The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-12-27

heard that nearly all the family have
died with the fever, and the Colonel
himself is very low With it."
Eyes, there's only him and me left,
and he'll die, too. But, oh, sir" clasp
ing his little hands imploringly, "can't
you stop 'em bringin' that awful black
huss forever to our door, It's always
there"
What does he mean2" asked the
gentleman.
Its the hearse," was the answer. at
seems to have made a terrible i'm
preston on him. Pity so young a child
(why, he's almost baby should be ex-
! posed to such terrors. A wee chap,
isn't he, to be bird of ill-omen? Yet
he has brought us six death-notices
within week. / declare, shudder
when / see his poor little pale face in
the doorl"
1t was three days before the child re-
turned, and then he stole in so slowly
and so feebly that no one heard his step
on the stairs, nor saw him until he stood
in the room. He was like a ghost, a
shadow, SO weak and attenuated he
looked as he sank on the nearest seat
"Its Aunt Mary" he said, "but /
dropped the paper" He held up his
trembling hands, and it was easy to see
they could not hold feather. "That
makes eight. wonder who'll be next"
"No, you are mistaken. It's only
seven"
"Did you count papa? He's dead,
you know. No, I didn't bring the no.
tice, for was sick myself" He spoke
in monotonous, tired voice, and his
pretty brown eyes were bloodshot and
heavy.
The child slowly and painfully de-
scended the steps, but in few minutes
he was heard toiline up again.
ooh, dear, I can't get past that man
with huss," he said, with quick catch
in his breath, and his eyes
wild with terror. "He's pulled up
right against the doorway, and he keeps
looking at me, and sayin', who nextY"
There was a universal chorus of in
dignant ordinations. Wretch mon
sterl" Give me that horse-whip,"
said one of the men, and I'll teach
him to scare children"
He descended the steps three at a
time, and ran to the door. No one was
there. He's gone now, my boy" he
said soothingly to the child, who was
feebly descending the steps.
One quick look, and the child covered
his face with his hands, and sank to the
ground. Don't you see him?" he
shrieked. "There, right across the
steps. He's coming up now. Oh, save
lot 4a1v
then his voice sank into means.
The people raised him from the floor,
and as soon as they touched his parched
hands it was discovered that he was in
raging fever There was no one at
home to attend to MIN, so he was car
ried to fever hospital. How long he
had had the disease it was impossible to
say, for all were dead who knew any
thing about it or him.
1t was merely conjectured that the
fever came upon him when his aunt,
the last member of the household, was
on her death bed, and in his delirium
he had wandered to the familiar Office
He died that night. A very few min
utes before his death he fell into light
doze, and lay so still and calm that the
nurse began to think the uncertain
disease had taken favorable turn.
The blue lines about his baby mouth
disappeared, and when he suddenly
opened his eyes the nurse almost
started at the radiance which seemed
literally to stream from their brown
depths.
Mamma, mamma" he cried in
strong, joyful tones, $50 you've come
for me at last, you, and Margaret, and
all of 'em. Lift me up, mamma, so the
huss man can't catch me! Lift me up
higher, higher" and with laugh of
triumph the child was lifted up above
time, and pain, and all mortal ills.
do not think any one knew the
little fellows Christian name, SO the
notice of his death was only the tale of
his suferings. M. B. WILLIAMS.