Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-11-21
tone, "yo' hurt her-yo have, and she's

looked at them for minute, and then
the fumes of the gin he had taken over
powered him again as he reeled to the
opposite corner Of the room, where he
fell on to an old mattress, and in mo-
ment was fast in deep drunken sleep.
The boy closed his eyes YEARLY and
turned his face to the wall. The girl
kissed him and settled him as comforta-
bly, asshe could, then rose from her knees
and went to the window, which she
partly opened. The moon was high and
full, and the street without looked as
bright as day. A sudden idea seemed to
strike her, for she smiled brightly as she
went softly to the bed and stood gazing
at the brother she loved so we'll, and
knew she should be able to keep 50 short
time.
MY boy 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 l have"
she murmured. dear God, take care
Of him till 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 swiftly down the
street towards the lovely valley beyond,
looking up at the quiet stars as she went,
something of whose peace and rest SEEM
ed 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 bank.
How lovely it looked! The trees and
flowers and grasses seemed outlined in
purest palest silver-a very fairy net
work! and the quietly flowing river
sparkled and shone with the glorious ra-
dance of the moon and the stars. The
girl sat down on stone that projected
into the river and filled jug she had
brought, with the cold sparkling water
which she had come to bring for hev
brother. She seemed spellbound with
the beauty Of it all, and sat there quiye
a loug time looking down at the refec-
lions deep in the water, and now up to
sky far above her head. off only my
boy could be here" she thought, how
happy he would be! Maybe he would
get we'll if he coined here-he loves the
dumb material things So" Her tears
fell into the clear ripping water. \ lit
tie breeze sprang up, and tiny wavelets,
silver bright, Tapped up and up over the
stone to her feet. 80 river, dear river! ="
she said, leaning towards it, last night
in my dreams ~ speak to me, and was
sorry for my boy. Can't 20 speak again
now?"
The wavelets rose higher, and MUIR
INJURED and whispered in the wind; and
as she listened, the silver inarticulate
sounds resolved themselves into words.
! "Child,' 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"
"Why did you not bring my brother,
too, and comfort him?' the girl said.
"He's sore in need.'
BE 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"
"Ah! you wull!" cried the girl--a
beautiful light and brilliant smile wax
ing her face into a wonderful beauty,
81 wull 60 to him at onc't. Where be
the spirit who talked so kind to me last
night?'
"Oh," said the river-and it seemed 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 fastened home
with feet winged with hope and love.
She found her brother awake and gasp
ing for breath. Harry, Harry!" she
said, tenderiy leaning over bim and rails
20 some water, all fresh and pure out
of a river"
His faded eyes frightened, and he
eagerly drank it, and then with a smile
lay back on her breast. "That's fine an
nice," he said. Chow dds 20 so far
Thou'sa good lass to 60 for me-"
"Yo didna miss me while's I were
gone, did 20, Harry"
She boy looked up at her with loving
smile and tear-flled eyes: 81 allus
miss 20, little sister, when yo's not wi
me-" She bent over him and passionate.
ly kissed his pale lips.
An now,' she said, "yo mum go to
sleep; an I'll go, too; an yo'n wake uF
right an fine an we'll to-morrer, an yo' L
never be sick no MORE"
"WuQ I no?" 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: 81
} can sleep now. 70 mum lie down by me-
so, an put your arms roun' me-so
an now kiss me little sister!"
The moon streamed in on them q.
they lay, clasped in one another's arms
fast asleep. their lips almost touching
and the brown and gold of their hal
shining in the light.
Harry woke first in dreamland, to fine
himself sitting on the bank of the rive
in the moonlight, waiting for his sister
. and as he waited, all nature seemed t,
, wake just to welcome him. The tree
that waved their stately arms and sill
vered foliage above him, whispered
! " Welcomed! welcomed" The little pol
! lard willows down by the water al
nodded and spoke to him some cheer,
, word; the sleepy flowers who sat sway
ing and nodding on their stalks, opened
their brilliant eyes to smile at him; ant
, even the long graceful grasses and rushe
, rustled aud bent and bowed toward
: him, and did all they could to express
, 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
ooh, how good it do feel to be here!" h
sighed, and fairly laughed for joy; an
9 all nature seemed to take up the ech
1 and laugh to for company; and the frog
9 and the crickets croaked and chirrupe
: louder than ever; and the bats took u
Q the falsetto parts in the chorus; and til
Z nightingale sang solo that thrilled hi1
!. with its beauty. AZ ~ e..
His sister came then, wandering alon
3 by the river, bright and happy, and "a
down BY him. Harry. she said, kis
!, ing his thin cheek 8 70 wull get all we
u agin now; wull not yo7" s>z
. And the river answered, tossing q tin
wreath L t.