The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-04-24

! ago.
The letter was opened that night, and
duly commented upon, by all. Amy
no more-widowed and with one child
she had fought single-handed the bat
tie of life, till death had suddenly
claimed her, and her little Hugh
(named for her brother), a poor little
creature, defOrmed and frail, had been
left alone. Kind friends had ministered
to his earthly needs, but his mothers
last request was that little Hugh might
find home in his uncle's family.
Mrs. Slocum's motherly heart re-
sponded at once to the call, and the
quick Oh! yes, papa, from the daugh-
tiers, met with an imperative demand
for silence from the father, who quick
" said little Hugh would remain where
he was; he would meet all demands of
a pecuniary nature for his needs, but
never, never, should he enter the old
home his mother had desecrated by
clipping from it with her music teacher.
My heart throbbed with indignation,
but l still listened hopefully to the
united persuasions of mother and
daughters for the little waif, but their
tender pleadings were of no avail.
One by one they departed silently and
sadly for the night, leaving me alone
and desolate.
Oh, how the bright, restless fire
seemed to mock my anguish by its
sparkling happiness.
How it danced and shimmered over
the wall in fitful fantastic CLEANS, even
casting its glow over my worn old face,
and hooking my misery, as l thought
of poor little Hugh, weeping and sor-
comforting word, or kiss away his tears,
and my sad old heart ached so (and
being just on the point of striking four)
pealed out 4 strange unearthly peal,
that old Nancy came in, rubbing her
eyes sleepily, and wondering what that
strange noise meant; then she wandered
off toward the nursery to look after
Lilly, her pet, and soon the house was
all commotion, and in the dawning
light, saw them wheeling in little
low bed, and there rested the form of
our darling, breathing heavily, and her
white upturned face reminding me
strangely of a broken lily.
Oh, the long, long, dreary days that
followed, and how eagerly they watched
me, that no hours might drift by un-
needed, and, rs 1 found they depended
on me to mark the precise moment
when the healing remedies left by old
DIR. Jones should be administered, |
felt rs if the frail thread of her life de-
pended upon my faithfulness, and so
fearful was that might lose one Sec
ond of time, that l kept sleepless vigils
with the faithful nurses.
But one morning, just rs the dawn
was breaking, caught a glimpse of
the little wan face, resting so peaceful
ly now among the laces Of the pillows,
with such glory shining in the beau
tiful eyes that l felt the death-angel
was lowering near, and just as the first
CLEAN of sunshine flooded the room
with its brightness and rested on every
thing like a blessing, she looked up
smilingly, saying, 81 am going to
make room for Cousin Hugh, dear
papa and the sweet spirit was with
God VINO gave it.
Then old Nancy came in and 81
fenced my noisy grief, but for once my
face was left uncovered. The blinds
were not drawn, and the great loving
sun lit up the room with its golden
| frescoes. and the thrObbing air seemed
to watt in her sweetest breezes laden
with the perfume of woodland bios
SONS, and the chamber of death was
glowing with the tint of the roses, but
none looked so fair and sweet as the
broken Lilly, in her white robes of
death.
Old Nancy's face looked pinched and
wan in all this brightness, but l heard
her muttering, "No gloom for her, no
darkened room or covered faces for my
darling" So all night long gazed
down silently on the peaceful features
of my treasure, which had caught in
death an angelic smile, and mourned
for the happy-hearted child who had
loved me so.
Old Nancy sat upright and rigid by
her side, never uttering moan or
word of complaint. but such look of
anguish in her poor old hOmely face,
that in my own misery longed to be
able to comfort her.
They laid her out on the sunny hill
side, and every morning the sun smiles
on her, and the birds sing sweetly over
the dower-covered mound, and when
the soft south wind comes drifting over
the hilltop it brings the sweet perfume
of the flowers to me, as l still plod on.
After they had carried away the little
white casket, and the house was still
once more. Mr.. Slocum was absent for
days, and just rs the gentle twilight
was creeping sweetly over all things.
one evening we heard the roll of
wheels, and moment afterward Mr..
Slocum appeared, leading q little de-
formed child, whose white face of al
most divine beauty was framed in q
mass of golden curls. 1t almost seemed
as if Lilly's glorifed spirit had come
back to earth. but in answer to Mrs.
Slocum's and Gertie's bewildered ques-
tionings, he threw off the wraps gently,
saying. "Lilly's Cousin Hugh.
Every endearment was lavished on
the little stranger, and he soon was the
one bright sunbeam of our sorrowing
home.
Climbing upon Uncle Slocum's
knees, with great questioning eyes
looking into his face, he would plead
to be told more of the sweet little
cousin, who had gone to live with his
mamma, in that " booful land"
Very strange this seemed to me, but
stranger yet, the peaceful light of Mr..
Slocum's face; but one evening as he
stared before the fire in the gathering
darkness, and touched my old face with
his trembling fingers, I heard him
moan, "God be merciful to me. a sim
ner." Then knew, Lilly's death and
Hugh's coming had not been in vain
and days afterward when he held the
frail. white-faced, golden-haired little
Hugh up to me, and told him how his
own angel mother had grown up under
my watchful care, the warm baby fin
gers strayed over my face and down
into my bosom, till they clasped Ger
ties letter.
Agladlight beamed in Gertie's sweet
girlish face, as she patted me loving
ly, saying quietly, "Dear old clock,