The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-11-20
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
BY NJ. NJ. STACY.
BY MRS. II. A. MERRELL,

BY NJ. NJ. STACY.
How very lonely it seems tonight
MOTHER said Mabel Richardson, a
she and her mother sat alone in th,
twilight.
why should you feel any NOR
lonely this evening, than any other
inquired Mrs. Richardson.
'All day long my heart has beer
weary, and the wind moans so mucl
like a grieved child tonight, that j
fills my very soul with sadness. Ther'
have been old memories crowding up
on my brain, and q well-rememberei
face and form have seemed to be abou
me. Mother, nine gears ago tO-nigh
sister Alice scent aaUay.'
'Mable, why do you speak of her
Have not you been forbidden2 had
fancied that you had long ago forgot.
ten her.
Mrs. Richardson was very pale as
she said this, and turned her head
away that Mabel might not discover
her agitation.
my dear mother, how greatly have
you deceived yourself in believing
that 1 would ever forget my earliest
and only playmate. Although 1 was
but a child, scarcely eight years OF
age, how well do 1 remember the
night she came to my bedside, and
kissed me, and wept as though her
heart would break. She bade me
goodbye, s1d the last words to me
were, Mabel, do not forget your mis-
erable sister Alice. 1 am going to
leave you, for long, long time, per.
haps forever!' She was greatly agitat-
ed, we'll knew, for all was SO young
and 1 wept until the gray dawn of
morning, because I knew that Alice
was wretched. Ere she went out in
to the cold and darkness, she knelt
beside me, and prayed long and fery-
emily. She prayed for father, and for
you, mother, and when she breathed
your name, she buried her face in the
pillows, and moaned as sOyroD only
can. kissed her, and smoothed her
soft, brown curls, as if to quiet the tu-
multi that seemed raging so fiercely
within her heart and when entreat-
ed her not to weep, she folded me SO
closely to her, and said Darling, in
noccnt Mabel, through all the future
weary years, do not forget me, do not
let the stasnA OF my weakness turn
your afe5 Is from me. Loue me,
love me-" And promised, I, who
scarcely knew what a VOW was, for
so young was l, that her memory with
me should be sacred and have not
proved traitor to the weeping, mourn.
ing, distressed being who that night
and prayed, like one without friends
or home, as she was, by my little bed.
Whatever her faults or guilt, the same
blood courses through my veins. She
is NM sister. To night, the winds
moan as Alice did nine years ago.
The next morning after her departure,
remember you and father were very
pale, and when 1 asked after her,
was sllenced by you both, and forbid
den to mention her name again. I
meyer believed, mother, that your in
difference in regard to her was your
own wish. Am I right?
Yes, yes, my child. But why, oh !
why do you open the graves of the
past, and bring scenes and forms again
to my mind that have loug slept in ST.
lence, and tried to fancy were forgot
ten; for it has only been fancy,-a
mother cannot easily forget her child.
How much l have suffered in her ab-
sence, none save God and myself
know. Oh how have prayed to be-
hold her face once more, to fold my
arms about her, and feel that indeed
she were with me were vain to tell.
But it was no fault of mine, my child,
your father had told her to go; his
word must be obeyed. entreated of
him not to forsake her, but of no avail,
knew she was going alone, and un-
protected out in cold, wicked world.
Oh how l longed to shield her from
the bitter storms of life! To keep her
from despair, to have her know that
mothers love was round about her,
Alice! Alice! Alicen and Mrs. Rich
ardson wept tears, such as misery on
ty acceps.
DO not weep dear mother replied
Mabel soothlngly. Tell me the story
of Alice leaving US, and then I'll for
will cease to speak of her
for see it is subject full of sorrow
to you, and do not wish to distress
your
Tomorrow child, cannot tell
you now. Pray, Mabel, for God to
keep you, to save you from the snares
of the designing and wicked. God
bless you dear, good night
That night Mabel slept but little.