The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-11-21

she partly opened. The moon was high
and full, and the street without looked
as bright sday. A sudden idea seemed
to strike her, for she smiled brightly as
she went softly to the bed and stood gaz-
ing at the brother she loved so we'll, and
knew she should be able to keep so short
time. 5,S -
Myboy," she said, with an intensity
of pitiful love in her face, and stretching
her, clasped hands out over him as
though she would keep him with her in
spite of everything. "My boy he is all
| have" she murmured. Dear God,
take care of him till l come back" and
with the love still in her face she softly
left the room.
She went out into the brilliant sum-
mer night, and walked softly down the
street towards the lovely valley beyond,
looking up at the quiet stars as she went,
something of whose peace and rest
seemed to be reflected into the depths of
her usually troubled eyes. After a
while she left the town behind her and
walked rapidly through the fields and
lanes and woods till she came to the
rivers brink. How lovely it looked !
The trees and flowers and grasses seemed
outlined in purest palest silver-a very
fairy network! and the quietly flowing
river sparkled and shone with the
glorious radiance Of the moon and the
stars. The girl sat down on a stone that
projected into the river, and filled Jug
she had brought, with the cold sparkling
water which she had come to bring for
her brother. She seemed spen-beund
with the beauty of it all, and sat there
quite long time looking down at the
reflections deep in the water, and now
up to the sky far above her head. eff
only my boy could be here, . she thought,
" how happy he wud bel Maybe he
wud get well if he coined here-he loves
the dumb natural things so." Her tears
fell into the clear ripping water. A
little breeze sprang up, and tiny wavelets,
silver bright, tapped up anu up over the
stone to her feet. o river, dear riverp
she said, leaning towards it, last night
in my dreams 20 spak to ME, pitied me,
and was sorry for my boy. Can't 20
agin now"
The waveletssrose higher, and muir
INJURED and whispered in the wind; and
as she listened, the silvery inarticulate
sounds resolved themselves into words
=. Child,n the river said softly" the
sweet spirits that live beneath my waves
and in the woods and trees there, brought
you to me in your sleep, and we tried to
comfort you. >
q why did 70 not bring my brother
too and comfort him? ?" the girl said.
"He's sore in need"
.sHe would not Sleep" the river said.
"But take him some of my water to
drink, and he will sleep, and you will
both come to me in your dreams, and
I will cure him and make him WE'LL"
aAhl YOU wullf" cried the girl-a
beautiful light and brilliant smile wax
ing in her face into wonderful beauty.
I" / wull 90 to him at tonce't Where be
the spirits who talked SO kind to me last
nightY' :.
to smile and ripple all over in the moon
light" you will see them again when
YOU come with your brother in your
dream"
The girl reflled her jug, nodded
brightly to the river, and hastened home
with feet winged with hope and love.
She found her brother awake and gasp
ing for breath. "Harry, Harryp she
said, tenderly leaning over him, and
raising him on her arms. See I've
brought yo some water, all fresh and
pure out offs riveF." .
His faded eyes frightened, and he
eargerly, drank it, and then with a smile
lay back on her breast.
"That's fine an nice" he said. g How
dds go SO far? Thou's a good lass to
60 for me" -z4a zs=.s.s
"Yo didna miss me whiles 1 were
gone; did 20, HarryF"
The boy looked up at her with a low
ing smile and tear-flled eyes: g ailus
miss yo, little sister, when yo's not wi
me-" She bent over him and passion
ately kissed his pale lips.
An now," she said, "ayo mum go to
sleep; an I'll go too; an yo'll wake up
right an fne an well to-morrer, an
yol never be sick no more"
"Wull noT' said the boy, smiling
up at her eager face. Yo looks lovely
to-night-like an angel" he said; and
added after minute, still smiling:
can sleep now. You mum lie down by
me-so, and put your arms roun' me
so; an now kiss me, lille sister"
The moon streamed in on them as
they lay, clasped in one another's arms
fast asleep, their lips almost touching
and the brown and gold of their hail
shining in the light.
Harry woke first in dreamland. to fine
himself sitting on the bank Of the rivel
in the moonlight, waiting for his sister
and as he waited, all nature seemed tt
wake lust to welcome him.. The trees
that waved their stately arms ant
silyered foliage above him, whispered
Welcome welcomed The little pol
lard willows, down by the water al
nodded and spoke to him some cheer.
word the sleepy flowers that sat sway
ing and nodding on their stalks, opened
their brilliant eyes to smile at him; AM
even the long graceful grasses and drushe
; rustled and beat and bowed toward
. him, and did all they could to expires
their good will The very frogs stoppe
croaking to look kindly at the sick boy
with their bright eyes; and the cricket
ceased rubbing their legs for minute
, "Oh, how good it does feel to be here!
he sighed, and fairly laughed for Joy
and all nature seemed to take up th
echo and laugh too for company; an
; the frogs and the crickets croaked an
; chirruped louder than ever; and th
bats took up the falsetto parts in tn
| chorus; and the nightingale sang sol
that thrilled him with its beauty.
r His sister came then, wandering alor
by the river, bright and happy, and 81
down by him. Harry" she said, kis
e ing his thin cheek, "yo wull get all we
S agfn now; wull not yo"
! And the river answered, tossing tin
< wreath of shining spray. on to her lal
J, !" Yes, yes; he will, he will!''
5; "Harry," said the girl, clasping h
t hands together, and looking up at tt
S blue dome, overhead where the sta
v were shining and twinkling-"l feel
II happy now, that it seems somehow
h c'ud die just for nothin' but JOY. |
p1 yo not happy tooT' and she laid b
soft cheek against her brothers.