Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-10-04

looked i'll What was my horror to
tind the bed empty and my patient eS-
capped
| called the servants, and sent every
where to seek him. But he was, not
soon found; no one had seen him leave
the house, and We could not imagine
what was the object in doing so. At
last | discovered him myself in Il re-
tired corner Of the shrubbery, trying,
with feeble efforts, to dig n hole and to
bury his staif.
no one is worthy of it, = lie said; but
he would not leave it when We had dis-
covered his secret hiding place; and,
after many arguments, prevailed up-
on him to return and let me polish and
clean it.
That night lie was very ill--thc exer-
tion and exposure brought ona relapse,
lie bade me put the staff quite dose TO
him, and his feeble fingers clasped il
fondly and stroked it down. Jus. when
he was dying he put il into my hand
keep lt-neyer part with it-prom-
iSe me, Jane.
promised, for | saw his heart was
bent on my doing So
"Jane--the staff is-will-ehildren--"
But his voice failed, and his head fell
back. lie never spoke again, and be-
fore daybreak he was dead
We laid him in the family vault III
the rurton church; for III spite Of his
wandcrings and wayward life he was of
the old stock; and putting asiue his
favorite stail in my oak cabinet W. went
back to our old ways and almost forgot
him.
Years passed; during which moro
little faces clustered round our board,
and the elder ones were sent on to
school. The clouds that had so long
skirtcd the distance came nearer and
nearer, and 1T last burst over our
heads.
The bank in which my money WAS
invested suddenly failed the steward
who had managed my husbands affairs
proved untaithlul, and absconded with
I'LL that he could convert into money;
creditors pressed round, and were
clamorous; we were ruined.
Nothing remained for lis but TO leave
Turnton; ifpossible to let, and to goand
live on the continent. There was to be
il sale after we left, and the handbils
were already out. | had spent long
days III packing and arranging and un-
able longer to meet the chlldren's dole
ful faces and sad regrets at parting with
their old pets, | hurried % ny little
morning room-the room t6tt had wit
messed many drcarv hour of watching
over Uncle Dayy.
| was crying, in spite of my efforts ut
self-command. In the hall ! had seen
little Edmond, with his arms round the
old rocking horse, sobs. bursting from
the rosy lips that he pressodagainst his
favorlte. Lucy was taking the toys
from the dolls house as passed the
schoolroom. Oh my heart bled sadly,
for every grief Of theirs was doubly
mine.
The maid had been packing, and the
oak cabinet was unlocked, the door
swinging to and fro on its hinges The
drawer below held my chief treasures,
which mad reserved to put up at the
last; fancying this a favorable opportun-
ity now opened it, and began to sort
the things.
A packeto copy-books--large, round
blotted, teXt-hand- tie outside Of
each cover one of the chidrens names
and date. ] tied them together and
put them up. A little cared ivory box,
which had long ago been II present
from sailor brother, with nine neatly
folded little white paper parcels inside,
and curl of soft hair III saeh-the last
causing few bitter tears to fall down
on my black dress. rs kIceling down
unfolded it and touched the smooth
tress. Poor little baby dat had pincd
when sorrow came to me; that bad died
in my arms, and now lar with its little
coffin resting beside Ua3lc Davy's. !
moved the packet Of bab,s clothes that
] had put away the da, after the fu-
neral the little gowns and caps and
things and gulped down II yerS sad
sob Poor little baby, God had pro
yided for il
There were yet few more things,
and then the drawer ws empty, save
for Uncle Davy's staff. / left Il lying
there while packed up he other things,
and it was still there wlen went down
to tea.
As came up again | heard loud
tones.
master Edmond. | shall tell your
mamma Of you. Have done immedi-
ately What naughty boy you are,
Don't you see you have knocked all the
paint off the banistersg
Nurse was standing on the first land
ing, looking down into the hall, with a
very red face while the child in her
arms had very inqming look IN his
brown ewes. and was mouthing and tug
ging at an India rubber ring held by two
fat slippery hands.
The delino1ent was Master Edmond,