
frightened look in the beautiful ewes ,
the woman, as she bent still lower until he
ear rested close TO the lips of the sufferer
She listened few seconds, then ouickl
crossing the room to the cupboard she too
from 1t small bottle and drained its cor
tents. Fastening back she gently raise
his head and said, in soft, pleasing tone
Harry, love, take this! Do, for nv sake
she continued, us Il movement verv slioh
but resisting was made.
Slowly. feebly, the eyes opened. SucI
great, sad, suffering eyes.
NO, no. You shall not Try to speak vet
Take this, love. There, now, YOU will 500,
be stronger. You had such long couch
ing spell it exhausted you. Now, give m,
your other hand and will rub it as warn
as this. Hush! Please, dear, do uot try tt
talk yet. ~
Rubbing, and talking, in coaxiug, sootb
ing words and tone. the gentle woman
continued, until seeing how anxious he
was to speak. she said:
What is it, dearp
Oh, Ruth, why did you bring me back
l was so nearly free-almost gone! Yor
are not wise little woman. If were
gone. we both would be freed from suffer.
ing. Your friends would find You then
forgive you. and take care of you and our
| little one.
Harry! Hurry! do not talk so! Can Won
think that all they could give me, all the
love and comfort | should gain through
them, could compensate me for YOUR loss .
No. Oh, no! she cried.
Ruth, dear, you are II true, devoted
wife, and know how much you will
mourn for me. Bnt, oh, do you not know
you will not lose me? l shall be only a
little way OIL, dear-gone little while be-
tore, that is all-wailing for your coming,
love, lowering sometimes very near, /
trust. Think of this Ruth, and do not
weep. Bear up a little longer, dear wife.
Yes, yes, | will bear up. There is sone
thing that whispers, :" Be of good cheer"
something that makes my heart grow
strong. Oh, surely father cannot hold his
wrath forever! Surely his heart will open
to his child again! All. if he could know
now terribly we are suffering for our in
gratitude or disobedience of his and Gods
commands, he could forgive. You bear
up, Harry. Try to live. Keep up YOUR
spirits a a while longer-just throug Oh this
night: Io-morrow-oh, surely to. morrow.
Tod Will give us relief. Ah, do not
shake your head! she said. Oh, | must
give you more of your mixture, and
brighten the fire; then you will feel better
Starting up, she went to the cupboard
An instant more, and the hopeful look fed
quickly from her face, and with low,
despalring moan, she sobbed:
No medicine, no wood, no food, and
oh, God!-not even a candle. What shall
do through this long, long night as I
watch!
The terrible thought that. perhaps, she
might be watching beside her dying hus-
0and was not permitted to reach his ear
Dropping heavily in her chair, all the
newly acquired strength seemed to have
deserted her. She moaned: No CLEAN of
Yes, mamma, mamma, here | am cried |
| happy voice.
An instant more. and little Ray. her dar
ing child sprang lightly into her mothers
arms clasplng her own tightly around her
leck' ana almost smothering her with
Kisses.
How cold yon are, my child, Ruth said,
pressing the little form closer to her own.
Am II | did't know it, Never mind;
m going to make big fire, and make
Is all warm.
No more fire to day, love, Ruth said,
adly.
Oh yes, mamma, for have got lots of
vood-l mean blocks and chips. And,
mamma, Billy Smith-you know his
mamma is the washing woman up stairs
he brought them home for me in his lit
lie wagon, Oh, deed he is such n nice
10Y! And, mamma, see here: Mr.. Hartly,
hat keeps the woodward, gave me this.
A dolarl Oh, thank God Ruth cried.
Ray my darling, this will save your papa's
life. Run to the drug store and get the
mixture you know. And, dear, Il little
Inc, at the same place. And then hurry
nd buy two eggs and some crackers
uick, love. she said, wrapping the old
hawl around the little one, and han nding
Ter the two vials.
Yes, mamma, III almost fly; see if
ont And you. please, take the wood
rom Billy, OF call him. lie II bring it, he's ,
uch nice boy, Ray said, as she ran out.
Ruth thanked the little boy, who insisted s
n finishing up his job by landing the
'ood near the stove. A faint smile fitted
yer her ftce, as she looked into that of
the nice boy" His complexion was r
ather muddy, and quite repudiated RAYS =,
tatement that his mother was II washer
roman.
AS the door closed after Billy, Ruth :,
tnk on her knees beside her husband, to
reathe her prayer of thanksgiving. r
The fire was burning brightly when !;
ay returned. Another dose of the mix J.
ire, an egg, n little wine and cracker
,on worked wonders with the sick man. g.
uth's cheerfulness was restored, when
lc saw the happy effect. G
Ray told her mother that every day Mr..
artIy was going to give her blocks and :,
lips; and she believed he gave her the q
ollar because she was like his little girl h
Heaven. -
May 60 out again, mammal 'Taint "
ear dark outside. Do! Ray plead. y
Ruth consented; for this little sunbeam J
I'd been almost reared outside, in the h
lnshne. From her baby days, she had ~
owed and clapped her hands at every r.
y of light; whining and crying if the n n
indow-blinds were closed, and crawling
1t into the open mir whenever chance d
esented. =,
This love of sunshine and fresh air, and " i,
c freedom allowed the child, had given "
II the bright, happy nature, the strong 81,
tie body, notwithstanding the suffering m
ID privation she had endured. p
Yes, yes, 60, her mother answered. For az az
matter what the air is outside, it is bet ~,
r than here b.
Rachel was the little ones name, called
: Ruths mother. But this quiet Quaker r.
me seemed not suitable for the merry,
lghing, sunshiny babe so they called lo
r Ray. NJ
A few moments and she ran back to say "
I've brought you some oil for your lamp, Ct,
ANNA, and Il little tea-and. mamma, R,
'e kept ten cents for myself, l might N
INT TO spend it.
With a comic pucker of her pretty -
,t,fh nbn